Is radon worse in winter or summer?

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.

What month has highest radon?

Is radon more common in winter or summer?

Where are radon levels highest in a house?

Are radon levels higher at night?

How do you stop radon gas?

What causes radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals 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.

How does radon detector work?

An active radon detector, on the other hand, isn’t a single-use device that takes months to work. It uses a sensor that detects radon by looking for alpha particles in the air — radon emits alpha particles; the more alpha particles in the air, the higher the concentration of radon in your home.

How many deaths does radon cause?

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked.

Should I walk away from a house with radon?

Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. “You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home. It’s actually pretty easy to remove radon, and it’s not that expensive,” Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope said.

Does running HVAC reduce radon?

Based on the results it was concluded that an active ventilation system successfully reduces radon.

Which states have the most radon?

Does carpet reduce radon?

Covering floors with carpeting or linoleum does not work either. Remember that even several inches of concrete cannot stop radon. Some builders believe that the plastic vapor barrier under the slab will stop radon. Although it is a part of the “radon-resistant” construction, it merely reduces the flow of soil gas.

What does radon smell like?

Radon is a radioactive gas with no taste, smell or color. This means the human senses alone cannot detect it. That is why, although radon was discovered in 1899 and even back in 1530 Paracelsus noticed some health effects in miners, regulation and radon’s connection to lung cancer are fairly new.

How long does a radon detector last?

This helps ensure that its readings are accurate and reliable. Boasting a two-year battery life, the Corentium Home can provide long-term results and monitor your surrounding radon levels with great precision. You can easily replace the three standard AAA batteries, allowing your device to last up to 10 years.

Are home radon meters accurate?

“Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 December 2019.

Does opening windows get rid of radon?

Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Homes tend to have lower air pressure than their surroundings, which draws radon into the basement.

Which creates the greatest radon threat?

For most people, the greatest exposure to radon occurs in the home where people spend much of their time, though indoor workplaces may also be a source of exposure.

What season are radon levels highest?

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.

What cancers does radon cause?

How does radon cause cancer? Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer, the only cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.

What causes radon gas in homes?

Radon can enter a home any place it finds an opening where the house is in contact with the ground: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.