When you discover high radon levels in your home and get estimates from certified radon inspectors, you’ll learn a lot about radon mitigation options.
Choices are somewhat limited, based on the kind of foundation your home has (basement, crawl space, or slab). But, all methods usually involve one of two things: preventing radon from entering your home or reducing radon once it has entered your home.
The cost – both of installation and operation – depends on the kind of radon reduction system you and your contractor agree upon. (Prices usually range from $800 to $2,500.)
Soil suction mitigation methods
Homes with slabs or basement foundations and slabs usually need one of four kinds of soil suction mitigation.
- One soil suction method is called subslab suction, or subslab depressurization. In an active subslab suction, suction pipes are inserted through the basement floor into soil underneath the home. A radon vent fan connects to the suction pipes, pulls radon from inside the home, and pushes it outside. Passive subslab suction doesn’t involve a fan – natural pressure pushes the radon out of the home.
- Sump hole suction is another soil suction method that utilizes a sump to both drain water and house a radon suction pipe.
- Drain tiles that channel water away from a home may be suctioned as a way to reduce radon levels inside a home.
- If a home has hollow block foundation walls, a block wall suction method is possible. Radon is removed as the block wall is depressurized.
Other mitigation methods
- For homes with a crawlspace, a submembrane suction is usually helpful. A vent pipe and fan are installed on the earth floor, and a plastic sheet covers the floor. This option vents radon to the outside.
- Radon levels in a crawlspace also may be lowered by installing a fan to blow air through the crawlspace.
- During the mitigation process, foundational cracks may be sealed.
- A heat recovery ventilator may be used, which is simply an effective way to ventilate your home.
- Finally, home pressurization uses a fan to blow air into a section of the home as a way to create pressure to prevent radon from entering a home.
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