"Do I need to service my Radon Mitigation System?"

For those who already have a radon mitigation system installed in their home, the question we get a lot is, “what do I need to do to maintain my current radon system?”or “can you make sure the system is still working as it should?” and “what do I do if my current system doesn’t adhere to current code or EPA standards?”

Listed below are the answers to a few of these frequently asked questions:

“What do I need to do to maintain my current radon system?”

Once a radon system is installed, homeowners really only need to do two simple things to ensure their system is running effectively.

1. Keep an eye on the manometer (u-tube): The u-tube is a pressure monitoring device that is usually placed on the mitigation systems’ piping in the basement. The tube is normally filled with a green, red, or blue mineral oil and this measures the negative pressure in inches of water column. Most radon manometers go up to 4 or 5 inches of water column and are many times confused by homeowners as indicating the current radon level in the home. While this is not the case, the manometer does indicate whether or not the system is operating properly. That is, the liquid should always show one side as higher than the other. If both sides are level, this means the system is no longer pulling air from underneath your home, deeming the system ineffective in keeping the radon levels low. Homeowners should check the u-tube at least once every few weeks.
2. Have the home retested every two years: The EPA recommends that homeowners test their homes for radon every two years, even if there is a mitigation system already in place. Depending on what company installed the system or what fan they used, the system can sound like it’s working properly and the u-tube could look normal but after long periods of time the fan can get clogged up and lose effectiveness. Retesting is super affordable and can help detect any issues with the current system before they become more costly.

“Can you make sure our radon system is still working as it should?”

Absolutely! Whether your system is installed by us or any other company, we are always available to come out to your home to assess your radon mitigation system and fix whatever may be wrong. Fan issues are what we run into the most, and many homeowners fear that once the fan stops working they have to install a whole new system. This is not true at all. For a much lower cost than installing a brand new system, the fan can be replaced by us. If your current fan is buzzing, clicking, yellowing, grinding, or not running at all, it may be time for a replacement. The line of fans that we use are known to be one of the top radon mitigation fan manufacturers in the industry. You can check out Festa Radon Technologies by clicking HERE and read about what makes them different in the marketplace. Our fans do not yellow from the sun and typically last longer than 7 years. If you have a fan that is specifically tailored to fit in a certain area, we can special order the same brand you have, or modify the piping to fit a new fan. We also offer a variety of upgraded fans if you are not comfortable with the current levels your system is producing.

“What if my existing system doesn’t comply with the current EPA standards?”

We run into a lot of systems that were either installed a long time ago, or done by someone not certified in radon mitigation.  If this is the case, the system must be modified or replaced in order to pass inspection when selling the home. The most obvious signs that your radon system isn’t up to code are as follows:

• The fan is in the basement or in a closet (it must be either on the exterior of the home, in the attic of the home, or in the garage)

 

• The piping doesn’t extend 6-12 inches above the roofline (the piping cannot simply vent out the side of the house or go halfway up).

 

• The fan is outside of the home, but it is plugged into an interior outlet (the fan cord cannot be run through a joist to be plugged in inside the home).

 

• The sump crock isn’t sealed (the sump crock must be sealed for the system to be effective and to prevent backdrafting of carbon monoxide).

 

• The sump crock is sealed around a pedestal style sump pump. This can cause the sump pump to malfunction.

 

• The system doesn’t have a manometer (u-tube) that measures the system air-flow/pressure.

If your current system has one or more of these issues, it will most likely be flagged when it comes time for a home inspection. However, many of these things can be fixed without having to install a new system. We can reroute and extend existing piping, move the fan to an acceptable place, seal the sump crock, replace the sump pump, and add a manometer if needed. If you feel your system isn’t up to code, or it doesn’t pass an inspection, give us a call and we can help!

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