How To Address Radon In A Closed Crawl Space | Radon Mitigation in Crawl Space | Crawl Space Radon

[@Meenadevidasi]

Thank you. You are so generous sharing your valuable knowledge and experience.

[@julie1507]

If my non vented crawlspace is not encapsulated can I still use the perforated pipe venting system with the fan venting outside my home.

[@robertryan2222]

Love the service you are providing. Question I have a crawlspace that is 1600 sf. I have sealed off the vents and installed a commercial dehumidifier ($1000.). Can I simply duct the exhaust out of a vent? Thanks, Bob

[@shank0]

are you talking about the exhaust of the dehumidifier?

[@thzzzt]

5:20 Would you kindly point me to a polyurethane caulk that adheres to a polyethylene vapor barrier?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Sure thing here is a link to it on our DIY Store - diy.crawlspaceninja.com/insulation/

[@chrisdesimone4249]

HI Michael, did u mention you had an exhaust fan you can attach to the current vent say - 8 x 16? Thanks and always find your content interesting Keep it up! From NJ

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Thank you so much. Yes this one fits 8x16 diy.crawlspaceninja.com/lomanco-pcv1-foundation-vent-fan/

[@chrisdesimone4249]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja sold sir👍

[@BrenttotheWest]

All of my crawl space vents have been sealed and I have installed a dehumidifier. My radon level in my home is 3.3 pci/L. Would an exhaust fan help lower that level?

[@EvaKarrin1]

Radon monitoring- I see that you guys carry a radon measuring device. It sure would be cool if someone made an electronic monitor of Radon gas that turns on a power outlet so that a small fan of less than 10 amps could evacuate the space. Michael do you know of anything like this? Thank you for all the great information

[@davidboreham]

This doesn't make sense. Radon inflow from the soil occurs at a (roughly) constant rate. So you would either need your fan off for all time (no radon), or on for all time (some radon). Since nobody installs a radon mitigation system when they don't have a radon problem, the fan needs to be always on.

[@fulkster7173]

I live in Indiana and had my crawl space encapsulated this past April. For the last few months we have had a fowl smell coming from crawl. At first I wasn't sure where it was coming and then I got in the crawl opening and ...whew! It was bad (cat urine smell but we have no cats). All the vents are sealed, we have a dehumidifier, and I just realized there is an open duct from my HVAC in crawl (we haven't been in house too long). Do you know if the code to have a exhaust fan is a federal code or state by state code? If federal, they should have installed a vent when they did the encapsulation? Also, I think I need to dead-end the duct to keep from blowing air in my crawl (that may be why we smell it so bad in house). Any advice?

[@ClarkS963]

It's the type of plastic used. He has videos on it.

[@leverguy]

So, Radon is 7.5 times heavier than air. Will the vent fans being up at the top block of the foundation still pull the bad stuff out?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Yes!

[@leverguy]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja thanks!

[@raymarshall2995]

Hello, sir. My house has two separate crawlspaces; one on the front, one the back. The living area in the basement sets between these two crawlspaces. I just found that only one side was set with a radon system--10 years ago. My question is, do I need two separate radon systems, or could I have one installed towards the center of the two, with a tee coupler running to the two different areas? Ranch home, 1700 square foot.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Feel free to message us here at Ask a Ninja so we may go deeper into this - crawlspaceninja.com/crawl-space-help-faq/

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Is radon a problem where you live? Let me know if you have more questions and don't forget to grab your FREE Crawl Space DIY Guide! goo.gl/3Tya9b

[@MLJenkins]

It almost seems one of those radon pipes under the barrier would be susceptible to getting water in it and blocking airflow. What prevents that from occurring? I may try to find some other videos as you suggested. Just curious.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

The corrugated pipe is above the ground so it is not likely to get water in it unless your entire crawl space floods significantly and you do not have a perimeter drainage system installed.

[@MLJenkins]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja Oh interesting I guess I just assumed it would be slightly buried. Good to know. Thanks!

[@brandona.deimel5155]

I have a question. Why not put the vapor barrier on the floor (crawl space ceiling) vs on the ground and up the walls? This way you could get the benefits of the vapor barrier but also leave the vents open in the crawl space which would alleviate the radon issue. ?

[@brandona.deimel5155]

On the floor allows you to leave the pipes, HVAC etc exposed correct? Answered my own question.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Brandon A. Deimel Thank you so much ! plus we have seen VB trap moisture similar to fiberglass.

