What is radon? You might not have heard about radon gas and radon testing before now, but it’s something all homeowners should be aware of. Radon gas is a substance that is created when naturally occurring uranium breaks down in rocks located deep underground and then slowly begins to move towards the surface. Minuscule amounts of radon in your home won’t hurt anything, but if the concentration is too high, then your health can be at risk. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. For this reason alone, it’s important to take part in radon testing and inspection in your home to make sure there aren’t dangerous amounts of radon in your home. If radon testing and inspection reveals radon gas in your home, there are several ways you can keep your home safe, and this article will take a look at a few of those ways.

• Place a Layer of Gravel Under the Foundation: One way you can protect your home from radon gas is by having a layer of gravel placed under the foundation of your home. This layer is placed by drilling a hole in the foundation and pouring gravel into a void created underneath the slab. It can also be created as the foundation is being laid down with new houses. The gravel gives the radon gas some place to go as it works toward the surface, and is meant to prevent the gas from making its way into the home.
• Seal Cracks in the Foundation: Another way to protect your home from radon gas is by having any cracks in your foundation sealed tight. Radon testing and inspection has revealed that it is very possible for radon to make its way in through cracks in the home’s foundation, which makes it vital to seal these cracks and create a complete barrier against radon gas coming up from underground.
• Place a Vapor Barrier in the Crawl Space: A third way to protect your home from radon gas is to have a vapor barrier placed in your home’s crawl space in the basement. The vapor barrier is made of specialized plastic sheeting that covers any exposed ground in the crawlspace and blocks radon gas from getting into the home from that direction.
• Seal the Area Around the Sump Pump: And finally, a fourth way to protect your home from the dangers of radon gas is to seal the area around your home’s sump pump. Most sump pumps connect to the sewer line through a pipe that drills through the home’s foundation. This connecting area needs to be carefully sealed, otherwise, like with cracks in a foundation, the radon gas can find an avenue into the house.

In conclusion, there are several ways you can protect your home from radon gas. These ways include, but are not limited to: placing a layer of gravel under the home’s foundation, sealing cracks in the home’s foundation, placing a vapor barrier in your home’s crawl space, and sealing the area around the sump pump. All of these steps will help to keep your home safe from the dangers of radon gas.