How radon gets in
Pressure differences can pull soil gas into a home through foundation openings and porous materials. Sump pits, floor cracks, and utility penetrations are common entry paths.
What Is Radon?
Radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in rock and soil.
Why Pennsylvania homeowners should pay attention
Radon can enter a home through hollow block walls, cracks in foundation floors and walls, and openings around floor drains, pipes, and sump holes. After smoking, radon is widely recognized as the second leading cause of lung cancer.
The previous Keystone Radon site noted that an estimated 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes have radon levels greater than the EPA guideline of 4 pCi/L. The only way to know your home's level is to test.
- Radon can be present in old homes, new homes, finished basements, and crawlspaces
- Elevated levels can often be reduced with a properly installed mitigation system
- Radon-resistant construction methods can help when building a new home
How levels are reduced
A mitigation system uses piping and a fan to vent radon outdoors before it accumulates indoors. Keystone Radon Mitigation installs systems for homes across NEPA.
Concerned about radon?
Start with testing, then call Keystone Radon Mitigation if results are elevated.