All About Radon Mitigation

Do you fear that your home’s radon levels are high? Not to worry. Using radon mitigation, your home’s radon levels can quickly be reduced to a safe level. This article talks all about radon mitigation, so read on to acknowledge. National Radon Defense, an international network of top radon experts, can assist with all of your radon mitigation-related inquiries. 

What is Radon Mitigation?

The technique of lowering radon levels below 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) is called “radon mitigation.” The ideal distance beneath these mitigation techniques either stops radon from entering your home in the first place or only lowers radon levels. Active and passive systems are further differentiation of these systems.

Active radon mitigation – Radon is moved outside the house by a fan in an active radon mitigation system.

Passive radon mitigation – A passive radon mitigation system is made to function without a fan and does the same thing.

Active systems are advised by National Radon Defense because they are the most effective at maintaining very low radon levels while protecting your family from high exposure. Passive systems, which are most frequently used in new buildings, can only effectively lower radon levels if the builder hires a radon expert to perform the system’s installation and radon inspection in Colorado. Additionally, passive systems typically do not transfer enough radon out of the house to make a difference if the radon levels are really high (above 8 pCi/L).

The good news is that even years after the initial installation, a passive system can typically be converted to an active system.

It is crucial to get a qualified radon professional to install your active or passive radon system if you’re building a new house to ensure that it’s installed properly. If you decide to use a passive system, monitor your radon levels soon after installation to ensure it is functioning correctly.

How Do Radon Systems Work?

Almost every radon mitigation procedure uses the same general techniques, albeit the precise kind of radon mitigation system you’ll require may depend on the design of your property. Most radon mitigation techniques include sealing prominent fractures and gaps in basement slabs. These include air exchangers, sub-slab depressurization systems, and sub-membrane depressurization (SMD) for dirt crawl spaces, among other passive and active radon systems.

These systems are intended to be discrete and cause the least disruption to your home’s appearance possible.

Sub-Slab Depressurization

The most popular radon mitigation technique is a “sub-slab depressurization” (SSD) system. It draws air from beneath the slab on the grade or basement floor and vents it harmlessly above the roof, where it quickly dissipates. In the greater Washington, DC, area, these systems are installed in about 95% of the residences.

Sub-Membrane Depressurization for Crawl Spaces

Does the crawl space of your house have visible dirt? When necessary, the dirt will often be bonded to the crawl space’s outer foundation walls with a special plastic membrane. Additionally, the membrane is sealed around any plumbing stacks that protrude into the crawl space’s dirt floor and support columns. A section of perforated PVC or ADS pipe called a “collection pipe” is “teed” into the piping connected to the fan and vent stack while being sealed beneath the membrane. The device removes most of the soil moisture and air from beneath the sealed membrane. This approach is well-liked for eliminating mold and dehumidifying musty, damp crawl places.

Sealing Openings

Just one step in a larger radon mitigation strategy, this sealing. As part of the mitigation procedure, sump covers, holes, and cracks close to the suction point are sealed to avoid vacuum pressure loss. An attempt to “do it yourself” by painting or caulking over cracks and openings will not significantly lower radon levels.

Is Radon Mitigation System Worth Investing Money On?

Absolutely. Fortunately, radon mitigation systems are reasonably priced; however, the price could vary depending on your circumstances. Even your health savings account can help cover the cost of radon mitigation. The federal government and the governments of Kentucky, Colorado, Minnesota, and Nebraska are among those starting to invest in radon mitigation. In the long run, skipping mitigation may cost you far more.

Benefits of Radon Mitigation 

The main advantage is a decreased risk of lung cancer. Standard radon reduction systems typically start working in less than 24 hours and keep levels low as long as the fan runs. These systems’ reduced infiltration of damp soil air with radon is another potential advantage.

This may lower the humidity level in the home’s basement. Before finalizing plans to sell a house, homeowners should consider fixing a radon issue. This frequently gives more time to address the problem and identify the most economical solution. Additionally, all current tenants will benefit from the lower risk, not only the buyers’ tenants.

Do New Homes Come with Pre-installed Radon Mitigation Systems?

Yes, a few do. But not every. It’s crucial to speak with your builder and suggest a qualified radon company install a radon system while the house is being built.

More and more home builders are creating homes with built-in radon mitigation systems as radon risks become more obvious. Although excellent, this is not a perfect solution.

The issue is that many of these passive radon mitigation systems are just installed without first monitoring radon levels. If radon levels aren’t already too high, passive systems function. Therefore, even if you know that your home is already equipped with a passive radon mitigation system, it is still in your best interest to have radon testing Denver done. If in your house, the radon levels are still too high, you should upgrade to an active system.

Fortunately, a qualified radon contractor can quickly turn on a passive radon mitigation system through Radon testing Denver. They can install an inline radon fan that is the right size after carefully measuring your current system. These fans are made to run quietly and constantly while using little power. This implies that you probably won’t even notice the difference even though your radon levels are reduced to a safe level.

Mitigation of radon necessitates specialized knowledge. Do-it-yourself methods won’t significantly decrease the amount of radon within your house. Working with seasoned experts who are qualified and insured and have the skills necessary to complete the work promptly and to the highest standards is vital since shoddy or inexpensive work may fail to reduce radon levels.