Eagle 1 Inspection Services

How Radon Enters Your House

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. In most cases, radon entering the home through water is a small risk compared with radon entering your home from the soil. In a small number of homes, the building materials (e.g., granite and certain concrete products) can give off radon, although building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. In the United States, radon gas in soils is the principal source of elevated radon levels in homes.

Remember, the fan should NEVER be turned off; it must run continuously for the system to work correctly.

Maintaining Your Radon Reduction System

Similar to a furnace or chimney, radon reduction systems need some occasional maintenance. You should look at your warning device on a regular basis to make sure the system is working correctly. Fans may last for five years or more (manufacturer warranties tend not to exceed five years) and may then need to be repaired or replaced. Replacing a fan will cost around $200 - $350 including parts and labor. It is a good idea to retest your home at least every two years to be sure radon levels remain low.

The filter in an HRV requires periodic cleaning and should be changed twice a year. Replacement filters for an HRV are easily changed and are priced between $10 and $25. Ask your contractor where filters can be purchased. Also, the vent that brings fresh air in [Read more →]

House Foundation Types

Your house type will affect the kind of radon reduction system that will work best. Houses are generally categorized according to their foundation design. For example: basement, slab-on-grade (concrete poured at ground level), or crawlspace (a shallow unfinished space under the first floor). Some houses have more than one foundation design feature. For instance, it is common to have a basement under part of the house and to have a slab-on-grade or crawlspace under the rest of the house. In these situations a combination of radon reduction techniques may be needed to reduce radon levels to below 4 pCi/L.

Radon reduction systems can be grouped by [Read more →]

Radon Reduction Techniques

There are several methods that a contractor can use to lower radon levels in your home. Some techniques prevent radon from entering your home while others reduce radon levels after it has entered. EPA generally recommends methods which prevent the entry of radon. Soil suction, for example, prevents radon from entering your home by drawing the radon from below the house and venting it through a pipe, or pipes, to the air above the house where it is quickly diluted.

Any information that you may have about the construction of your house could help your contractor choose the best system. Your contractor will perform a visual inspection of your house and design a system that considers specific features of your house. If this inspection [Read more →]

E M L a b T I P S : COCKROACH ALLERGENS

Cockroach is an important source of indoor allergen worldwide. Every individual is at risk for cockroach allergen exposure and sensitization. However, sensitization risk is higher among the asthmatic population. The two most common indoor species of cockroach in North America are the German cockroach (Blatella germanica) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).

Where are cockroach allergens found?
Cockroach allergens are widely distributed in homes and school. Cockroach allergens can be found through out the house, including beds, furniture, and carpets, the highest levels are typically found in the kitchen. However, the cockroach allergen may be more relevant in the bedroom than the kitchen or the living room because of close contact with the pillow while in bed. About 20% of homes with no [Read more →]

E M L a b T I P S : C AT A L L E R G E N S

Cats are kept as pets in 27% of the U.S. households. Cat allergen is one of the most important indoor allergens, second only to dust mite allergen as a cause of asthma.

Where are cat allergens found?
Those who touch cats or visit households with cats easily carry cat allergen from home to home, office, school, etc. Cat allergen is very sticky and can be found in high levels on walls and other surfaces within homes. Carpeting, bedding, and upholstered furniture can be reservoirs for deposited cat allergen. Cat allergen can remain airborne for long periods of time, in part because the cat allergen Fel d1 is associated to a significant extent with smaller particles of <5μm. Consequently, it is spread easily throughout a house, even when cats are kept out of certain rooms. In majority of studies, it is shown that a vast majority of homes contain cat allergen, even if the pet has not lived there. This widespread distribution has been presumed to occur primarily through the passive transfer of the allergen from one environment to another. [Read more →]

E M L a b T I P S : D U S T M I T E S A M P L I N G A N D A N A L Y S I S
AUTHORED BY EMLAB JULY. 2002

Dust mites are tiny microscopic creatures, related to spiders and ticks. House dust mites, due to their very small size are not visible to the eye, and live for approximately 3-4 months. House dust mites are one of the important causes of asthma and allergy. They do not bite or transmit diseases, but cause allergic reactions in people who are susceptible to them. The two most commonly occurring dust mites are the American house dust mite, (Dermatophagoides farinae) and the European house dust mite, (Dermatophagoide pteronyssinus).

Where are dust mites found?
Dust mites are ubiquitous in nature and are found in every household. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. Humans, on average, shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week, and a favorite food for the dust mites is known to be dander (both human and animal skin flakes). Bedroom carpeting and household upholstery are other major areas that support high mite populations. [Read more →]