Why You Should Think About Radon When You’re Building a New Home

What is radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can seep into your home from many different entry points. It is found all over the country, and levels can even vary from one house to another in the same neighborhood. Why does this matter to you? The Surgeon General warns us that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

While radon is incredibly dangerous, there is some good news. If you’re building a new home, you can take precautions to make that structure radon-resistant.

Radon-resistent features to install

When you’re building your new home, here are just some of the features you can install to make your home resistant to radon:

 

• Sump pump installation: The sump pump will not only protect your basement from flooding, but it will also protect your entire home from radon. Radon can get into your home from the sump pump, but the device installed with it will seal it off so nothing can get in.

 

• Plastic sheeting: You can install plastic sheeting over the soil but under the concrete slab of your foundation to prevent soil gas from entering your home. This technique works well in crawlspaces and basements.

 

• Ventilation: If your roof is not vented properly, the gases coming from the basement will not be able to escape. Installing a pipe that runs from the basement to the roof will allow the gases to safely escape.

 

• Proper sealant: Thoroughly seal your concrete foundation to stop any soil gas from entering your home.

 

Why you should invest in these features

You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t need these features in your new home. It’s brand new, so how could it already have radon in it? It actually can, and here are some of the ways you can benefit from these features.

 

• They work: These techniques can get rid of radon if you realize you have it have radon testing, and they also work hard to prevent radon thereafter.

 

• Cost effective: If you find high levels of radon in your home after radon testing, it can be expensive to fix. Installing these features upfront to prevent radon can save you money.

 

• Saves money: These features also make your home more energy efficient and can save you money on your energy costs every year.

 

• Easy to upgrade: While these systems work to prevent radon, it can still get in your home. So, regular radon testing will be necessary. If you discover radon, you can easily upgrade your features for further radon reduction.

 
If you’re building a new home, don’t forget about radon. Call us today if you need testing kits, sump pump installation, radon mitigation, or just have questions.