What is Radon?
Radon is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas and known carcinogen that is released during the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. It is generated naturally by the bedrock below our homes all across Ontario and Canada, and dilutes to non-hazardous levels in outside air.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon induced lung cancer kills more than house fires and carbon monoxide combined and is 10 times more dangerous to children (source: Airthings).
In Canada, Radon levels are measured in the units of Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). Concentrations in the outside air we breathe are considered non-hazardous and typically in the range of 5-30 Bq/m3. Radon becomes a health hazard at higher levels.
HOW DOES RADON
GET INTO MY HOME?
Homes typically experience negative pressure, where indoor pressure is lower than external air pressure, creating a vacuum that draws outside air, including soil gas, inside. Higher negative pressure correlates with increased indoor Radon levels.
Furthermore, a critical discovery has been made regarding radon entry points: the focus on the sump pump as the primary source has been misdirected for years. Instead, the backwater valve basin lid has been identified as a major overlooked source of Radon infiltration. This finding underscores the urgent need to rectify the design flaws in backflow preventer valve pits lids to effectively reduce indoor Radon levels.
​
THE LID
To protect your family's health, consider investing in our patent pending product "The Lid". This innovative solution features a sealed lid barrier designed to proactively combat this overlooked source…air quality. "The Lid" not only mitigates radon but also blocks other harmful soil gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and moisture from entering your home. By implementing "The Lid," you can significantly improve your indoor air quality while still allowing easy access for annual maintenance of your backflow valve.
How It Effects You?
Almost all homes have Radon. The levels can vary dramatically even between similar homes located next to each other. The amount of Radon in a home will depend on many factors including:
-
Soil Characteristics: Radon concentrations can vary enormously depending on the uranium content of the soil. As well, Radon flows more easily through some soils than others, for example sand versus clay.
​
-
Construction Type: The type of home and its design affect the amount of contact with the soil and the number and size of entry points for Radon.
​
-
Foundation Condition: Foundations with numerous cracks and openings have more potential entry points for Radon.
​
-
Occupant Lifestyle: The use of exhaust fans, windows and fireplaces, for example, influences the pressure difference between the house and the soil. This pressure difference can draw Radon indoors and influences the rate of exchange of outdoor and indoor air.
​
-
Weather: Variations in weather (e.g., temperature, wind, barometric pressure, precipitation, etc.) can affect the amount of Radon that enters a home.
​
Because there are so many factors, it is not possible to predict the Radon level in a home; the only way to know for sure is to test.
