What Are Acceptable Radon Levels in Colorado?

Radon is a looming concern for many homeowners in the greater Denver area. Radon levels in Colorado are some of the highest in the country, so mitigating and reducing radon in your home is a top priority.

But how low do the levels need to go to ensure you and your family stay healthy? And what can you do to prevent that number from getting any higher? Here's an in-depth article discussing radon levels and steps every homeowner can take to give themselves more peace of mind.

Measuring Radon Levels

Radon is a dangerous natural gas found in the soil, and Colorado's soil is incredibly saturated. When uranium breaks down, it releases the gas into the air, where it's primarily harmless.

But if it gets into residential buildings, the concentrations can become too high and cause severe health risks. And almost three-fourths of all Colorado homes have higher than average levels of radon gas.

Because radon doesn't have an odor, color, or taste, it's challenging to know if it's lurking in your home. These factors make radon even more dangerous because you could live with it for some time before noticing its impact on your life.

You can confirm the radon levels in your home by doing radon testing. A professional should administer the test to get the most accurate reading.

So what are acceptable radon levels in Colorado? Unfortunately, the EPA has no consensus on what a "safe" level for radon exposure is; the goal should always be to keep radon as low as possible. But the EPA recommends homes clock in at radon levels hovering around 2pCi/L to 4pCi/L.

The measurement is in picocuries per liter of air, a precise and scientific way to calculate how much radon exists in your home. While the average radon level in the home rests at 1.3 pCi/L, Colorado's average as of January 2023 is at a staggering 6.4pCi/L.

Over 62 counties within Colorado are considered to be in zone 1, meaning they have an average radon screening concentration of 4pCi/L or higher. These counties include Denver County and many surrounding areas.

Why You Should Keep Radon Levels Low

Continual exposure to radon can cause cancer. More surprisingly, it's the second highest cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States, with smoking being the first. It's also the leading environmental cause of any cancer.

According to the EPA, an estimated 21,000 deaths occur yearly from radon poisoning. And while radon is present in all 50 states, Colorado is known for having exceedingly high levels compared to other states.

The scariest part of radon is that you could have been inhaling the carcinogenic gas for years by the time you start exhibiting symptoms of radon exposure. Without professional assistance, there's no way to know if radon is running rampant in your home.

It's natural to have concerns about radon and its effects on your health. Fortunately, you can alleviate these concerns in many ways and keep the radon in your home well below the level recommended by the EPA.

How to Keep Radon Levels Low

Testing is the first step toward keeping radon levels in your home as low as possible. The two most common types of testing are continuous monitoring and charcoal.

The charcoal testing kits are more flexible as to when you can do them and don't require any power. However, results will take longer to get compared to continuous monitoring.

Continuous monitoring can give you accurate information in around 48 hours and is much more detailed. In both tests, you must keep your windows closed to ensure the outside air isn't affecting the outcome.

Homeowners in the greater Denver area should try to test their homes for radon if:

●     They haven't had a test in two years

●     They are renovating or plan to renovate an area of their home

●     They’re moving into a new home for the first time

●     They aren't sure what their home's radon levels are

It's wise to rope testing in with your routine yearly maintenance to be 100% sure your levels are below the EPA recommendation. While two years is still beneficial, it can be more challenging to remember every other year rather than annually.

Radon levels can also fluctuate, so the insurance of testing every year is especially good for those living in Colorado, as many homes have naturally higher radon levels.

If you've recently had a radon mitigation system installed, you should always schedule a test one year after the installation. This test is recommended regardless of if you plan to schedule them every two typically.

Inspections are your next line of defense. Having your home looked over by a radon mitigation professional will put some context into your test results. The radon mitigation specialist will investigate your home to see where the main issues lie and help you establish a personalized plan to get your numbers lower.

Knowing how radon gets into your home is also good, as this can help reduce your levels. Radon lives in the soil, so it's more likely to find its way through cracks in your foundation, sump pumps or drains, and crawl spaces.

Keeping areas of your home that connect directly to the outside in good shape is vital to preventing radon levels from rising.

If you plan to do renovations or construction on your Colorado home, consult contractors familiar with radon-resistant techniques.

Even if your home is currently within the proper threshold for radon, opening up walls or digging up your yard can release a lot of it. And the radon can make your house its new home if the construction crew isn't careful.

While it's temporary, you can also remove radon from your life by increasing the ventilation in a space. You can mitigate radon naturally through the use of fans and open windows. Remember that this isn't a foolproof strategy, nor should you rely on this practice alone.

Taking a more holistic approach to your radon reduction is the best way to dependably protect your home from this silent danger.

Radon Mitigation Systems

While it doesn't hurt to use many methods to keep your levels down, investing in a radon mitigation system is the most consistent and valuable method. Also called radon reduction systems, this technology continually removes radon from your home by moving it through a pipe and out into the atmosphere.

These sophisticated systems operate with a fan system to blow the radon back outside, lowering the concentration in your home.

Radon fans will run constantly, so it's crucial to have a professional install these systems. If the system is installed incorrectly, you could be under the impression that you're protected but are living with a system that isn't working as well as it should — or at all.

Poor installation of these systems is also a financial worry. Radon fans should last around five years, provided they're well-maintained. But a shoddy installation makes it more likely that you'd need to replace it prematurely and could leave you without a way to eliminate radon until your new system arrives.

The radon mitigation system is the next logical step if you've run tests or had your home inspected and found high radon levels.

The vent and fan system is one of the only simple ways to continuously and methodically remove radon from your home. It's well worth the investment for Colorado homeowners and should be considered to keep your home safe.

More than Acceptable with Rapid Radon Relief

We know how problematic radon levels in Colorado can be for homeowners. And we know how to reduce those levels so you can feel confident and safe living in your home. For everything radon-related, Rapid Radon Relief is here. Contact our team today to learn more about our services and schedule your consultation.