Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Stop Radon? Unveiling the Truth!
Radon is a radioactive gas that can enter your home through cracks or crevices. Radon usually enters your home on large scales when there is a ventilated crawl space below your ground floor. The gas is mixed in the air and inhaled in large amounts, collecting in your lungs. Since radon gases are harmful and formed with the decay of uranium, they affect your lungs directly. Hence, inhaling increased levels of radon can cause diseases related to the lungs, in a worse situation, lung cancer. However, if you had lined the crawl space with vapor barriers, you might wonder, does crawl space encapsulation stop radon? To find out the answer, keep reading the article till the end.
What is Crawl Space Encapsulation, and How does It Work?
If you want to find out does crawl space encapsulation stop radon, you must first understand what is a crawl space encapsulation and how does it work?
An encapsulated crawl space is a barrier that prevents moisture and humid air from entering your home. A thick and durable vapor barrier, with a non-porous polyethylene sheet, is lined in the floors and walls while keeping the crawl space area dry and clean.
Encapsulating a crawl space can reduce mold infestation in your home and improve the air quality in the home.
It also reduces the chance of pests and small animals living in the crawl space, presenting a pleasant environment.
Since there is less humid air in the encapsulated crawl space, it is also energy efficient to save your bills as there is less pressure put on the HVAC system.
How Long does Crawl Space Encapsulation Last?
Crawl space encapsulation is a long-term investment. Hence, encapsulated crawl spaces can last between 10 to 15 years. However, the lifespan also depends on the quality of the service and maintenance. Hence, with proper maintenance, the lifespan of your encapsulated crawl space can extend up to 20 years.
How does Radon Gas Enter a Crawl Space?
Since radon gas is a colorless and odorless gas with no particular sign they are entering your home, you might not know from which parts of your home radon gas enter your home. Most of the time, the crawl space is the main opening in your home for the radon gas to enter.
A crawl space is generally a ventilated area directly exposed to the earth below your home. The naturally decayed uranium gets contaminated with the soils below your crawl space and enters the home through the tiny cracks and holes in the foundation and floors. The radon gas is then trapped inside the house with less chance of escaping to the atmosphere.
But, the general idea is also proved that crawl space can help mitigate radon gas from your home because of the increased ventilation. However, it is not considered the best option to eliminate radon gas because it can enter in equal amounts, making it a never-ending circle.
Radon gas is not the only reason you need to avoid ventilated crawl spaces; the increase of moisture will cause mold infestation, structural damage and distribution of a musty odor in the home environment. Thus, crawl spaces create an unhygienic environment in your home.
It is recommended to contact: the EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) to check the radon levels in your home, and the professionals will take the necessary measurements to mitigate them from your crawl spaces.
Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Effectively Prevent Radon Gas?
The primary objective of a crawl space encapsulation is to prevent moisture and humid air from entering the area from the inside.
The encapsulation process will cover walls and floors with vapor barriers lined with a durable plastic sheet.
Though an encapsulated crawl space can contribute to preventing radon gas, you should know if crawl space encapsulation effectively prevents radon gas.
Encapsulating the crawl space is the foremost step to prevent radon gas from entering your home and mixing in the air. However, encapsulating the crawl space does not effectively prevent radon gas, but they reduce the number of levels entering the area.
However, if you need to effectively prevent radon gases from your home, you must first encapsulate the crawl space stated, and the EPA must install the system. The systems’ tubes, fans and pumps will draw out the radon gas from your home and release it into the atmosphere.
What are the Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation in Radon Mitigation?
Encapsulating the crawl space to prevent radon comes with many benefits. Some of the benefits are listed below.
- Encapsulating the crawl space using vapor barriers helps to reduce the radon gas spreading in your home.
- Since the toxins levels entered through radon gas are reduced in the air, it creates a healthy environment.
- You are also less prone to lung-related diseases like lung cancer.
- Improves the indoor air quality in your home
Is Crawl Space Encapsulation a Permanent Solution for Radon Gas?
An encapsulated crawl space itself will last up to 20 years. Hence you cannot expect it to be a permanent solution to prevent radon gas. However, if you want to permanently remove radon gas entering your home through the crawl spaces, you can contact a legit contractor for the project.
The project to permanently remove the radon gas entering your home through the crawl spaces will mitigate through the American Environmental Protection Agency EPA.
The process includes installing pumps, fans and tubes in the roofline. The system then draws out radon gas in your home and releases it into the atmosphere.
Conclusion
Radon is a harmful radioactive gas released through the earth from naturally decayed uranium. They can cause severe health issues to your lungs; however, encapsulating crawl spaces can successfully remove the levels of radon gases entering your home.
In the article does crawl space encapsulation stop radon, we have discussed an insightful answer by relating to how radon gas enters a crawl space, the method to effectively prevent radon and the benefits of crawl space encapsulation in radon mitigation.
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