Should You Worry If Your Neighbor Has Radon? Understanding Radon Mitigation in Illinois.
Imagine you see a truck parked in front of your neighbor’s house. Curious, you know the truck’s side sign that says “Radon Mitigation.” That’s right—your neighbor’s home has tested high for radon gas levels…
Your next thought may be, “If my neighbor has radon in their home, should I be concerned?”
The short answer is yes. However, it’s essential to understand the full context of radon exposure and how radon mitigation systems can provide safety and peace of mind.
What is Radon, and Why Should You Be Concerned?
Radon gas is a silent, invisible intruder that could be lurking in your home without you even realizing it. As a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps into homes through any openings in the foundation, radon poses a significant health risk, particularly to the lungs.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified radon as a carcinogen. Radon is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US.
How Close Proximity Affects Radon Levels
Even though your neighbor’s radon levels are high, that doesn’t automatically mean your home has dangerous radon levels, too. Radon concentration can vary from house to house depending on several factors, such as:
- Soil composition
- Building Construction
- Cracks in the foundation
- Airflow patterns
However, because radon levels can fluctuate in the same general area, it’s still essential to have your home tested, especially if radon has been detected in nearby homes.
How Radon Mitigation Systems Protect Your Home
The good news is that radon can be effectively managed with mitigation systems designed to reduce radon levels to safe limits. A radon mitigation system typically includes venting pipes and a fan to draw radon out from beneath the home and release it safely outside, preventing radon gas from entering living spaces.
Professional radon mitigation system installation ensures that your property reduces and maintains safer levels of radon gas, using techniques that meet EPA, IEMA, and Illinois building code requirements.
Radon mitigation is critical for ensuring the health and safety of everyone living or working in a home or commercial building, whether for residential or commercial properties.
Importance of Regular Radon Testing and Monitoring
Even if you have installed a radon mitigation system, routine testing and system maintenance are necessary to ensure it continues to function correctly. Testing your home’s radon levels every couple of years, particularly after significant renovations, ensures that your radon mitigation system effectively keeps radon at safe levels.
At Midwest Radon Services, we design custom mitigation systems for each customer, include a detailed proposal with a sketch of the work, and take all necessary measurements to ensure the job is done right the first time.
All of our systems meet I.E.M.A. and EPA standards, and we install alarms on each system.
For continuous monitoring, add an extra layer of protection.