Expert Home Inspectors in Waukesha, WI

Radon rises through the soil below the foundation of buildings, where it gets trapped under the foundation and increases in pressure. Because the air pressure inside homes and other buildings is lower than the pressure in the soil, radon gas will work its way through any small cracks or gaps in the floors and walls of buildings. Radon can also get into homes through water, especially in homes with well water. The gas dissolves in water and is released through steam and condensation once inside the home. Although radon can be ingested by drinking well water with radon in it, the risks are considered much lower than the risk of breathing in radon.

Unfortunately, no. Radon can vary significantly even between two houses next door to each other. The only way to know for sure how much radon is in your home is to have it tested

It is typical for condensation to form inside the exhaust tube of a radon mitigation system. Any condensation that forms, along with what little rain water gets in, will simply trickle into the ground. Debris rarely ever gets into an exhaust pipe. This is because the force of air exiting the pipe prevents anything from entering. We sometimes have customers ask us if it's a good idea to put a screen over the exhaust vent to prevent any debris from entering. This is actually a bad idea, due to the potential for ice to accumulate on the screen and clog the exhaust.

The only drawback we can think of is that most homeowners notice a small increase in their energy bills. This is attributable to a small fan in the mitigation system running all the time. The small increase in energy costs is certainly worth the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home has greatly reduced radon levels.

The amount of radiation you're exposed to depends entirely on the radon levels in your home. To complicate things even more, radon levels can fluctuate throughout the year depending on weather and meteorological conditions. To give you a rough idea, though, in a home with radon levels of 4 pCi/L (the level at which mitigation is recommended), 8 hours of exposure is the equivalent of receiving 200 chest x-rays per year.