What’s involved with mitigation?                                 

Mitigation is a process where we install a system of piping and a fan to remove the radon gas out from beneath a barrier and vent it outdoors.  In a home with a basement or a slab, the concrete slab is the barrier.  In a home with a crawlspace, we need to install a totally sealed polyethylene barrier to trap the radon gas, and then use a system of piping to collect the gas beneath the polyethylene.  A fan is then used to suck the gas out from beneath the slab or the polyethylene barrier and exhaust it out above the roofline.

Are radon mitigation systems unattractive?

Depending upon the installer, they can be but don’t have to be.  First and foremost, it is important to use a certified mitigation contractor, since they have been trained to properly and correctly install these systems.  When we mitigate a home, we use only the finest quality materials, installed in a professional manner to look as cosmetically pleasing as possible, and we work with the homeowner to ensure that the system is both functional and attractive.  Our systems are installed in accordance with the EPA’s published guidelines for radon mitigation system installations.  Be wary of contractors who claim to contact the EPA for variances or exceptions from these guidelines, since no such avenue exists.

What types of fans are there?

We use two styles of fans, one which can be installed in an attic and one which is installed on the exterior of the home.  The attic-style fan is an inline model that runs through the house, exits through the roof, and comes with the manufacturer’s five-year warranty, along with our one-year warranty on other parts and labor.  As long as the fan is operating, the radon level stays at the level it has been reduced to at the time of the installation.

The exterior model is an attractive rectangular box fan in a white-enameled metal casing that bolts to the side of the house. From the fan, gutter downspout, which looks much more attractive on the side of the house than PVC piping, is then used to exhaust the radon at the roof eave level.  This fan comes with a three-year warranty from the manufacturer, along with our one-year warranty.  We have successfully used both styles of fans to mitigate over 1500 homes, with many fans still running after 10 or more years.                                                   

Are there any other added features in our mitigation process?

Yes.  As required by EPA and NEHA-NRPP, we also provide (at no additional charge) a continuous radon monitor test using a FemtoTech model 510LP monitor (a $150 or greater value) immediately after the installation to ensure that the radon level has come down to acceptable values.  Furthermore, we provide, again at no additional charge, long-term alpha-track test kits so that we can monitor the radon level for the first year after the installation.