Press/News

When a family in Kent needed an effective way to lower Radon levels in their home Timberwise were called upon to provide an effective solution. Through our specialist Envirowise division we were able to recommend the most effective way of lowering the Radon gas levels in the property.

Ordinarily,  it is always best to stop Radon entering a house. In some cases though this is not practical and other Radon reducing techniques have to be employed. The aim in both cases is to reduce indoor radon levels to significantly below the Action Level.  The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends that Radon levels should be reduced in homes where the average is greater than 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). The government has also endorsed this recommendation. The Action Level refers to the annual average concentration of Radon in a home.

Radon measurements are carried out with two detectors (often placed in a bedroom and living room) for three months to average out short- term variations. If you require a Radon test kit Envirowise can help! 

There are five main ways to achieve a reduction in Radon levels in a property . Depending on the kind of property and the amount of Radon reduction that is required the following  could be utilised to lower Radon levels:

A Install a Radon fan

B Improve ventilation under suspended timber floors 

C Use positive ventilation in your house 

D Seal cracks and gaps in solid concrete floors 

E Change the way your house is ventilated

If you need to reduce your indoor Radon level by a large amount, and your house has a solid concrete floor a Radon fan is the perfect solution.  This method can be very effective and is usually the best choice. In some cases it has been found to  reduce indoor Radon levels by as much as 90 per cent. The short video below shows the fitting of a Radon fan for our client.

To install the Radon fan we used a wall mounted corer to initially drill through the wall below the damp proof course and into the substrate to form a sump. The sump is necessary as this is where ultimatley the Radon will be extracted from. A ‘sleeve’ then connects the Radon fan to the sump allowing extraction of Radon gas from beneath the property. The Radon is then vented to free air at roof height where the Radon is safely dispersed and diluted. For more information on Radon gas read our Radon advice leaflet.

If you suspect you have a problem with Radon in your property Envirowise can help. Simply call 0800 288 8661 or eMail our Radon Gas Expert for further Radon advice. For more information on areas with Radon gas check out the HPA Radon map.

A fan with a contaminated sensor head

To help control condensation and other  air quality issues Timberwise can provide a full range of ventilation and air management solutions to help alleviate the effects of condensation and poor air quality within domestic and commercial properties. When looking at installing a fan in your property it is important that the correct fan is installed and life style advice adhered to otherwise the condensation problem will continue.

At Timberwise, our surveyors come across many examples of fan units that are no longer helping keep condensation levels down . Here we can see an example of a fan unit fitted in a kitchen where the sensor head that identifies when the humidity is such that the fan should automatically operate has become clogged with fatty deposits from cooking. This means that the fan can only be switched on and off manually and as a result condensation and mould have come back.

 All Envirowise fans from Timberwise feature a contamination proof sensor head that comes with a life time guarantee. This gives you the peace of mind that the fan will provide a reliable service in alleviating condensation in the property.

Envirowise offers a range of innovative solutions to help alleviate the problems associated with poor air quality within buildings. Envirowise can carry out a “Property / Air Quality Check” to determine issues and solutions for a healthy lifestyle. This involves our consultant meeting with you to discuss the various issues relating to air quality. We will determine the cause of air quality problems and offer solutions and detailed advice to improve conditions within the property. 

To find out more about the Envirowise range of kitchen fans and bathroom fans visit our dedicated air quality pages or call 0800 288 8661  to arrange a consultation.