Radon Specialist of Catawba Valley

Radon Mitigation

Mitigation is the process of the reduction of radon in a structure to acceptable levels. Radon Mitigation in no way diminishes the dollar value of a home and is accepted nationally as a home improvement. If a house was tested and a radon level of 4 pCi/L or above is present, then EPA recommends that second tests be taken to make sure (Results may vary due to changing conditions). If the radon is above acceptable levels, the house should have a Radon Reduction System (Mitigation) installed to reduce the radon to acceptable levels.

A home that is mitigated for radon increases in value, not diminishes.

Types of Mitigation: Active or Passive.

ACTIVE

There are several active systems of mitigation, but the following two systems are use in the vast majority (99%) of the active system in this area. It is not uncommon to use a combination of these two systems. The distinction between Active and Passive is the use of a powered fan.

SUB-SLAB DEPRESSURIZATION SYSTEM: A system designed to achieve lower sub-slab air pressure relative to indoor air pressure by use of a vent pipe routed through the conditioned space of a building and connecting the sub-slab area with outdoor air, thereby relying solely on the convective flow of air upward in the vent to draw air from beneath the slab.

SUB-MEMBRANE DEPRESSURIZATION SYSTEM: A system designed to achieve lower sub-membrane air pressure relative to crawlspace air pressure by use of a fan-powered vent drawing air from under the soil-gas-retarder membrane.

PASSIVE

This is the system used in new construction, the cost should be less than $500 when installed by the building trades during construction. This system will likely lower the radon levels by approximately a half of what it would have been without a passive system. If a reading of ?4 pCi/L is found when it is tested, a fan is installed into the system at a much lower cost.  

Average Cost of Mitigation System

The cost of an active mitigation system usually is between $1,500 and $2,000. With each house being different ( isolated slab(s), combination of crawl and slab, poor soil conditions beneath slab, very large slab, difficulty of getting pipe out of the house, steepness of roof) an inspection of the structure is necessary to give a quote.

 Guarantee / Warranty

A guarantee of two years is given on the work of Radon Specialist of Catawba Valley with a warranty on the fan by the manufacturer. The Manufacturer warranty is for a new fan. In most cases this is for five years on the commonly used fans, with the exception of three years on one decorative fan. The specialty fans (used in extreme conditions) have a one year warranty with a three year option available.