What is Radon Mitigation?

There is a lot of discussion about radon mitigation in the news, especially when everyone is starting to make their pre-winter inspections of their homes and HVAC systems. There are a number of products on the market that can improve indoor air quality and remove things such as dust, debris, allergens, and excess moisture. While you are inspecting your home, performing your carbon monoxide leak detection tests, you should also test for radon. If you have high levels of radon in your home, you will need to remove it by using a process called radon mitigation. Radon mitigation will not only improve your indoor air quality and home comfort, it can also save your life.  

What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is produced naturally when uranium, also a radioactive gas, breaks down in the soil, rock, and water. It is one of the noble gases, which means that it will not readily bond chemically with other elements because its outer shell is full. Colorless, odorless, and tasteless, radon seeps into your home without your knowledge. Since radon concentration in the soil varies from region to region, you should check to see if you live in an area where concentration is known to be elevated. Radon seeps into your home through cracks in the foundation because air pressure inside the home is lower than the pressure in the soil around and underneath the home. Radon can also be found in rocks such as granite and limestone, so you could have radon in your home because it is seeping out of your limestone or granite countertops and other home furniture and building accents such as fireplace surrounds.  

Why Should You Test for Radon?

Radon, by nature, is a radioactive gas. It has been known to cause certain cancers. There are a number of people who develop lung cancer even though they never smoked and are not regularly in the presence of secondhand smoke. It is recommended that you perform at least a total of three tests: two short-term tests and one long-term test. A short-term test will measure the radon levels over a period as short as two days to as long as 90 days and long-term tests will take over 90 days. If you two short-term tests, you can get a more accurate reading in case transient weather interferes with the results. Since the weather can affect the level of radon in your home, a long-term test will give you a better picture of the average radon level in your home year-round. When you complete the test, you send it to a testing facility for the results. You should consult a professional when you receive your results so that you can determine if you need to take any action.  If you have a well, you will need to use a different type of test. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that a home should have a radon reading that is less than 2 pCi/L. Any reading that is 4 pCi/L or higher mandates radon mitigation. 

Which Radon Mitigation Method Should You Use?

Radon mitigation is a specialized skill that would be handled best by a professional. The professional will have the necessary knowledge needed and will know which mitigation method to use, which will depend upon on the size of your home and the foundation, and the level of radon detected. The most common and effective method is soil suction, which draws out the radon from underneath the home and vents it out through pipes into the air above the home. If the building materials are the culprit for the elevated reading, the best method to use is mechanical ventilation, which uses fans to replace the indoor air with fresh outdoor air. An aeration system or activated charcoal system would help remove radon from well water. 

What Can Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Actually Do

Many people are concerned about how to maintain the balance between lower fuel costs, improving air quality, and increasing home comfort. With the fall approaching, rising energy costs is making the balance harder to maintain, but technology has been answering the rescue signal. Ultraviolet air cleaners promise to provide cleaner, healthier air, but you may not be sure about the capabilities and claims of them. You should take time to conduct research so you can make a wise choice. You need to know what this new and evolving technology can do for you and what it cannot.

 Things that Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Can Do

The ultraviolet air cleaners are mainly used in hospitals and other places that require a sterile environment. They are capable of removing airborne germs and bacteria from the air and help improve indoor air quality. It is not like a HEPA filter air cleaner that needs to have the air moving through it in order to work. An ultraviolet air cleaner produces oxidizers that emanate from the machine to coat and sanitize surfaces to kill germs, bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus. It has proven to be effective against stopping the spreading of highly contagious infections such as tuberculosis. Many people chose this type of air cleaner because it operates quietly and it even cleans the air of smoke and dust. As technology develops, these machines will be able to include features such as a charcoal filter to eliminate smoke and odors and an ionizer that eliminate harmful particles by attracting them with negative particles. 

Things that Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Cannot Do

The thing that separates the ultraviolet air cleaners from the HEPA filter cleaners is the thing that limits its usefulness. Since they are not dependent upon air moving through it to work, the only way it can kill the germs is to make the germs mobile so that it can be moved toward the ultraviolet light. It mainly keeps surfaces sanitized. That means that the germs have to be mobile and deposited directly on you for it to work. It also will not be able to trap airborne particles such as dust and debris. You can use the ultraviolet air cleaner as part of a hybrid system that would also include a HEPA filter air cleaner. One major drawback to these air cleaners is cost. Small systems are costly and if you need to affect a large space or your entire home, the price rises. It may also cause your energy costs to rise.  

Your Needs Should Be the Deciding Factor

Ultraviolet air cleaners are for people who need to have a sterile environment or are very sensitive to germs and allergens. If you have allergies to mold and other pollutants that cause severe reactions, you could consider installing one of these systems. This system would be good for people who need to be in a quiet environment. If you invest in a portable model that you can transport from room to you if you do not need to or want to include the entire house. If want to improve air quality in your entire home, you can consider investing in a hybrid system that includes the ultraviolet air cleaner and HEPA filter air cleaner. You can consult with a professional to obtain advice on which system you should get depending on your needs and budget. You should be aware that even though you will experience an increase in home comfort and home air quality, you will not see any energy savings from these systems.

