Are You Worried About Radon In Your New Home Now That You Are Expecting A Baby? 4 Tips To Avoid High Levels
As a new parent, you naturally want to do everything that you can to create a safe home for your baby to grow up in. While you might not have thought too much about things such as radon in the past, making sure that the air quality is safe for your new baby brings it into closer focus. Radon naturally occurs in the environment, and many houses have radon present to some extent. However, high levels can lead to lung damage and cancer if a person is exposed to radon for a long period of time. Before your baby arrives, you can use these four tips to avoid high levels of radon where you spend the most time as a family.
Start by Testing the Radon Levels
Your first step is to find out if high levels are already a problem. Radon testing is simple, and it only involves placing a device in your home that monitors the levels over time. Short-term radon testing can be done in as few as three to 90 days. However, long-term testing is considered better. This type of testing lasts longer than three months, but it gives more accurate results since the levels can fluctuate over time. Either way, you will soon know whether you need to arrange for radon mitigation services right away.
Seal Cracks Around the House
One way that radon gets into a home is through cracks in the foundation and walls. Start by checking for cracks on the foundation and in the flooring. If you find them, then seal them up with epoxy sealant or caulk. Keep in mind that it is sometimes hard to find these cracks. A radon specialist can help you identify areas that need to be sealed to block off radon gas.
Ventilate Whenever Possible
Homes that are tightly sealed tend to have higher radon levels. While it will not permanently lower radon in your home, opening up windows on pretty days can help to do so temporarily. Radon also flows through the home by changes in the air pressure. Exhaust fans and fireplaces can lower the air pressure in your home. By opening a window when you use these features of your home, you can keep the air pressure from decreasing enough to let more radon inside.
Install a Mitigation System
Finally, you need to take prompt action if your testing reveals that your house does have high levels of radon. A radon mitigation system lowers the amount of this gas that gets into your home. Radon mitigation services are able to quickly install these systems in most houses so that you can permanently rest easy knowing that your baby is safe breathing in your home.