Why Do Radon Levels Go Up? The reason that radon levels in the home can be
higher in the summer and winter
is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
What time of year is best to test for radon?
Generally
the winter or summer months when heating or cooling systems are running
is the best time to test for Radon. For short-term tests, the house should be closed up for 12 hours before the test begins and throughout the test.
Do radon levels go up in the winter?
Experts recommend testing for radon during the colder months because
radon levels are historically found to be higher
. … These reasons coupled with the fact that radon accumulates in enclosed areas and people are in their homes more often during winter, means the colder months are the best time to test.
How much higher is radon in winter?
Radon levels can vary by season, with the highest levels typically occurring during the months that we heat our homes. That means that even if your home’s radon was below the EPA’s suggested action level of
4.0 picocuries per liter of air
during the warmer months, it could be above that level during the winter.
Is radon worse in summer or winter?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be
higher during the winter
. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
How do I make my house safe from radon?
- Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home. …
- Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. …
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
What are symptoms of radon?
Possible symptoms include
shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)
, a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If you smoke and you know you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon, it’s very important to quit smoking.
Does opening windows reduce radon?
Opening windows
improves air circulation and ventilation
, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. … Running a window fan in a basement window reduces radon levels, but only if the fan blows air into the basement.
How do you eliminate radon?
There’s no single method that fits all radon removal system needs. Common techniques include:
Sub-slab depressurization
, where suction pipes are inserted through the floor or concrete slab into the concrete slab below the home. A radon vent fan then draws out the radon gas and releases it into the air outside.
What states have the most radon?
- Alaska (10.7)
- South Dakota (9.6)
- Pennsylvania (8.6)
- Ohio (7.8)
- Washington (7.5)
- Kentucky (7.4)
- Montana (7.4)
- Idaho (7.3)
How quickly can radon affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually
takes 5 to 25 years to develop
.
Does a dehumidifier reduce radon?
No,
buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away
. … Radon must be removed by a remediation method like active soil depressurization (ASD), which ironically has been shown to be even more effective at removing humidity from a home than a dehumidifier in the same EPA study.
Does radon get worse over time?
The EPA even recommends checking radon levels at least every two years as
radon flow can increase over a timescale longer than one calendar year
. This is to say, just as radon levels fluctuate within a calendar year, they also fluctuate as years pass.
Does rain make radon worse?
Certain types of weather can have a greater impact on your home’s radon levels. Wind and rain storms create the largest variables of radon levels when testing for radon gas.
Rainier days tend to result in noticeably higher radon levels
. This is because rainy days are often coupled with lower barometric pressure.
Do air purifiers help with radon?
Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also
help with toxins, gases and chemicals
such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.
Does radon make you sleepy?
Additional, long-term symptoms of radon gas exposure include loss of appetite, weight loss, and
fatigue
. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms above because not only do they indicate symptoms of radon exposure, but consistent exposure to radon can also lead to lung cancer.
