SafeGuard Radon - Radon Facts & Maps

Myth: Scientists are not sure that radon is really a problem.
Fact: Scientists may dispute the number of deaths causes by
radon exposure but all the major health organizations do agree that radon exposure causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths each year.

Myth: Only certain types of homes are affected by radon entry.

Fact: Radon can affect all types of homes. (slab-on-grade, basement, crawl spaces, old and new). High radon levels can be found in every state. Each home will have different radon levels. Radon moves upward through cracks and fissures in the earths crust. If a structure is sitting on one of these cracks or fissures, the structure may have elevated radon concentrations of radon.

Myth: Short-term radon tests cannot be used for making a decision about whether to reduce high radon levels.

Fact: Short-term tests are accurate and may be used for making a decision about whether to reduce the structures high radon levels. The closer the short-term testing result is to 4.0 pCi/L, the less certainty there is about the home's year round average and a long term test may be recommended.

Myth: Installing a radon mitigation system makes the home difficult to sell.

Fact: Installing a radon mitigation system has not been seen to cause problems with reselling a home. More and more home buyers are knowledgeable of radon exposure health effects and the presence of a radon mitigation system can be perceived as positive and may, in fact, be a selling point for the home.

Myth: Radon readings change day to day. Only long term tests are accurate.

Fact: Long term tests do measure your actual exposure over a longer period of time and take into consideration seasonal changes, weather conditions, and occupant living habits.

Short term tests are very accurate for the conditions they are measuring. Short term radon measurements taken in the lowest living area are very typically reproducible month to month. Measurements taken in a seasonal heating or cooling season are often slightly higher than in those taken in spring or fall due to greater pressures in the home.

Myth: Rain causes high readings.

Fact: Normal rainfall has little impact on readings. Heavy rainfall saturates the soil and causes low readings due to air in the soil being sealed out of the home by water. People testing for radon should avoid testing during periods of high lateral winds or severe weather conditions.

Myth: Sealing the sump hole and floor cracks and wall to flooring unions fixes the radon problem.

Fact: Sealing alone is not recommended and the results are unpredictable. We don’t believe it is a permanent fix to a radon problem. We believe that sealing alone will eventually result in radon finding find an alternate way to enter the structure. Sealing alone may actually result in increased radon concentrations.
The EPA does not recommend the use of sealing alone to reduce radon because sealing alone has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently.