Reducing Radon Gas in Your Home

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can pose serious health risks if it accumulates in your home. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon can lead to lung cancer, making it essential to implement effective measures to reduce radon levels. This article explores various solutions to mitigate radon, discussing the pros and cons of each approach.

Radon is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, and is often called a silent killer. The gas is emitted below ground through radioactive decay and is at its highest concentrations in parts of the country where the local geology includes igneous rocks such as granite. This includes parts of Scotland, Wales, the Southwest of England, and the Cotswolds.

Radon is radioactive and during its decay process, it ionises dust particles that can be inhaled where they can cause cell mutations that lead to cancer.

Radon is a heavy gas, and as such is at it’s highest concentrations in lower parts of your home such as at floor level or in cellars.

Improving airflow around your home reduces the concentration of radon gas and makes your home safer. There are several ways in which radon levels can be reduced, but not all are suitable for every home and may require extensive remedial building work to install.

Sub-slab depressurization

Sub-slab depressurization is one of the most common and effective methods to reduce radon levels. This technique involves installing a vent pipe system and fan to pull radon from beneath the house and vent it to the outside.

While this method is highly effective in reducing radon levels, and is a long-term solution, the initial installation process is costly because it usually involves building work being carried out on the foundations of your home.

Radon sumps

Radon sumps are cavities created beneath the floor of a building, connected to a pipe and fan system to extract radon gas and expel it outside. As with sub-slab depressurisation, this is an effective long-term solution to reducing radon levels, but the professional building work required and the need to make changes at foundation level means that it is not necessarily suitable as a retrofitting solution.

Positive input ventilation (PIV)

Positive Input Ventilation works by introducing a continuous flow of fresh air into the home, thereby diluting, and reducing radon levels. It involves the installation of a unit, usually in the loft, which draws in fresh air from outside and distributes it throughout the house.

Positive Input Ventilation systems can be retrofitted into most homes, making them a versatile solution for radon reduction. Retrofitting involves installing the PIV unit in the loft or a suitable location and connecting it to a power source. The unit draws air from the outside, filters it, and gently distributes it throughout the home via a network of ducts or a single outlet. At roof level, the concentrations of radon in outside air are negligible, meaning that the incoming air does not contribute more radon inside your property.

Find out more

If you live in an area with high radon levels, it is important to monitor them regularly to ensure that you are not at risk. The health risks of living with radon should not be ignored – particularly in households with young children or people with respiratory problems. Book an appointment with one of our local ventilation specialists to discuss your options and get advice about the best radon solution for your home.