RADON ASSISTANCE
Radon is a deadly factor that could be lurking in your home. NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources can help with the costs of radon testing and mitigation for those that qualify.
info@nwdhr.org
(605) 578-1401
Why is Radon Dangerous?
- Radon is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
- You cannot smell, taste or see radon.
- 1 out of 15 Homes have high radon levels.
- South Dakota is a Moderate-High Risk Zone State
WHAT IS RADON?
Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. Radon forms naturally when uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes.
Radon can build up in the air in any home or building whether it has a basement, is sealed or drafty, or is new or old.
RADON AND YOUR HEALTH
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States after cigarette smoke. The EPA and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from the decay of radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. It takes many years for lung cancer to develop. Most people don’t have symptoms until lung cancer is advanced and at that point it is harder to treat. For these reasons, it is important to take steps to reduce radon exposure throughout your life to help prevent lung cancer.
Link to CDC info on Radon. Click Here.
How Does Radon Get Inside My Home?
Radon can seep into the home through
- Construction joints
- Cavities and cracks inside walls
- The sump hole or opening
- Cracks in floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Private wells and groundwater supplies*
*High radon levels in the water supply are more likely when its source is ground water, e.g. a private well or a public water supply system that uses ground water. Most public water supplies are sourced from surface water (lakes, rivers, and reservoirs).
Radon can build up in the air in any home or building whether it has a basement, is sealed or drafty, or is new or old. There is no known safe level of radon. You should always aim to have the lowest level. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends fixing your home if radon levels are 4 picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or higher.
What Do I Need To Do?
The first step is testing your home.
You should test your home’s radon levels:
- If it’s never been tested or radon levels are unknown
- When preparing to buy or sell
- Before and after any renovations, especially after making any repairs to reduce radon levels
- Before making any lifestyle changes in the home that would cause someone to spend more time in the basement or lower level (like converting a basement to a bedroom or home office)
Contact your state radon office for specific information and resources in your area for testing. They can provide you with a list of qualified radon testers. You can either hire a radon tester or purchase a radon test kit from a hardware store and do it yourself. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends hiring a qualified tester if you are buying or selling your home.
Link to State of South Dakota Radon Office.
Your state may offer free or discounted test kits. You can purchase a radon test kit online or in many retail or hardware stores. For at home steps and further testing info, click here.
Understanding Your Test
The level of radon in your home determines the actions you should take.
- If you used a short-term test: Take a second test using either a short-term or long-term test. If you use a second short-term test, calculate the average of the two results.
- Contact a licensed professional to install a radon reduction system if: The average of two short term tests is ≥ 4 pCi/L, or results from any long-term test are also ≥ 4 pCi/L.
- Make sure you retest a few months after your home is fixed to see if radon levels were reduced.
- Consider installing a radon reduction system.
- Make sure you retest a few months after your home is fixed to see if radon levels were reduced.
- No action needed.
- Test your home again if you start living on a lower level (for example, if you turn your basement into a home office or extra bedroom).
Radon Mitigation
Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. Contractors who do not specialize in radon reduction could make the problem worse.
There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home. The one most used has a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system, known as a soil depressurization system, does not require major changes to your home.
Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors like whether your home has a basement.
Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. Natural ventilation in any type of house should not be considered radon mitigation since it is only a temporary strategy to reduce radon.
After installing a radon reduction system, test your home again to make sure it is working. Consider retesting your home every two years to be sure radon levels remain low. Also retest your home after any remodeling.
Interior radon mitigation systems are installed inside the home, usually in a chase, garage, or closet. The pipes connect the suction pit to the radon fan located in the attic. Because of this, the only visible portion from the outside of the home is the roof jack. This is the primary advantage of an interior system; however, interior systems tend to cost a little more than exterior systems because they tend to be more labor-intensive.
Exterior radon mitigation systems are installed partly inside the house and partly outside. Like an interior system, exterior systems start at the home’s foundation, where a suction pit is dug to collect the radon gas. The pit is connected to piping that exits the house a little above the ground level. A radon fan is connected to the pipe, and a rain gutter is installed from the fan to the roof line. A rain gutter is used simply for aesthetic reasons (to match the existing rain gutters on the house).
HOW WE CAN HELP!
We can help with costs of radon testing and radon mitigation!
- Radon Testing Assistance
- Receive Cost Assistance in Mitigation Systems If Needed
- Assist in Connect to a Radon Professional
- Assist in Connecting to Radon Program or Info
*Assistance based on qualifications.
NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources (NWDHR) assists in providing decent, safe and affordable housing and revitalizing neighborhoods to improve the quality of life in our communities.
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