No, not cigarette smoke, Radon. Radon is estimated to cause approximately 21,000 deaths each year. Lung cancer is a prolific killer, causing the deaths of more people in the U.S. than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined.
If you live in the Atlanta area, you are in a high or medium risk zone for Radon. The fact that your neighbor has Radon or does not have Radon is no indicator of whether your home is filling with Radon gas.
If your home was built above Radon gas, no one will know unless the house is tested. The Radon gas will seep into gaps and cracks in your foundation. If the concentration of Radon is high, it will accumulate in your home and increase your chances of lung cancer.
If you live in Atlanta, you should test your home for Radon and if the results come back higher than 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends mitigation action to lower the level of Radon in your home.
A Radon mitigation system works by depressurizing the earth below your foundation, pumping the gases through PVC piping to exterior of your home above the edge of your roof. In new construction, the pipe is normally installed in a chase just like your furnace flue pipe. In an existing home, the pipe is run up the outside of the home.
Since Radon is very prevalent in the Atlanta area, many buyers will ask for the results of a Radon test as a condition of sale.
If you are moving or just want to sleep better at night, call us at Arbor Insulation Solutions (404) 728-0001. We guarantee results.
