Considering the statistics, it's worth having an honest conversation with yourself on making an investment into the radon level reading in your home or radon mitigation system. Some people don’t like fear being used as a motivating factor, while others believe they are the exception to the rule. Others are oblivious to the negative implications and causation of high radon levels in a home. Either way, we want people to be informed on how radon enters a home and how the type of home you have could impact radon levels. Let's discuss how radon levels can impact a home depending on whether it is old or brand new.
Older homes could be subject to high radon levels because they don’t have a radon mitigation system installed. Randon is a rather recent discovery in terms of how it can impact the health of homeowners. Older homes weren’t necessarily built with high levels of radon accumulation in mind. Because of this, it may take time to have proper radon mitigation systems integrated into the architecture of the home.
On the flip side, older homes may potentially have lower radon levels compared to a newer home. Radon travels through soil, rock, and groundwater. Older homes, compared to new homes, tend to have more foundation cracks, openings, or less insulation. Becuase of this, radon can pass through easier and decrease its atmospheric composition within the home. Over time, radon mitigation could naturally develop in an older home. However, it is still important to include a radon inspection if you are purchasing an older home.
The large myth that exists for newer homes is, since they are new, they are not going to have any issues with hazardous radon levels. But this is not the case. Newer homes can provide different ways for radon to come up through the rock and soil beneath the structure and create a vacuum through entryways within the home. Newer homes are also much more insulated than older homes, and are built this way to keep hot and cold air in during the different seasons of the year. Though this is an effective way to monitor air temperature, it also tends to trap radon, causing it to reach potentially dangerous levels over time. One positive factor of having a newer home is that architects are more educated compared to 50-80 years ago. Radon mitigation systems are becoming more popular, and, as a result, newer homes may have favorable ways to install radon mitigation systems.
Overall, detecting radon and knowing how much of it is in your home is a job for a professional. It’s common to think the age of your home is justification to whether or not you are in need of radon testing, removal, or mitigation services. But we strongly suggest you reconsider any preconceived notions you have about your radon levels and give us a call today!