The next home improvement: radon mitigation

I started this blog when we did our last major home improvement (water-proofing the basement). Now it's time for the next project.

It all started this summer when I read an article about elevated radon* levels being occasionally found due to granite countertops (which we now have after the kitchen remodel). Since Mike works from home just a few feet from that granite, we got a couple of test kits and did short term tests in the basement (the standard radon test area) and the kitchen. Both came back over the EPA limit, but the countertop didn't seem to be a contributor, since the radon level in the kitchen was lower than the basement.

Apparently the short term tests aren't extremely accurate, so the next step was to get another kit, and this time do a long term test in the basement. Four months later, and the result was still over the limit (5.8 - it should be below 4).

So this past week we've been getting estimates from radon mitigation contractors. It will just be a one day job, instead of lasting for weeks or months like the kitchen and waterproofing. But it will result in more holes in the floor and/or foundation and/or roof, and a continuously running fan to vent the radon out of the house. But hey, better than lung cancer, right?


*Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, common in Minnesota soil. Long term exposure can lead to lung cancer. So it's a good thing that our bedroom is on the highest level of the house, farthest away from all that radon-y soil.

More than you need to know can be found here: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/index.html