Lower Fuel Costs and Home Comfort Can Be Achieved

You may be thinking about starting on your fall maintenance and inspections tasks at this time, but you need to save money and lower fuel costs. You may have done your fall furnace tune up, duct cleaning, and filter changes, but you feel that you need to do more. You may be thinking of taking on a larger project, such as replacing your existing heating and cooling system or just make an addition or two to it. Technology has been able to produce three earth-friendly systems that may be able to help you increase your indoor air quality and home comfort. You can choose a hybrid, solar heating and cooling, or geothermal heating and cooling system. 

A Brief Overview of Hybrid Systems

The hybrid system is the most popular of the three systems. It uses two fuel sources. One fuel source is an electric heat pump and it is paired with either a gas boiler, oil furnace, or a gas furnace. Depending on the settings you program for it, the system will automatically switch between the two fuel sources to use the most cost-efficient fuel. The settings for the automation depend upon the home comfort you desire, the seasonal temperature range, and the current energy prices. Your dealer or contractor can make these settings for you if you do not understand the instructions in the manual. During the colder months, the outdoor unit of the system absorbs the heat and pulls it inside to circulate through the home. During warmer months, it pulls the heat in the house to the outside to create a feeling of coolness. 

A Brief Overview of Solar Heating and Cooling Systems 

Solar heating and cooling systems are available in two different models: active and passive. An active solar heating and cooling system uses either liquid or air that collects in a hydronic collector. This system collects and absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the home or a storage system to be distributed throughout the home where it is needed. Solar systems can be used with absorption heat pumps and coolers, boilers with hot water radiators, or radiant heating systems. People have used the active solar heating and cooling systems to reduce and even eliminate their need for electricity, propane, and oil heating. A passive solar heating and cooling system uses the power of the sun in the opposite manner. Instead of absorbing heat from the outside, it reflects the outside heat away. A passive system would include things such as precisely-designed overhangs, a white reflective roof, and reflective double-glazed windows. You can also incorporate landscaping that would provide a copious amount of shading and even install a photoelectric panel. However, if you do not have direct exposure to the sun, solar heating and cooling systems will not be as effective.  You must be able to commit to a regular maintenance schedule with these systems to keep them in good shape. 

A Brief Overview of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems 

A geothermal heating and cooling system is a heat pump that uses the earth’s temperature to heat or cool water or refrigerant that flow through underground pipes. The temperature remains constant; it does not depend on the temperature of the air. The air temperature fluctuates and cannot provide stability to the system. The heat pump is installed indoors and conventional air-to-air heat pumps are installed outdoors. One thing that gives geothermal heating and cooling systems an advantage over solar is that geothermal systems do not use air or fans to circulate air over the compressor coils. Instead, refrigerant is cycled through a system of pipes by a compressor and circulation pump that operates quietly. Geothermal heating and cooler systems tend to last longer and they require very little maintenance whereas the solar systems require a regular maintenance schedule.  

Seven Ways to Lower Fuel Costs

Fall is a time when children go back to school, leaves on the trees change colors, and the days and nights turn a little cooler. This is the time when rising fuel costs may cause a little pinch in your budget. To save money, there are seven ways to lower fuel costs that are easy to implement and operate.

Get a smart thermostat and monitor your temperature

A smart thermostat is a device that will allow you to program it to set the temperature based on your daily routine. You can set it to automatically turn on right before you rise for the morning, and then set it to turn itself down while you are away from home and during the night. Because it uses your Wi-Fi network in your home, you can control it from a cell phone or tablet. You should also keep your thermostat set at a lower temperature to save on fuel.

Make sure your fireplace damper is closed

A fireplace damper is essentially a hole in your roof. If it is left open, you will lose a lot of heat out of your home because heat rises. Because fireplaces actually draw heat out of the home, it is best that you limit your use of it. 

Seal up your doors, windows, and other spaces

Many people do not realize that they can be losing heat because they have cracks and leaks around their doors, windows, and electrical outlets. You should use the fall season to caulk around your doors and windows and install outlet gaskets around your electrical outlets. 

Inspect, clean, and repair ductwork

Heat can be lost through leaks in the ductwork of your HVAC system. You should make sure that perform a thorough duct cleaning and seal up any leaks you find. You should also inspect the ductwork and make any needed repairs. 

Clean, inspect, and repair your heater and humidifier

Your fall furnace tune up should include a complete inspection and cleaning of the furnace and humidifier. Keeping furnaces and humidifiers clean will help the parts last longer and you will save money on more expensive repairs later. Change or clean the furnace filters and humidifier filters. If you need to have any repairs done or you would rather not do them yourself, you can call professionals to do it for you. You should also maintain the manufacturer required maintenance schedule that is recommended in your product manuals. 

Winterize your windows

You can tighten up your home by winterizing your windows. You can find window winterization kits in your local home improvement store that are essentially plastic sheets that are applied to your windows. The plastic adheres to the glass to keep warm air from seeping out and cold air from seeping into your home. 

Check your attic insulation

You should make sure that your attic insulation is sufficient and intact. You can have a professional give your attic an inspection to make sure that you have a sufficient amount of insulation and make recommendations and additions if needed. The condition of your insulation will also let you know if you have any problems with your roof. If your insulation is damp, that may indicate a leak that should be addressed as soon as possible.