Carbon monoxide (CO) and radon are two of the most dangerous indoor gases. While CO poisoning has immediate effects, it may take years for full-blown symptoms of radon poisoning to develop. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., so doing what you can to mitigate its concentration can help you avoid exposure hazards.
Radon is created from decomposing uranium found in the soil and rocks. As the soil decomposes, it emits radon gas, which can collect in your home for you to breathe in on an ongoing basis. The soil and geological conditions in the Fresno area contain some areas of high radon concentrations, so it’s important to test your home and implement a solution.
Symptoms
Although radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas, over time, detectable symptoms can develop. Experiencing respiratory distress like lung infections, difficulty breathing, a persistent cough, or wheezing can be signs of radon toxicity. A pulmonologist can diagnose the causes of these symptoms.
Detection
Radon testing kits are widely available in home improvement and hardware stores. They’re easy to place and only takes a few weeks or months to collect enough data to test your home. If you’re selling your home, you’ll have to use a California registered and certified tester and laboratory.
Radon Management
Ventilation is the key to reducing radon poisoning indoors, and you’ll need an HVAC contractor or a licensed radon mitigation expert to calculate how much ventilation your home needs to dilute the gas. Options include the soil suction radon reduction system, vent pipes and fans that pull the gas coming up from the soil, as well as balanced ventilation systems that remove existing air, replacing it with fresh, outdoor air. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) can work to dilute the amount of radon indoors without driving up your energy costs.
The experts at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning can help you avoid radon poisoning by evaluating your home’s indoor air quality and recommending solutions. We’ve been providing HVAC services in the Fresno area for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about radon poisoning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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