Whether you realize it or not, a colorless, odorless gas may be silently threatening the health of you and your family by putting you at risk of lung cancer. Some 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year are attributable to this gas, radon. As a result, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends each and every home be tested for it.
Radon seeps up from soil as uranium naturally decays. It is found in nearly all soils. Uranium breaks down into radium as it decays and further disintegrates into a radioactive gas. The gas moves up through porous soil into the air. It is everywhere, but is most concentrated indoors where it can accumulate without dissipating into the air. Any home, old or new, sealed or drafty, may be vulnerable to radon accumulations. Because of the way gases move up through the soil, radioactive gas levels tend to be higher on lower floors of your home, such as basements, and dilute as they ascend and circulate. There is no safe level. One in three Minnesota homes poses a significant health risk due to high levels of radon.
What can you do?
Reduce pathways where gases get into your home by addressing issues such as cracks and holes in your home’s foundation, exposed soil, mortar joints, loose-fitting pipe connections and more. You should also increase ventilation in your home by opening windows, using exhaust fans or installing a mechanical ventilation system. Schedule an air quality test to ensure your home is safe, and install radon monitors. You should also understand how time and location affect the test: Limited ventilation due to cold winter weather increases radon levels, as does the level or floor of your home where the test is being done.
At Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re here to help you with a variety of home-comfort issues. We have been committed to improving air quality for our Twin Cities Metro Area customers for over 38 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about radon and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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