Q   Tests have shown that our house has a radon gas problem. After speaking with a few radon mitigation contractors, we think the process seems easy enough to do ourselves. Do you know of any good resources that detail this process?

EPA Map of Radon Zones

Click image to enlarge.

A   Congratulations on testing your home. Our best advice, if you have high levels of this radioactive gas, is to hire a certified professional radon mitigator. They’re trained to perform diagnostic tests to choose the best reduction system for your specific house—based on your foundation design and the entry points for the gas. To get a list of certified pros in your state, call (800) 644-6999. Mitigation to an existing Home usually costs $800 to $2,500.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that’s formed when uranium breaks down in the soil. One way this colorless, odorless soil gas can seep into a house is through cracks and holes (especially at or near a sump pump) in the foundation and crawlspace. If the gas builds up to a level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, you run a long-term risk of getting lung cancer.

Homeowners can take steps to reduce radon gas. For example, you can seal holes and cracks in your basement, place a gas-tight seal over a sump pump hole, and pour concrete over dirt floors or crawlspaces. However, some practices, if applied incorrectly, can actually increase the radon level. If you find and close these major entry routes and another test doesn’t show sufficient reductions, hire a pro rather than try to seal all possible minor openings.

One good resource is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Web site: www.epa.gov/iaq/radon. To learn more about radon mitigation standards, visit www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/mitstds.html. The National Radon Information Line is (800) 767-7236.