About Radon

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas, naturally produced by uranium decay in the soil. Even though you can’t see, smell, or taste it, it may be present in your home and harming your family. Radon gas is considered harmless when dispersed in outdoor air, but can be a serious health hazard when trapped inside buildings. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year.

Houses breathe, and as we heat our homes in the winter, the warm air rises up through the roof. Air is then replaced or suctioned into your home from the ground. The result is that soil gases in the vicinity of your basement will enter your home through cracks in the basement floors and walls. Homes with crawl spaces are at a higher risk.

Radon is a common problem in Nebraska homes. 50% of radon tests conducted in the state is elevated. Homes with an annual average radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) should have a mitigation system installed to reduce radon levels.

Radon Testing

Environmental Services is a Licensed Radon Measurement Business and can provide free continuous radon monitoring in Norfolk and surrounding areas. Charles or Waylon will come to your home and place a continuous monitor in the lowest livable area of your home. The monitor is left running for 48 hours, measuring radon levels every hour. At the end of 48 hours the monitor is picked up and the data is printed out, averaging the radon levels.

There are also several do-it-yourself radon measurement kits, which are easy to use. The Activated Charcoal Canister comes with a postage paid, pre-addressed box to mail directly to the lab. Lab costs are included in the price of the kit and the results are emailed directly to you.

Radon Mitigation is Affordable

Environmental Services is also a licensed Radon Mitigation Business, with Charles holding a Radon Mitigation License. A Radon Mitigation System utilizes PVC pipe to collect the radon gases and pipe them upwards out of your home. One or more penetrations are made in the concrete floor slab with a small pit created beneath, or if you have a sump pit that will be utilized. If there is no slab, a retardant vapor barrier is placed over the dirt prior to creating the penetrations. PVC pipe is then connected to the penetrations and routed through the roof or sidewall of the house. A Radon Fan is used to draw the gases out of the ground and discharge them safely above the house.

With Interior installations, the pipe is routed through closets and pipe chases, in the least obtrusive manner possible. The fan is installed in the attic with a PVC vent pipe penetrating the roof.

Exterior installations have the same floor penetration, but the PVC pipe is routed outside, up the sidewall of the house, where the radon gases are discharged safely above the roof.

Call Environmental Services for a FREE Radon Mitigation estimate today!