The soil beneath your house is most likely what’s causing an increased level of radon. This is because soil holds radioactivity for a long time and it’s also what most buildings are built on. Another common source of radon is water from a source that hasn’t been through periodic radon tests, such as well water. Over time, the radon from the soil can inhabit other parts of your house like the foundation or plumbing.

There are steps you can take as a homeowner to remediate radon yourself. While a radon reduction professional can make the biggest impact in your home, you can make efforts to improve radon levels on your own by sealing cracks, increasing ventilation, and testing for radon regularly.

You can vent radon out of your house sometimes by simply opening a window, but it won’t remove the source, and will likely rise above recommended levels quickly. A professional will be needed to assess your home, and determine the best strategy for radon removal. Active radon sump pumps and soil depressurization systems are often used to forcefully vent the radon from your home.

No, air purifiers are not an effective way to reduce or remove radon. Radon is a radioactive, inert gas that cannot be filtered by standard air purifiers, which are designed to capture particulates like dust and mold. While an air purifier can improve indoor air quality by removing other pollutants, it should not be relied upon for radon. The only effective solution for high radon levels is a dedicated radon mitigation system.