Here’s why you should.

As the temperatures drop and your doors and windows stay tightly shut to keep out the chill, it’s easy to forget about what might be building up inside your home. While you’re cozying up this winter, there’s an invisible threat that could be quietly harming your health: radon.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps into homes through cracks in floors, walls, foundations, and basements. While it’s odorless, tasteless, and invisible, it’s far from harmless. In fact, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths each year.

Winter is prime time for radon levels to spike, as we seal up our homes against the chill, trapping this harmful gas indoors. But the good news is that with simple, affordable radon testing, you can take control of your home’s air quality and protect your health.

Is Your Home at Risk?

Harvard researchers assembled a national database with millions of multi-day indoor radon measurements from 2001 to 2021 (20 years). Their findings? Nearly 25% of the U.S. population may be exposed to radon concentrations exceeding 148 Bq/m3, a level associated with cancer risks. Here is a link to a map which can help you determine if you live in a high-risk area. (source: Phys.org News)

What is Radon?

According to the EPA, radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally as uranium, thorium, or radium—radioactive elements found in rocks, soil, and groundwater—break down over time. Exposure to radon typically happens when the gas enters buildings and homes through cracks and gaps, allowing it to accumulate in the air we breathe.

If you ask most people, they understand that smoking is the #1 cause of lung cancer. Many, however, couldn’t tell you the #2 cause of lung cancer. But the fact is that radon exposure is the second leading cause of the disease in the United States. (For non-smokers, it’s the #1 cause of lung cancer.)

The good news? These numbers could be significantly reduced with regular household radon testing and effective mitigation strategies.

Why is Winter a Concern?

During winter, homes are typically sealed to conserve heat, reducing ventilation and allowing radon gas to accumulate to higher concentrations. The stack effect, where warm air rises and escapes from the upper levels of a home, can draw more radon from the soil into the lower levels. This makes winter an ideal time to test for radon, as it can reveal the maximum potential exposure levels.

Testing Your Home for Radon

Because you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, testing is the only way to know if your home has elevated radon levels. You can hire a qualified radon professional or use a do-it-yourself test kit* available at hardware stores or through your local health department. Short-term tests take between 2 to 7 days and are a good starting point. If initial results are at or above the EPA’s action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air, follow up with a long-term test to confirm. (source: CDC)

*For DIY radon test kits, check out the information at BEST REVIEWS. They’ve tested and reviewed five of the most popular radon detectors.

Protect Environmental also has a lot of good information on radon testing.

Mitigating High Radon Levels

If your home has high radon levels, don’t panic—mitigation methods are effective and can reduce radon levels by up to 99%. The most common approach is active soil depressurization, which involves installing a vent pipe system and fan to pull radon from beneath the house and vent it outside. Sealing cracks and openings in the foundation can also help, but should not be relied upon as the sole method of mitigation. (source: CDC)

The most common and reliable mitigation method is active soil depressurization (ASD). This involves installing a vent pipe system and a specialized fan that continuously pulls radon gas from beneath your home’s foundation and safely vents it outside, preventing it from entering your living spaces. This system works effectively for most types of homes, including those with basements, crawlspaces, or slab-on-grade foundations. (source: MN Dept of Health)

Other measures, such as sealing cracks and openings in floors and walls, can help reduce radon entry but should not be relied on as the sole mitigation method. These steps are best used in conjunction with ASD for optimal results.

If you’re building a new home, consider incorporating radon-resistant construction techniques, which include a combination of barriers, vent pipes, and sealants to prevent radon infiltration from the start.

The cost of a radon mitigation system varies from state to state and depends on many factors, including the type of radon system to be installed and how your home was built. In general, costs can range from $1,500 to $3000. In some states, financial assistance may be available to qualified individuals to help pay for a radon mitigation system.

The EPA offers this information:

• National Radon Hotline: Call 1-800-767-7236 to order a radon test kit
• Radon Fix-It Hotline: Call 1-800-644-6999 for general information on reducing radon levels in your home

For more information on radon testing and mitigation, visit the CDC’s Radon Page.

Take Action Today

When it comes to radon, “out of sight, out of mind” is not a smart option. Given the serious health risks linked to radon exposure—especially during the winter months—testing your home is essential. If elevated levels are found, taking swift action can make all the difference. Protect your health –and your family’s– by ensuring your home is safe from this silent but dangerous hazard.

Related Articles:

Radon: The #2 Cause of Lung Cancer

Exactly What’s In Those Dust Bunnies?

Eat Healthy, Wherever You Are!

Visit The Templeton List

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