Cold weather in the winter affects radon levels.
- Cold weather increases the amount of warm air that is escaping from your house through vents or drafty windows. This escape of air causes a vacuum inside the home. If the air in your home is under negative pressure, radon gas can be pulled in from the soil below the foundation. Cracks in the concrete floors, foundations, and sump pumps are the typical Radon entry points. This stack effect can be greater in the winter months resulting in more gas entering the home.
- Radon gas occurs naturally in the soil all over the world. It seeps through the ground and eventually enters the atmosphere where it is diluted to a slight amount. Basically, radon is coming up through the soil all around us. Unfortunately, during the winter or rainy seasons, the ground around your home can become saturated with water and in some cases frozen. When this happens, it can block the flow of radon into the atmosphere and redirect it into your home in higher concentrations.
- During the winter months, most people keep their windows shut. They fire up the furnace and recirculate the same air throughout their home. Many homes have poor indoor air quality and higher radon levels because the home is closed up during winter months. In modern years, more homes are built to be energy efficient and more “tight.” This energy efficiency can help keep the house warmer but it also can trap the bad air inside.
