The stat on basement radon levels in my county surprised me

I was reading the county health report and 1 in 3 houses in my zip code has radon above the safe limit. Has anyone else factored that into their shelter plans?

3 comments

3 Comments

annajenkins26d ago

Oh wow that's a crazy stat! My cousin actually found out about radon the hard way. He bought this old farmhouse upstate and kept getting headaches. Turned out the basement reading was like triple the safe level. He had to rip out all the drywall and put in this whole ventilation system that cost a fortune. Now he tests his place every spring like clockwork. I guess it's one of those things you don't think about until it's right in your face.

jamief6726d ago

Get the state health department involved before you rip anything out. Some states actually help pay for radon mitigation if you qualify, or at least give you a list of certified contractors who won't rip you off. My neighbor did the exact same thing your cousin did, spent $5k on a system from some random guy, then found out the town had a rebate program that would've covered half of it. So if anyone reading this is in the same boat, call your county's environmental health office first and ask what they offer. Even if you don't qualify for help, they often have a list of cheaper DIY options too. Did your cousin check if there was any assistance available after the fact?

the_olivia26d ago

How bad do the headaches have to get before you realize it's the basement killing you? Cause I'm pretty sure I'd just blame my bad posture and move on with my life. I've never even tested my basement but now I'm wondering if my chronic laziness is actually radon poisoning. Maybe I should just keep sleeping down there and see if I get superpowers or something.