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Radon can build to dangerous levels in the home; especially homes built in the last 30 years.  Newer homes are typically built more energy efficient.  This is good for the environment, but can be bad for indoor air quality unless properly mitigated for in advance.  Newer homes are built “tighter” than older homes, which can sometimes trap VOCs and dangerous gases like radon.  VOCs can off-gas from paint and furnishings in the home and can typically be mitigated by an HVAC professional.  Radon gas, however, seeps up from the soil, through cracks in the foundation, and finds its way into homes where it is recirculated and can accumulate to dangerous levels.  Typically, an HVAC system will not mitigate radon effectively. The most common way to mitigate radon gas in the home is through a technique called “sub-slab depressurization”.  By drilling a hole in a foundation and creating a suction pit (or sealing a crawlspace with radon barrier), a system can be created that pulls air from the soil and exhausts it out the roof of a home.  This way, radon never has a chance to get trapped inside!  There are many different types of sub-slab depressurization techniques, which is why it is important to have a trained and certified mitigator install a system.  Qualified mitigators in the United States can be found in the AARST-NRPP website located on the right hand side of this page.  Confident and determined do-it-yourselfers can often install their own radon gas remediation systems with phone support from PDS and a copy of the book Protecting your Home from Radon available here. Radon is colorless, odorless and undetectable by the naked eye.  It is important to test your living space at least once every two years.  Fortunately, radon is easy to mitigate for and one of the most inexpensive ways to improve your home and health. Colorado Radon Infographic See other links in this section for scientific studies; state and federal organizations; videos on radon gas; and more.  Check back as we constantly build the Internet’s living radon gas and active soil depressurization library!