For increasing indoor air quality and removing harmful contaminants, air purifiers can really be a savior.
Often people are unaware of removing harmful gasses, fumes, and smoke with these purifiers. But air purifiers can remove Radon and other toxic gasses to some extent.
Basically, all types of air purifiers are not suitable for removing toxic gasses. An air purifier with an activated carbon filter can work great in such cases.
Whether radon or carbon monoxide, you can get rid of them with the help of activated carbon filters.
This article is all about high-performance air purifiers that are game changers to make the air free from harmful gasses and fumes. So, let us just dive into this.
Why Is Radon Dangerous?
Radon is a chemical gas that is produced by the natural deposition process of uranium.
If your house foundation is located near any uranium source under the ground, it really becomes a matter of concern.
But why is Radon so dangerous, and why should we care if there is radon gas inside our house?
The main reason behind the toxicity of Radon is that Radon is a highly radioactive gas. Every radioactive gas is a huge threat to the human body as it can affect living cells.
Besides, it can cause several health complications that can be severe and deadly.
Specifically, radon toxicity is one of the leading causes of cancer. Whether a smoker or non-smoker, radon gas can increase the chance of developing lung cancer.
Radon gas is odorless and tasteless, which makes it very difficult to find in the surrounding air.
So, if the indoor air of your house contains Radon, you cannot detect it without proper air testing.
Besides, the level of radon toxicity increases with the concentration of this gas.
If your house has a higher concentration of Radon, it is definitely a matter of concern, and you should take necessary measures to reduce it by purifying the indoor air.
Are Air Purifiers Effective for Radon?
Air purifiers are mainly designed to remove harmful microorganisms and chemical substances from the air.
As certain air purifiers can also remove gas, fumes, and smoke, you may wonder, do air purifiers help Radon and other toxic gasses? Basically, the effectiveness can be described depending on some key factors.
- Type of Air Filters
Actually, the effectiveness often depends on the filters used in the air purifier. An air purifier with UV-c and HEPA filters is not really effective against Radon.
For dealing with radioactive gasses like Radon, you will require an air purifier with an activated carbon filter.
It’s because activated carbon is proven effective for removing various chemical and radioactive gasses.
- Strength of the Air Purifiers
If you detect a higher concentration of Radon inside your house, it becomes very difficult to remove it completely. Regular air purifiers are not so strong to deal with highly concentrated radon gas issues.
So, in case you need to remove high concentrations of radon from your house; air purifiers with higher strength are effective.
- Exposure Area
Air purifiers can effectively reduce Radon from the air only if you can ensure the exposure area according to the capacity of the purifier.
In this case, you can install separate air purifiers in each room of your house by following this air filter guide.
Otherwise, you might think about installing an air purifier that has the capacity to purify the entire house.
Removing Radon from Home
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) generally recommends taking help from professionals to reduce radon levels in a house.
Because it can be a bit tricky to remove radon from indoor air without any prior knowledge and experience about the removal process.
If you know some basic methods of how to remove Radon from home, you can easily take measures regarding this.
Here we are discussing the most used methods by professionals for removing Radon from your home.
Soil Depressurization System
With this method, a vent pipe system along with a fan is installed in the house to remove Radon.
Test the air quality of your house, and if you find a high concentration of Radon, this method is highly effective.
A pipe is installed in the foundation floor of any house, and Radon containing gas is pulled out by a fan. Basically, this process is based on the air pressure difference between indoor and outdoor air.
Generally, it is used by professionals who are experienced in removing toxic gases from indoor air. Because you can’t conduct this process without the necessary tools and testing kit.
Increasing Ventilation Inside the House
Increasing airflow inside the house can lower the radon concentration.
Always try to keep the windows open for proper ventilation so that the trapped Radon can circulate and flow out of the house.
You can also install extra fans so that they create a vacuum and prevent the radon gas from flowing inside the house.
In case you find a low level of Radon in the air of your house, this method is highly effective. As there is no need for any mechanical tools, you can easily follow this method without the help of any professional.
Sealing the Gaps of Floors and Walls
As Radon is produced by the deposition of uranium under the soil, cracked foundation floors can be a path for it to enter the house.
Besides, gaps between the walls can also be responsible for this issue.
Locate the unnecessary gaps and cracks in the foundation floors and walls in your house.
Seal them properly with plaster, cement mix, or wall putty so that the radon gas cannot enter your house through these cracks.
If you are familiar with household repair work, this process can be a lot easier for you. Otherwise, you can take help from a carpenter.
What Air Purifier Will Take Out Radon?
As radon gas is a radioactive element, not every type of air purifier can remove it effectively.
Because when it comes to the removal of toxic gasses, regular air purifiers are not enough.
So, which air purifier can take out Radon from your house, and why are they necessary?
Only activated carbon filters on air purifiers can deal with the radon gas as they contain activated carbon particles, which are also known as charcoal.
Here is a breakdown of why these air purifiers are effective in removing Radon.
1. Reduce the Concentration of Radioactive Gasses
Activated carbon particles can filter out radioactive gasses, chemicals, and smoke. Because the filtering materials used in these filters trap the toxic elements when polluted air is passed through the filter.
As a result, these are effective in reducing the concentration of Radon and other radioactive gasses.
2. Easy Maintenance
As carbon filters on air purifiers are made with natural materials, they are cost-effective and don’t require much maintenance.
Each filter can last for several weeks and months. So, you don’t have to clean or replace it frequently. Besides, you can reuse them by just cleaning them with running fresh water.
3. Sustainable to the Environment
Generally, charcoal, wood chips, coconut shells, and bituminous are used in activated carbon-based air purifiers. These elements are environment-friendly and biodegradable.
They can break into micro-components and can be used in the complete recycling process. So, they are chemical-free and sustainable for the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Radon so dangerous and what can you do about it?
As Radon is a radioactive gas, it can affect the human body and cause various health complications. To prevent the dangerous effects of Radon, you should ensure radon-free indoor air inside your house.
2. Do HEPA air filters remove Radon?
HEPA air filters can work effectively against microorganisms and several chemical substances. But these filters cannot remove radioactive and toxic gases like Radon and carbon monoxide.
3. Do air filters capture Radon?
Air filters cannot capture Radon as they are designed for removing biological and chemical contaminants. If air filters work with activated carbon filters, they can capture Radon to some extent.
Final Words
Using air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters are highly recommended for removing radon and other toxic gasses from indoor air.
Hopefully, this article cleared all your confusion about whether air purifiers can remove radon or not. If you have a higher concentration of radon, you can use air purifiers with either HEPA filter or activated carbon filter according to the air quality of your house.
