Utah Radon Defense

By

FAQs

At Utah Radon Defense, we’re here for you.

Have a question not listed below? Contact us via email or phone and our certified radon specialists will answer your questions.

Radon

Radon is the tasteless, odorless gas released from the natural, radioactive decay of uranium and radium in the soil and rocks.¹

According to the EPA, WHO, CDC and the Surgeon General, radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer and responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer-related deaths in the United States per year.²-⁴  Children may be twice as likely to develop lung cancer with the same exposure as adults.⁶

Radon seeps into structures through foundation cracks or holes, construction joints, wall cracks, floor gaps, service pipe cracks, wall cavities, and in some cases may even enter drinking water.⁷

Utah has higher than average radon totals. Studies show 1 in 3 homes have above the EPA’s recommended safe level.⁸ Geology scans show most of Utah has some level of radon.⁹

Testing

Every home should be tested¹⁰ for radon, but radon can be in any structure. Office buildings, industrial buildings, mines, apartments/condos, schools, daycare centers, and home daycares should be tested.

Our certified professionals will access the structure and set up a highly accurate, short term radon gas monitoring device. Find out more about radon testing.

The EPA recommends every home be tested for radon⁷ before purchasing.

The EPA recommends testing anytime another level is occupied, after a renovation, anytime a purchase/sale is made or at least every two years.¹¹

Mitigation

Radon mitigation is a specific system or installation to lessen indoor radon gas levels. While there are several types, Sub-Pressure Depressurization is one of the most common. Underground pipes are installed underground to draw radon gas out and away from the structure.

Radon remediation means the radon gas has been not only decreased but completed eliminated by means of an RMS (Radon Mitigation System)

The average cost for a radon mitigation system installation in an average size home is around $1,200, although it can range from $500 to as much as $2,500. Your costs may vary depending on which radon reduction methods are needed.

While it greatly depends on the type of RMS (radon mitigation system) used, the pipe system can last up to 50 years if properly maintained and fans should generally last 5-20 years.

Our certified mitigation specialists offer repair services to your current mitigation system.

Sources

  1. “What Is Radon Gas? Is It Dangerous?” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 21 Aug. 2019, www.epa.gov/radiation/what-radon-gas-it-dangerous.
  2. “Health Risk of Radon.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 24 July 2019, www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon.
  3.  “Radon and Cancer.” National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/radon
  4.   “Protect Yourself and Your Family from Radon.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Jan. 2020, www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/protect-home-radon/index.htm
  5. A Citizen’s Guide to Radon The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon. United States Environmental Protection Agency , Dec. 2016, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/2016_a_citizens_guide_to_radon.pdf.
  6.  “Environmental Health and Medicine Education.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
  7. A Citizen’s Guide to Radon The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon. United States Environmental Protection Agency , Dec. 2016, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/2016_a_citizens_guide_to_radon.pdf.
  8.  “What You Need to Know About Radon.” University of Utah Health, healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute
  9.  Utah Geological Survey, geology.utah.gov
  10.  Radon Warning Statement For Home Buyers.” AARSTNRPP, aarst-nrpp.com/wp/radon-warning-statement-home-buyers/.
  11. “How Often Should I Test/Retest My Home for Radon?” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Apr. 2019, www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq