A Quick Overview Of A Residential Radon Mitigation System Installation

Posted on: 7 December 2022

If you've tested your home for radon and found the level is high, the next step is to have a radon mitigation system installed. You can remove the danger of health complications from radon exposure by having a system installed that pulls the radon outdoors.

Since radon can be anywhere, a mitigation system is a better solution and less disruptive than moving, especially since a different house could have a radon problem too. Here's an overview of what's involved with a residential radon mitigation system installation.

A Pipe Is Installed In The Ground

The exact method of a radon mitigation system depends on how your house is built. Radon seeps up through the soil and collects in your house, so it's necessary to place a pipe in the soil so it can collect the radon. If your home has a slab-on-grade foundation or a basement with a concrete floor, it's necessary to drill a hole in the concrete so that the pipe can be inserted into the soil.

This is necessary even though there is concrete between the soil and your living space since radon can seep through concrete too, especially through cracks or gaps along the sides of the foundation. If your home is over a crawlspace, the contractor needs to put down a radon barrier to cover the soil. This is like a vapor barrier that covers the entire floor of the crawlspace. In addition, a pipe is inserted into the soil.

The contractor may need to do other things too, such as caulk around the edges of the crawlspace or basement foundation to seal leaks that could let radon through.

Build The Pipe Stack

When radon goes up the pipe, it needs a safe place to exit. This is usually through the roof of your house where the gas will catch the wind and float away. The pipe stack is assembled in a similar way that a plumbing vent stack is put together and comes out through the roof.

Add The Fan And Gauge

Before the pipe exits the roof, it is connected to a fan. The fan is placed in your attic to run continuously. As the fan runs, it pulls radon up from the soil and releases it through the roof, so the fan needs to run all the time. The fan might be hardwired to your electrical system, or a new outlet may be installed.

In addition, the contractor installs a gauge in line with the pipe. The gauge will probably be in the basement since it needs to be where it's easy to see. The gauge monitors the pressure in the pipe so you'll always know if the fan is running even though it's out of sight in the attic.

Once the radon mitigation system is installed, the contractor might do a smoke test to verify smoke is pulled up the pipe and the system is working properly. You may even want to do a follow-up radon test to make sure the radon level is in an acceptable range after the mitigation system is installed.

Turn to a company like Radon Environmental Inc to learn more.

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