Ridding your home of radon isn't tough but it isn't easy either and it can get pricey.

Four days a week, Allentown's Jon Ramella works from home: a dream situation that turned dangerous.

"In short periods of time, it's not bad but when you spend long extended periods of time around it, it can lead to things like cancer and lung problems," he said.

"It" is radon, the naturally occurring radioactive cancer-causing gas. 

Ramella's new home has a radon reading of 29 PCIs, more than seven times the state recommended level.

So Ramella called Tim Musser, a radon removal specialist.

Radon seeps from the soil, inching its way first into basements then up into the home.

Over time it can kill you.

Musser's mission?  Remove the radon.

An electric powered centrifugal fan will literally suck the radon from beneath the house, feed it through PVC pipes and shoot it back into the atmosphere.

"The stacks going up a lot don't really notice believe it or not.  Especially if you keep on the corner," said Musser.

Before the PVC pipe is put up, there's a lot of drilling, scraping and vacuuming.

Holes are drilled from the outside and into the basement floor. The PVC pipe is then fitted. Depending on the shape of the house, the entire process can take a few hours or as we found out in brutally cold temperatures, all day.

And it's not cheap.

"We ballpark things from $800-$2,000 depending on the house," said Musser.

But in many real estate transactions, when radon tests are typically done, who gets the removal bill is negotiable between buyer and seller. 

Once in place, the radon removal starts working right away--a big relief for homeowners like Ramella.

"Wanted to make sure since we're here a lot that things are safe and in good condition," he said.

Thursday evening WFMZ held a phone bank to answer your questions about radon.  You can find the interviews with multiple experts on the topic in the related links section of this story.  Also there, you'll find two other stories WFMZ's Bo Koltnow did on radon.  You can also click here to read the text from the live web chat we held during the phone bank.