November's Special Offers & News
Stanton's monthly newsletter brings you valuable information related to radon along with periodic deals and incentives for solving radon or crawlspace problems. Please enjoy the following and let us know what you think--we look forward to hearing from you!
in this month's newsletter:
Q & A of the month: I purchased a home radon monitor and the levels appear to change a lot. Should I be concerned?
November's Special Offer: Thanksgiving Special: $150 off a new radon mitigation system.*
The Random File: Radon: A Spiky Beast (Part 1 of a special series: when--and when not to be concerned)
Q
I purchased a home radon monitor and the radon levels appear to change a lot. Should I be concerned with temporary spikes in my home's radon levels?
A
From the Airthings Support Page:
Some of Airthings’ devices are able to show results just one hour after setting them up. However, it is recommended to measure for at least one full month to get a more comprehensive set of readings. Due to the fluctuating nature of radon, the longer you measure, the more accurate the readings will be.
- Airthings.com, manufacturer of Airthings radon monitors
Note from Stanton:
Remember, the most important figure you're looking for when measuring radon is the average level. It has been shown that the biggest threat to our health from radon is long-term (often multiple decades) exposure to consistently elevated radon levels.
Special Offers for November
Mention this newsletter and receive $150 off a new radon mitigation system.*
*Applies only to new, complete radon mitigation systems on residential properties. Can not be combined with other offers. Valid through end of November 2019.
The Random File
Radon: A Spiky Beast
Part 1: Spikes & Monitors
Action Over Anxiety
Thanks to useful technologies like the Airthings, Safety Siren, Radon Eye and other brands of home radon monitors, it’s now easier than ever for a homeowner to test their own radon levels.
With this new accessibility, however, comes a greater need for the consumer to be well-informed, both with proper testing protocol and how to interpret their results.
First, we need to remember that radon is everywhere--and will always be everywhere.
It only becomes a health concern when it accumulates in closed spaces like a building, and exposes the inhabitants to higher-than-average levels for long periods of time.
The concentration of radon within a building's air space at any given time can also be affected by a series of variables, including:
the current amount of ventilation (such as air conditioning or heating systems, open windows & doors, effectiveness of insulation)
home air exhaust appliances such as dryers, fans, furnaces, space heaters, etc.
weather conditions such as pressure changes, wind, or rain
where in the building the test is conducted as it often varies from room to room, and level to level.
This is one of the reasons why testing over a long-term period is paramount to understanding average levels, which are indicative of the true risk of developing lung cancer. Again, spikes, or short plateaus, in radon levels have not been shown to cause harm; and even in cases of substantially elevated radon levels, the real health threat is long-term exposure to those elevated levels. The EPA references 4.0 pCi/L (long-term average) as their recommended "Take Action" level, meaning take action towards installing a mitigation system or conducting further tests to verify that the long-term average is indeed over 4.0. We think that this is an excellent choice of words. Action over anxiety.
Radon won't kill you overnight, but try to install a radon mitigation system sooner than later so that your exposure is shorter term rather than longer term.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/radon
Airthings.com Recommended Action Chart
0 - 1.3 pCi/L: No action necessary.
1.4 - 2.6 pCi/L: Experiment with ventilation & sealing cracks to reduce levels.2.7 - 8 pCi/L: Keep measuring. If levels are maintained for more than 3 months, contact a professional radon mitigator.8.1 pCi/L and up: Keep measuring. If levels are maintained for more than 1 month, contact a professional radon mitigator.
Source: https://www.airthings.com/blog/us/radon-levels
A common concern we hear in the radon industry is that even a slightly elevated radon reading has made the home's residents uncomfortable. It's best to put these readings into perspective. A 2.0 pCi/L reading is not a cause of immediate concern, but may be monitored, and if desired, a system can be installed for preventative measures. To keep the wide range of radon levels in perspective, a property in Vail had a reading of over 300 pCi/L (which is now 0.3 pCi/L after our system was installed), and a home in Pennsylvania measured an astonishing 6176 pCi/L.
Source: https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-lehigh-county-high-radon-20161117-story.html
Next, in Part 2 of Radon, A Spiky Beast: Testing Protocols
Stanton Radon
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