Radon gas is an odorless radioactive gas found in the soil that can seep into homes. The radon levels in the air (colorless and odorless) slowly build up over time in houses with no windows or cracks in the foundation walls. This can be quite harmful as there is no physical indication there might be radon present without doing testing for it.
If you’ve done radon testing before, you might have seen that the levels might come back different every time. Let’s look at what causes radon levels to fluctuate so much.
What Makes Radon Levels Fluctuate?
Radon levels can vary due to several factors. These include:
Change In Weather
Extreme weather changes can affect how radon seeps into your home; therefore, it causes the levels to rise and fall depending on different conditions. Severe storms and high wind levels may cause a high concentration of radon gas inside your home, while light rain and mild wind have little to no effect on radon levels.
Closed Spaces
Many studies have shown that radon levels increase when houses are closed off.
Buildings and houses create vacuums to pull radon gas from the soil. In the winter months, the only way out for the gas is through the soil beneath your home due to the frozen ground. Because during winter, it’s very likely your windows are closed due to the cold, radon gas will stay present inside your home without a way out, making the levels higher.
Exhaust Systems
Exhaust systems such as gas combustion appliances, fireplaces, and exhaust ventilation systems create negative pressure inside your home, allowing radon gas to be pulled from the soil. This causes an increase in the amount of gas that shows up when you test for radon.
What To Do?
The drastic fluctuations in radon levels may make people believe they don’t need to take action since the levels vary so much. However, it’s important to understand that radon gas is very dangerous, and you must take care of it as soon as possible. Get in touch with a radon mitigation company to avoid any potential issues.
Specialists Can Help
Radon Control Services can help you eliminate radon exposure from your home. As radon mitigation specialists, we want to keep you safe from the silent killer. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take care of it. Don’t hesitate to reach out now. We offer a free no-obligation quote!
