How Does Radon Get into My House?

1. Radon Testing and Mitigation in Knoxville Radon is a radioactive gas you can’t see, feel, taste, or smell. It starts out as uranium, a heavy metal found in the ground and most rocks on the planet. When uranium decays, it turns into another metal called radium. When radium breaks down, it becomes radon. Radon gas leaves the soil and becomes part of the air and water. It can be in the air around you, but it’s usually in very small amounts that aren’t harmful. Large amounts of radon cause health problems. Even though it’s a natural gas that comes from the earth, it can be toxic if you breathe in a lot of it over a long time. But there are some reliable ways you can keep your exposure low. Where does Radon come from? Radon is found naturally all over the world, including the U.S. It comes from the radioactive breakdown of uranium that’s present in the soil, rock, water, gas, and building materials. Human beings most commonly come in contact with it in the air and, to a lesser extent, in drinking water. It can be present in buildings of all types, particularly in residential buildings. www.radon1.com 1014 4th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37210

2. Radon are the highest average of levels in the nation which means that every county has an average indoor level higher than the 4 picoCuries per liter or pCi/L. This due to the fact that radon is formed by the decaying process of uranium and radium, both of which are prevalent in the soil. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that enters the home is several different ways: 1. Cracks in walls 2. Cracks in foundations 3. Loose-fitting pipes 4. Sump pumps 5. Exposed dirt floors 6. Slab joints 7. Porous block walls 1. Cracks in Walls: Homes may contain cracks in walls and floors, though these may not be a serious www.radon1.com 1014 4th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37210

3. problem to the home’s stability, other problems may be present. Something that can’t be easily noticed and observed, especially by the naked eye could be working its way through the cracks and crevices. Actually, what people do not realize is that this invisible threat is possibly already present at their home. This threat is so harmful that it can cause lung cancer and is even ranked as the second leading cause in the United States. 2. Cracks in Foundations: If you see cracks accompanied by displacement or if you suspect that cracked masonry may be caused by soil settlement or soil pressure, the best strategy is to contact an experienced foundation repair contractor. An experienced full-service foundation repair contractor will have the skill and equipment to evaluate foundation cracks and displacement as well as the soil conditions that are causing foundation damage. 3. Loose-fitting pipes: PVC or polyvinyl chloride is a versatile material used for pipes, tubing and fittings for transporting liquids. It is suitable for applications where the temperature of the liquid does not exceed 140°F, above this temperature it may soften and lose its shape. 4. Sump pumps: A sump pump is your best defense if you have a basement or area that gets water after heavy rains. These pumps are placed in a hole under your foundation and are designed to move large amounts of water directly from your basement into an area where it won’t cause harm or seep into your storm water system. 5. Exposed dirt floors: Dirt contains moisture from the earth. When moisture evaporates, it rises, and creates condensation when it hits cold air ducts in the cr a wl space. Where there is moisture and humid air, mold can grow. 6. Slab joints: Concrete moves—expands and contracts—with changes in moisture and temperature and as part of the curing process. It is weak in tension, and as it shrinks, the stresses www.radon1.com 1014 4th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37210

4. become greater than its tensile strength, resulting in cracks. This cracking occurs even when a slab is reinforced with wire mesh, which does not prevent cracking, but works to keep cracks tightly closed. 7. Porous block walls: The porous block wall is a concrete-based material which are used to manufacture a range of retaining wall products that do not require separate drainage systems, however for extra longevity these are sometimes specified or recommended. The extreme porosity enables a Porous block walls to act as its own all-in-one drainage system, thereby avoiding the need for a separate drainage system and therefore saving time, money and materials in the construction process. Once radon enters a home or business, it becomes trapped and the levels will rise. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer second only to cigarette smoking. Radon Mitigation are the professionals in radon testing in Knoxville, and surrounding areas. Testing the levels of radon in your Knoxville, home can be done either through short- term testing or long-term testing. Short term testing is done when the results need to be determined within a short amount of time such as a real estate transaction. www.radon1.com 1014 4th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37210

5. Radon testing takes two to three days. Long-term testing gives a more accurate determination as to the year round average of radon levels since levels can change from day-to-day and season-to-season. The long term testing usually takes 90 days or more. Radon Mitigation Specialist in Knoxville If levels are determined to be 4 pCi/L or over, this is considered dangerous and it is recommended that radon mitigation be performed immediately. Radon has the solutions for getting this dangerous gas our of your home and back into the air outside. Our mitigation systems are installed by drilling a hole in your foundation or slab and connecting a PVC pipe through this hole creating a suction point. Then a fan is connected to this system to flow the radon out in the right direction. Radon will test and retest to make sure that the radon levels in your home or business are going down to a safer level. The installation of these systems will be done in a day with little disruption at an affordable cost. www.radon1.com 1014 4th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37210