Foundation repair in CO

January is National Radon Month

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:45:06 -0500

Tryon, NC – With radon being one of the leading causes of lung cancer today, it’s vital to bring attention to this often-overlooked danger. January is National Radon Month, making it a good time to purchase a home radon test kit or hire a professional radon mitigation contractor. Foundation Repair of Western CO, LLC is an expert on radon mitigation and has made a number of recommendations for homeowners during National Radon Month.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is released from soil. Because it is a radioactive carcinogen gas, it can be dangerous to people if it travels up into their homes. Radon is responsible for 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year, making it the second-leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Luckily, there are ways to lessen the amount of radon in a home, thereby preventing the contraction of lung cancer. Radon mitigation is becoming a common service that a number of contractors can provide.

Foundation Repair of Western CO, LLC is encouraging homeowners to test their homes for radon this New Year. Because radon gas is colorless and odorless, it is not detected unless a specific test for the gas is performed. It’s important that each homeowner tests their home for radon before it’s too late.

Radon in a building is measured by picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends mitigating any building with a radon measurement at or above 4.0 picocuries per liter. When a building’s radon levels are found to be unhealthy, a radon mitigation system is specially designed to effectively reduce the levels to a healthier amount. Radon abatement methods can keep radon from entering a house, including soil suction, which draw the radon from below the basement or crawl space floor and push it outside. Some other radon mitigation techniques include sealing, house/room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation, and natural ventilation.

Foundation Repair of Western CO, LLC is Western Colorado’s expert crawl space, sump pump installation and foundation repair contractor. Their radon mitigation systems use sub-slab depressurization to reduce radon levels. A PVC pipe collects soil gasses, radon is piped upwards in the building, and then a radon depressurization vent forces radon out of the house.

Foundation Repair of Western CO, LLC serves Western Colorado, including Craig, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Gunnison and surrounding areas. They have years of experience building and drying basements, and they are members of the Basement Systems international network of basement waterproofing specialists. For more information about this radon mitigation company in Grand Junction or a free estimate contact them today.

It's National Radon Awareness Week!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:33:37 -0400

We at Foundation Repair of Western Colorado, LLC understand the importance of helping homeowners understand radon, and we hope you’ll join us this week in raising awareness to the effects of radon exposure!

In recognition of the estimated 21,000 victims of the fatal effects of radon exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General have declared this week as National Radon Awareness Week.

Radon testing can be done at home where test results are then sent and diagnosed at a lab. There are short-term and long-term tests available. We also offer radon testing in Colorado.

Radon is the number one in-home killer in the United States claiming 21,000 lives of unsuspecting homeowners to lung cancer—most of whom have never even smoked. Though unnoticeable to human senses, we perform radon testing and mitigation to reduce homes to levels below the action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. Read more about National Radon Awareness Week from National Radon Defense.

ALERT: Earthquakes Can Increase Radon Levels

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:05:50 -0400

Grand Junction, CO – The earthquake and aftershocks that have been shaking Colorado and the East Coast already have homeowners on high alert. Now there is another earthquake-related concern: radon.

Experts say the ground can release more radon gas for several weeks following an earthquake. An easy-to-use and affordable radon detector in the home can determine if high levels of radon are present. Long-term exposure to the odorless, colorless gas can cause lung cancer.

The professionals at Foundation Repair of Western Colorado are the local experts in radon. Radon gas comes from the natural decay of uranium in the soil and can seep up through the cracks and holes in the foundation of your home. When radon is trapped inside a house, the levels of radon can grow dangerously high and expose those living in the home to radiation, causing lung cancer or other serious ailments. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says radon kills more than 21,000 people each year.

A radon detection kit can easily determine if your home or business has high levels of radiation. The EPA considers 4 picocuries per liter of air to be a dangerous level. If the radon detection kit finds 4 picocuries or more, Foundation Repair of Western Colorado can install an affordable and aesthetically-pleasing radon mitigation system to vent the gas and eliminate the risk of radiation.

Foundation Repair of Western Colorado provides information on radon and its health effects, radon testing, radon mitigation systems, and foundation repair in Grand Junction and other surrounding areas. To schedule your free radon mitigation estimate contact Foundation Repair of Western Colorado.

How Does Radon Get Into My House?

