The presence of Radon Gas in the soils throughout the United States is an issue of increasing alarm. Radon is recognized as the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to a study conducted by the University of Iowa.

If the home you plan to purchase is located in an area with a higher risk, consider early installing an anti-radion system. In many locations, there is a requirement for a test in every transaction of real estate residential properties. It is likely to increase to encompass all of the high-risk areas. Whatever the case your health is worth the little investment needed in a test system.

The basic installation of this system within a basement or a slab-on-grade foundation is as simple as putting in a perforated pipe beneath the slab, covered with crushed rock, and tying it up to a connector in the basement. The pipe’s venting out to the outside (away from windows in your home or the neighbors, and preferably upwards to the roof) is called a Passive Radon Mitigation System. If, after your house is completed, a test shows that the levels remain too high, you could need to change into an active Radon Mitigation system by installing a fan that operates continuously. This creates an atmosphere of low pressure underneath the slab and boosts the rate of gas expulsion. Therefore, you should place the slab’s penetration in an area easily accessible and with electric power to run the fan.

Radon gas is present at various levels in nearly every region of the nation. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s Radon Map Zone at the following link.

Radon Map Zone Areas with pink represent the highest risk, followed by Yellow and Orange. Click here to determine the risk level for your locality.

The fan can be located in the attic especially if the foundation is a slab-on-grade or is a crawl space. Remember that you’ll need to ensure that the vent in the roof doesn’t allow water to run into the pipe that leads to the slab below. This is not a good decision for many reasons.