Test your basement for Radon

[Erick Estrada]

A guy at work got some radon mitigation work done on his basement and let me borrow his RadonEye detector. I had never really paid much attention to this in the past as we had an undeveloped basement in our last house. He had an enclosed basement and I have a walkout so I didn't think it would even be an issue for us but low and behold I am getting daily average readings of 491 Bq/m3 and anything over 200 requires attention. I expect everyone on our block would have similar readings and if you have kids in the basement you should get this checked. My oldest boy is living downstairs so this is an eye opener for us.

[Sliver]

For anybody curious about an approximate price for remediation, I paid $2600 to Radon Controls Inc in June 2020. They cut through the basement wall to outside, bored a concrete hole through the floor, shoved some sort of pipe (maybe ~5" diameter) into the ground underneath the house, attached an inline fan and it continuously exhausts outside. They did a couple other little things, but that was the total cost. Brought us from borderline over the limit in Canada -- and well over the limit the EU suggests -- to basically nothing.

[PepsiFree]

From what I’ve heard it can actually vary greatly between house to house on the same block since there are so many unique factors that go into the concentration.

I bought a device you can measure long-term results with (it’s digital and shows you as you go, just leave it in one spot and wait a few months). It’s interesting how it fluctuates over time (though thankfully our readings were all well under the guide levels for mitigation).

[undercoverbrother]

Wait Radon isn't a scam?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Yup, based on an old thread here I bought an Airthings monitor and kept tabs on things. The 365 day average was about 220/bq m3 for the longest time which was borderline. Then 2 years ago after a new HE furnace things went to about 270. Levels are seasonal, and in hot weather things would peak at 365 which finally convinced me to do mitigation work.

Based on recommendations here I had Radon West do the work, even if it meant waiting. These guys really sweat the details in a very methodical approach. They did a stellar job - doing what Silver described, but also sealing up other massive openings in the slab. It was a surprise to learn about big holes in the slab below the furnace, the basement P-trap, and other places. Because of these variances in construction - it's not a guarantee that every house on the block has or doesn't have an issue even if you do.

Levels are about 25 right now post mitigation. You're also given an official 3rd party lab test kit after the mitigation so you can demonstrate to any future buyer the problem is solved.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

From what I’ve heard it can actually vary greatly between house to house on the same block since there are so many unique factors that go into the concentration.

I bought a device you can measure long-term results with (it’s digital and shows you as you go, just leave it in one spot and wait a few months). It’s interesting how it fluctuates over time (though thankfully our readings were all well under the guide levels for mitigation).

It fluctuates daily with barometric pressure variances and as long as the average is below 200 you are okay. We have had peak measurements of 887 Bq/m3. Clearly we have to get something done with a kid sleeping downstairs but it's one of those things where I wouldn't have even checked if the kind fella at work didn't ask if I wanted to give it a try.

[chemgear]

For what it is worth, I believe the European thresholds are 400 BW/m3.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It fluctuates daily with barometric pressure variances and as long as the average is below 200 you are okay. We have had peak measurements of 887 Bq/m3. Clearly we have to get something done with a kid sleeping downstairs but it's one of those things where I wouldn't have even checked if the kind fella at work didn't ask if I wanted to give it a try.

887 is literally the highest number I've ever heard of in Calgary (obviously I'm not an expert, though). I'd be calling a company ASAP on that one.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by Sliver

887 is literally the highest number I've ever heard of in Calgary (obviously I'm not an expert, though). I'd be calling a company ASAP on that one.

I also used Radon West for mitigation in February, 2019. Very happy with their work and crew. Cost about $2800 at that time, but had to do some extra venting work due to lack of space/access to outside in utility room.
We went from 250-350 to 15 with our digital monitor.
We did it for the same reasons you are going to ... our daughter had moved down to the basement.
In the meantime, you can run your furnace fan on recirculation which did help bring the number down somewhat while waiting for the mitigation

[CroFlames]

Should I buy this? https://www.amazon.ca/Radon-Eye-RD20.../dp/B01IH7SGCQ

[tvp2003]

Would different rooms in a basement have different (average) readings?

We tested ours using one of those kits you mail in (after 5 months) and our reading was 155. However, that was in the main living area next to the furnace/utility room, versus the bedrooms (which are on the opposite end).

[Knut]

We got a reading of 197 but we are barely ever in the basement. So we will just leave it for a bit. Maybe recheck in a couple years.

[wireframe]

I've never tested for radon but now you guys are freaking me out. Which test should I get?


Is the risk lower in an old house? For some reason, I thought radon was a new-build problem. My house is from the 50's and I never even considered radon testing until now.

[TorqueDog]

Our Radon level was 145 Bq/m3, below both the Health Canada (200) and US EPA (148) action levels, but still above that of the WHO at 100 Bq/m3. Given that, I've been apprehensive to get it done.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Should I buy this? https://www.amazon.ca/Radon-Eye-RD20.../dp/B01IH7SGCQ

We used this one

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00H30TLPA/...2-587d01f975e8

[Knut]

Originally Posted by wireframe

I've never tested for radon but now you guys are freaking me out. Which test should I get?


Is the risk lower in an old house? For some reason, I thought radon was a new-build problem. My house is from the 50's and I never even considered radon testing until now.

It really is about the ground that you are built on.

This is a good summary of it from a skeptical point of view. It is dangerous at high levels but the relative risk is actually pretty low.

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4698

Calculating your real risk is a bit more complicated. Your risk depends on other things as well: two most significantly. The first is where you live, because natural levels of radon vary a lot; and the second is whether you smoke. Of that 21,000 annual deaths from radon, only 2,000 of them are among people who have never smoked. Smoking is just not good for you, and among its hazards is making your lungs far more vulnerable to the kind of damage done by alpha radiation, though the exact mechanism for this isn't yet clear.

So risk is much higher if you Smoke. Also, it costs $2500ish to mitigate. Have to decide if that is worth the money for a low risk of having an issue.

5.4 pi/CL (what they use in the US) is equivalent to 200 Bq/m3 (what we use in Canada).

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Should I buy this? https://www.amazon.ca/Radon-Eye-RD20.../dp/B01IH7SGCQ

You could, but it seems pricey to me.

I bought this for like 20% of that price. It indicated we had a problem, so then we had the remediation company come in and they confirmed as part of their work with a way more high tech instrument. Then they left it with us for several months to show the levels had plummeted.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by wireframe

I've never tested for radon but now you guys are freaking me out. Which test should I get?


Is the risk lower in an old house? For some reason, I thought radon was a new-build problem. My house is from the 50's and I never even considered radon testing until now.

I live in a terrible area for it, work in an office in the basement, and can’t begin to think how I’d afford fixing it. So I just get anxious about it every few months until I have some repair money.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Sliver

887 is literally the highest number I've ever heard of in Calgary (obviously I'm not an expert, though). I'd be calling a company ASAP on that one.

My friend in Edgemont had an 1100 rating. both his neighbours had nothing.

Also he's had pnemonia twice since he moved in 15 years ago. Not good.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by wireframe

I've never tested for radon but now you guys are freaking me out. Which test should I get?

Is the risk lower in an old house? For some reason, I thought radon was a new-build problem. My house is from the 50's and I never even considered radon testing until now.

My house was built in 1969 (woot) and I had more than I wanted.