[@AngelRivera-gm7bx]

Thanks ... I thought that the 20 mil vapor barrier should stop radon . Is this correct ? Thanks so much

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Vapor barrier doesnt stop radon, you would need a radon mitigating system in order to mitigate.

[@AngelRivera-gm7bx]

Thanks so much

[@dfinite1111]

I’ve always heard this also. That vapor barrier keeps radon out!

[@frankschultz3917]

Michael - I'm following your advice about sealing off my crawlspace but providing one vent fan to prevent RADON and soil gas buildup. How do you feel about putting the vent fan on a timer, maybe 15 minutes every 4 hours, rather than making the vent fan run continuously? I have an Aprilaire dehumidifier running in the crawlspace and it seems to me if the vent fan runs continuously, the dehumidifier would need to run continuously to keep the right moisture level stabilized. Do we really need to run the fan continuously?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We prefer to keep it running constantly. The 110 CFM Lomanco fan uses such a small amount of energy that it does not take much to run it. We prefer to keep the crawl space under a very slight negative pressure and it does not affect the efficiency of the dehumidifier. Just make sure your vent fan is installed opposite of the dehumidifier.

[@BoYoKaKo]

As with Michael we have sealed all of our crawl space vents when we had Dry Pro install our vapor barrier and dehumidifier. Now we have the worst ammonia aka cat pee smell aka soil gases in the crawl. So should we install a on one the vents? And if so should it suck in air into the crawl or be installed to suck air out of the crawl?? We were going to install a vent fan to bring fresh air into the crawl. And then also open another vent on the opposite wall of the crawl for cross ventilation. We realize that this will cause the dehumidifier to run more. But don’t see any way around it. Any thoughts?? Thank you and love your channel!

[@wallydorseyjr1985]

The ammonia smell is typically the vapor barrier out gassing until it's cured completely. It then, usually, gradually fades away

[@UNITED2009100]

@@BoYoKaKo When you allow outside air into the crawl space , you allow humid air in. Humid air can condense on metal air ducts that might be passing cold conditioned air to the home registers. Condensed moisture on metal ducts can rust out duct connections and or even bigger problems with the plenum box under the furnace. If this condition happens, you loose your HVAC expected efficiency, perhaps have cold or warm spots inside the house based on the time of year or heating or cooling time, etc. Sealing the crawl in my opinion is not a bad idea. I used to see, while doing home inspections, crawl space vents right under windows. What else is under windows? Yes, register boots, usually made of metal which can absorb cold leaking air that comes into the crawl. that helps reduce the heating of a room. Just some things I used to see!

[@thomast8553]

Do you sell the radon mitigation pipe with holes for under the vapor barrier. I don’t have radon but there is other soil gases that I would like to exhaust this way?

[@AfflictionAce]

Do you have to have a Radon System or will a fan be sufficient? I can't tell if my local law means if I need 1 & 2, or just one or the other. R408.3 Unvented crawl space. Ventilation openings in under-floor spaces specified in Sections R408.1 and R408.2 shall not be required where: 1. Exposed earth is covered with a continuous Class I vapor retarder. Joints of the vapor retarder shall overlap by 6 inches (152 mm) and shall be sealed or taped. The edges of the vapor retarder shall extend at least 6 inches (152 mm) up the stem wall and shall be attached and sealed to the stem wall; and a radon system shall be installed that meets the requirements of Appendix F (Radon) of this code. 2. Continuously operated mechanical exhaust ventilation is provided at a rate equal to 1 cubic foot per minute (0.47 L/s) for each 50 square feet (4.7 m2) of crawlspace floor area. Exhaust ventilation shall terminate to the exterior.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

If you have radon you do need a mitigation system. That is what we recommend.

[@AfflictionAce]

Crawl Space Ninja thank you!

[@rekostarr7149]

in the winter the snow gets over the vent mate xD does it still work?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

The radon mitigation system in your home will not be affected by rain or snow, as some customers fear. The majority of radon mitigation systems are designed to withstand all types of weather. A complete seal is provided between the fan and the system at all joints.

[@9Packin]

I’ve had 7 different companies come out to give me quotes on crawl space encapsulation and they all have looked at me like I have 3 heads when I ask them about putting that fan on one of the vents... I’m in Indiana.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Interesting... It's actually required by building code if you seal your crawl space. Thanks for sharing.