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:50:00 -0500

Radon mitigation is an important home service that many homeowners have been learning more about since information about the harmful effects of radon exposure is becoming more prevalent to obtain. As such, realtors and building contractors are informing their customers of radon testing and mitigation because unless a home has been tested there's virtually no way anyone would be able to know whether a home had radon or how much.

The Facts

Radon is a toxic radioactive gas that results from the uranium decay of soil. First the uranium decays into radium only to later release the gas into the air. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates .4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) as the national average for the outdoor air, while 1.5 pCi/L is the national average for the indoor air.

Radon is considered toxic because it's a proven Class A carcinogen, lung cancer to be exact. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer and causes an estimated 20,000 deaths each year.

Other Class A carcinogens include arsenic, asbestos and benzene. All homeowners are encouraged to learn about the risks and effects of radon exposure in order to better protect against contracting lung cancer. Knowledge is power and before learning about testing and mitigation, it's time to learn how the radon actually enters a home.

Radon in Homes

There are several types of foundations. Of course there's a slab-on-grade, basement or crawlspace and the manufactured homes-- and all can have high radon levels.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, one in six homes in the U.S are being built with radon resistant systems, which amount to about 200,000 homes each year. When considering the counties with the high estimated radon levels, one in every three homes is built with a radon resistance system.

Although this doesn't explain how radon enters into a home, it shows how any home is susceptible and that some builders are accommodating to this growing need to prevent radon exposure. However, not every builder does and it's worth asking-- if interested.

How Gas Enters

Gas can enter a home through the foundation because the uranium is within the soil. Once the uranium decays and the radon gas enters into the air beneath or around your foundation, it will enter your home through even the slightest crack or hole.

Radon commonly enters a home because of the stack effect, a natural process involving the rotation and influx of air. Many know that warm air rises, but that's only part of the process. Once the warmer air rises and escapes through the top of the home, the unconditioned and cooler air from the outside replaces this escaped air. This unconditioned air that enters the home is what can carry the radon.

The air is being pushed around because of the difference in pressure from inside and outside the house. Since the inside pressure is lower than outside pressure, the radon and other air is pulled in like through a vacuum through any cracks and holes. Radon gets trapped inside and builds up.

Testing and Mitigation

The safest option for any homeowner is to hire a radon mitigation expert to test the home. Whether the levels are above the EPA's action level of 4.0 pCi/L or if they're below, an expert can mitigate the home to reduce the levels as much as possible. In addition, be sure to inquire about maintenance checkups and what you can do to keep your home a safe place from radon.

Contact Foundation Repair of Western Colorado today for more information about radon and to schedule your radon testing in Colorado and radon mitigation in Colorado. They're a member of the renowned National Radon Defense network, and are ready to help.

Radon Awareness Week Perfect Time to Test Colorado Homes

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:47:17 -0400

Oct 15, 2010 – Grand Junction, CO – National Radon Awareness Week begins Sunday, October 17, and is the perfect time for homeowners in western Colorado to test for radon. Foundation Repair of Western Colorado provides testing for homeowners, as well as mitigation systems for those homes with high levels of radon.

Foundation Repair of Western Colorado Founder Ted Munkres says, “Fall and winter are the ideal times to test for radon in the home, since windows are typically closed and any radon in the home will not be diluted with fresh air from outdoors.”

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas caused by the decay of uranium in the earth. As radon gas rises through the soil, it can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation, walls, crawl spaces, sump pumps and wells. The only way to know if your home has a high level of radon is to test for it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 4 picocuries per liter of air unacceptable.

Long term exposure to high levels of radon can lead to lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute says that radon is responsible for more than 20,000 cases of lung cancer in the U.S. each year, making it the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.

Testing for radon is best done in the fall or winter months, when the home is usually closed to outdoor air. Foundation Repair of Western Colorado has trained radon mitigation specialists in Colorado.

If elevated radon levels are found in the home, Foundation Repair’s experts can install an aesthetically-pleasing mitigation system.

Foundation Repair of Western Colorado is also a member of the National Radon Defense network of radon experts.

For more information on radon and its health effects, radon testing and radon mitigation systems in the western Colorado area, contact:

Foundation Repair of Western Colorado
Ted Munkres
(888)443-2022
foundationrepair@bresnan.net