Recently a home owner in Ireland commented that while she was aware of the risks she would not be testing for radon because of worries over the costs and disruption caused by remedial work should radon need reducing to safe levels.
It's a common misconception that testing and mitigation are expensive. Test kits can be purchased for £40 – 45 and remedial charges can amount to simply sealing walls and floors and improving ventilation.
The solution will of course depend on the level of radon and the age, type and construction of the property in which you live. Lots of good advice for home owners is available online.
Several means exist to reduce radon. Low levels of radon can be reduced by up to 50% by sealing and increasing ventilation as mentioned earlier. Damp proof membranes can also be used underground to protect against the ingress of radon gas. These can provide an effective barrier for sealing cavities at ground level. Positive pressure ventilation systems can decrease the presence of radon by 80%. These cost around £700 and are generally fitted in less than two hours with no more disruption than you would get from installing an electrical socket. Under-floor extract and mini-sumps can reduce radon by 90%. These can provide the best solutions for controlling high levels of radon and costs range from £1000 – 1500.
It's worth testing for radon gas because domestic exposure to radon increases the risk of lung cancer. In the UK between 1000 and 2000 deaths each year are estimated to be caused by exposure to radon.
A sensible first step would be request a free survey from an expert company and take it from there. |
