‘Tis the (Radon) Season

Did you know that during fall and winter when you turn on your furnace you are also drawing radon gas into your home? Your furnace uses a fan to blow warm air through your vents to keep your family comfortable. We all know that warm air rises, but did you also know that as it rises and leaves your home it creates a negative pressure that sucks in cold air from outside? Warm air rises upward escaping through the holes, cracks, and penetrations in your ceiling, roof, as well as leaky windows and doors. As this heat is being lost in the highest points, replacement air needs to be supplied to equalize the pressure of your home. This replacement air is supplied by drawing in cold outside air through penetrations and cracks at the lowest points (foundation cracks, utility penetrations, plumbing pipes, sump pump pits, basement windows etc.). This process is called the “stack effect” and it is a building’s natural way of cycling warm air and pressure. So what does this have to do with radon? Well, radon gases emanate from soil around and underneath your home. Radon typically enters your home through foundation cracks, utility penetrations, plumbing pipes, sump pump pits, etc. This means radon gas is actually being drawn into your home at a higher rate when you turn on your furnace in the fall and winter. Now is the best time to have your home tested for radon. If you are interested in learning more about radon or would like to schedule a radon test give me a call at (816)591-5615.

Learn more at: https://energy.ces.ncsu.edu/stack-effect-defined/