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The Surgeon General advises that radon gas can cause lung cancer the same as smoking cigarettes. Because radon is a mobile inert gas, it is able to migrate through soil and rock into the atmosphere where it is quickly diluted. A past study by the EPA and Wisconsin Dept. of Health estimated that 1 in 4 Wisconsin homes had radon levels above the EPA guideline. We have since learned that radon in a home is as much a function of home construction and ventilation as it is of geographic location.

While it is impossible to prevent any radon from entering your home, a significant reduction to satisfactory levels is always achievable. This is accomplished by sealing areas of exposed earth, dilution of the indoor air or a combination of both. Because of the complexity in predicting elevated indoor radon levels, the EPA strongly encourages testing for radon regardless of where you live or what type of home you occupy. In the Wisconsin study, some of the highest radon levels were found next to homes with very low levels.

In today’s video from the Today’s Home Remodeler TV series, Mike Hogenson from Standard Water Control Systems shows how to solve a radon problem while finishing off a crawlspace to create useable storage space. We also see how to install an egress window. Watch Today’s Home Remodeler every Saturday at 5:00 am on WCCO TV-4 in Minneapolis.

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