When it comes to indoor air quality, you may think that your home is the cleanest and safest place on the planet. But that doesn’t mean that it’s free of harmful contaminants. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 90% of homes have some level of indoor air pollution. This includes things like dust, pet dander, and formaldehyde from furniture or carpeting. But the one thing most people don’t associate with bad air is radon. It’s a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can be found in the soil around the world. However, in homes, it’s something that is almost impossible to escape from because of its heavy weight and low permeability rate. This means that high levels of indoor radon are almost always the result of indoor sources, such as a poorly installed or faulty HVAC system with poor sealing. Here are some common sources of indoor radon and ways to check if yours is high enough to be a concern:
The most common source of indoor radon, especially in older homes with older HVAC systems. In fact, the EPA reports that up to 90% of homes with high indoor radon levels have an HVAC system that is over 25 years old. The reason for this is that older systems are more likely to have poor seals and gaps that can allow for higher levels of indoor radon. If you have an older HVAC system, you may want to consider having it inspected and serviced by a professional HVAC technician. This will help to ensure that it’s properly installed and has adequate seals and gaskets to prevent indoor levels of radon from being high enough to be a concern.
Another common source of indoor radon is a leaky basement. This is especially true if you have a crawl space above your basement. A crawl space is an unventilated area that is usually made of dirt or wood, which can allow for indoor levels of radon to increase significantly. If you have a crawl space, you may want to have it properly insulated to reduce the amount of air that can escape from it. This can also help to reduce the amount of dust, dirt, and other contaminants that can enter your home through the crawl space.
Another common source of indoor radon is the faulty installation of flooring and drywall. This can happen if a home has been renovated or if the home’s construction was not done properly. In these cases, the flooring and drywall may not be properly sealed, which can allow for higher levels of indoor radon. If you have recently had a home built or renovated, you may want to have a home inspector or HVAC technician inspect your home to make sure that the installation of flooring and drywall was done correctly.
Another common source of indoor radon is from the soil outside of your home. If you have a lot of soil around your home, it can be a source of indoor radon. This is especially true if you have a garden or live in a rural area. If you have a lot of soil around your home, you may want to consider planting some trees or shrubs to help prevent indoor levels of radon from being high enough to be a concern.
Indoor levels of radon are a serious and preventable health hazard. If you have high indoor levels of radon, it can increase your risk of certain types of cancer, especially lung cancer. Luckily, there are a number of ways that you can reduce your risk of exposure to indoor levels of radon. First, you can have your home inspected to make sure that there are no high levels of indoor radon. If there are high levels, you can have the home remediated to reduce the levels to below the safe level. Finally, you can also take steps to reduce the amount of soil around your home, which can be a source of indoor levels of radon.
Make it a habit to clean regularly. By being religious in your daily cleaning routine, you develop a sense of order and standards. Learn to remove items that are not essential especially if your space is tiny. Go for a minimalist yet functional approach at home to keep your place organized and clean.
A healthy home is where you can breathe and live freely. Remove damp spaces and always keep your home well-ventilated and well-lighted. Eliminate possible allergens by maintaining your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Regularly replace your air filters every 3 months to avoid build-up of dust and dirt.