- 2 Winter is a good time to test for radon gas.
- Winter is a good time to test for radon because you are, in-most cases, measuring the worst case scenario for your home.
- With the hatches battened down and the furnace running, you are creating a scenario that can cause radon levels to be higher.
Besides, What season are radon levels highest? To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
What can give false radon readings?
A short term test is good at measuring your current radon levels, but these levels can fluctuate due to a number of factors, including:
- Barometric pressure.
- Temperature/Season.
- House construction.
- Rain soaked ground.
- HVAC system.
- Improper placement of the device.
What can throw off a radon test? Turn off all air moving devices during the test. This would include ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, regular fans, HEPA or any other kind of filtering device that moves air. Do not operate fireplaces or heating stoves during the test unless they are your main source of heat.
Hence, What causes high radon readings? One of the leading causes of high radon gas levels in a home is the natural radioactive decay of uranium. Uranium can be found in soil, rocks and water. As uranium decays, it releases radon gas into the atmosphere. If your home foundation built on soil containing radon, it enters the home and become a health hazard.
What states have the most radon?
Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:
- Alaska (10.7)
- South Dakota (9.6)
- Pennsylvania (8.6)
- Ohio (7.8)
- Washington (7.5)
- Kentucky (7.4)
- Montana (7.4)
- Idaho (7.3)
How quickly can radon affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop.
Does a dehumidifier reduce radon?
No, buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away. Research conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has clearly disproved this idea.
What time of year are radon levels highest?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
What causes radon to spike?
Weather – changing temperatures and wind can affect the pressure difference between indoor air and ground air. This is important because radon traditionally leaks into the house from ground air. If temperature differences and wind cause negative pressure in the house, indoor radon levels are likely to increase.
Where are radon levels highest in a house?
Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space. When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation.
What time of year is radon highest?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
How accurate is a radon detector?
The monitors had a range of uncertainty from 2%–15% with a range of precision from 1%–24%. The monitors performed better at higher radon levels than at levels near the Canadian guideline level of 200 Bq m−3, and slightly better during ‘summer’ conditions than during ‘indoor winter’ conditions.
Which states have the most radon?
Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:
- Alaska (10.7)
- South Dakota (9.6)
- Pennsylvania (8.6)
- Ohio (7.8)
- Washington (7.5)
- Kentucky (7.4)
- Montana (7.4)
- Idaho (7.3)
What season is radon highest?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
What are the signs of radon poisoning?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Loss of appetite.
How long do you have to be exposed to radon for it to be harmful?
There are no immediate signs or symptoms from breathing in background radon. Repeated exposure over time — around 20 years — can lead to cancer development, especially if you are also a smoker.
