Asheville NC Green Builder talks about Radon Mitigation

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas emitted from uranium, a naturally occurring mineral in rocks and soil. Normally, radon rises up through the soil and dissipates in the air outside. Radon becomes a concern, however, when it seeps through openings such as cracks, loose fitting pipes, sump pits, dirt floors, slab joints or block walls and accumulates in the home. Air pressure inside the home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around the house’s foundation. Because of this difference, the house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon levels vary greatly in the mountain areas of Western North Carolina, and if the level is over 4pCi/L in the living areas of a home, radon mitigation systems need to be installed. As an Asheville NC Green Builder we understand the potential health risks associated with radon.

The most commonly used radon mitigation technique, and generally the most effective method, is called sub-slab depressurization. This system uses pipes that extend from a permeable layer below the basement floor (such as gravel or drain tiles) upward through the structure, venting out the roof. This system collects radon gas before it enters the house and funnels it directly up through pipes and out of the home. If natural ventilation through the pipe system is not adequate to lower radon levels, a fan can be added in the attic to help draw gases through the system to the outdoors. Similar systems also can be installed in homes with crawlspaces. Advantage Development Co. is a custom green home builder in Asheville NC and installs a radon tube in every home we build. We know the importance of the home owners’ health and care about the air quality in our new custom homes. Visit us today at http://www.advdevco.com/GreenHomeBuilder.html to learn why we are an Asheville NC Green Builder that cares about air quality in our clients' homes.