Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium, which is found in nearly all rocks and soils. This gas moves through the ground and enters your home through:       Cracks in the basement floor       Slab joints       Floor drains       Cracks and cavities in the walls       Sump Pumps       Loose fitting pipes The major cause of radon getting in your home is the difference between the inside and outside air pressure. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home's foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your home acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through cracks in the foundation and other openings. The amount of radon that accumulates depends on the amount or radon being released by materials below the building, the kind of construction materials and ventilation systems used in the building, as well as the temperature. For example, a heated building in a cold climate may draw in more radon than a building in a warm climate. Since most radon enters the air from soil or rock, the lower rooms in a building are usually more at risk than the rooms higher up. It is also possible for one home to be exposed to high levels of radon while the home directly next door is not.

      
      
   


Copyright 2003 Radon Reduction Specialists