How To Professionally Install A Radon Mitigation System

Professional Radon Mitigation, An In Depth Look
Have you ever wondered what is involved with the installation of a radon mitigation system?
I think for many people in the real estate industry a belief is held that putting in a radon system is as simple as punching a hole in the floor, putting in a pipe, and sticking a fan on it. For the rest of the general public, i’m not sure they have any idea what Radon even is. If you are in the latter group, a great place to start is The Closing Guys PRO Show interview with Abe Mendez, The Radon specialist. He answers all those questions and more. Click Here to check that out.
The long and short of it is radon is an invisible, odorless gas that comes out of the ground. It is radioactive, and the EPA attributes over 20,000 deaths annually to radon exposure. Radon can be found everywhere but, issue concerning homes is that in certain conditions the levels build up to unhealthy levels in the home. Radon mitigation is the process of lowering the levels in those homes, or radon mitigation. This involves installing a system that evacuates the excessive radon gas from inside to the outside of a home.
This amazing inside look documents what a top professional does to accomplish that. The first thing that must be done is diagnostics. The goal is to determine 2 things: 1, where is the radon coming from, where are the hot spots and 2, can air be moved freely under the concrete basement slab. This can become very in-depth as you will see in the video.
Next a process of sealing needs to be done. The radon system will access one or more points in the foundation but drilling a hole in the concrete and mechanically sucking the air out and evacuating it from the home. For this to be most effective other air leaks, such as around the edges of the slab must be sealed.
The testing also provides the best location or locations to drill this hole. Different situations will require different solutions. The best experts will not only select a location that is most effect in lowered the radon levels, but will also make the system as invisible as possible on the exterior of the home, you know, make it blend in.
From this point the right pipe size and fan must be selected, and the piping may have to cross one or more foundation walls to get to the exterior of the home where it must be piped above the roof line. This is an important detail as piping it near a window or door or not getting the pipe high enough may create a situation where the radon is actually sucked back into the home.
Thats just an overview of what you will see and learn following Abe around during this installation. And I promise, by the end of the video, you will understand why radon mitigation is a science and an art. More importantly, you will see why you need the very best professional to install your system.
To learn more about The Radon Specialist, check out their video on our Experts Page.
You can find them online at www.theradonspecialist.com

[@joshuafino3560]

This is incredibly helpful for deciding on which mitigation specialist to use. This answers so many questions and instantly backs up one professionals approach vs another. Thank you for making this.

[@laparo3]

What a great video. Has helped me understand many things and now I know exactly what I want done in my basement when looking for a radon mitigation contractor.

[@alfredgiovetti]

How do you install radon mitigation with an older home (75 years old) not built on gravel.

[@craigschaffer828]

Since you and your crew are always working in high level radon situations, how do you protect yourself from the effects of radon. Do you positively vent the work space to lower the levels while you are working? Great video!

[@garyzysk8017]

This is wrong! You never want to reduce size of pipe with air flow or any plumbing drainage! You went from a 4 inch pvc pipe inside insulation to fan motor outside to a reduction of 3" cheap gutter downspout pipe exiting the top of the fan motor to above roof line! Plus the caulking will never seal with those cheap downspout fittings. The caulking will eventually crack over weather conditions! All these KZbinrs supposingly are professional are skipping an important step before glueing a pvc pipe to any fitting is that you use pvc cleaner first then pvc glue!!!

[@stevesith6974]

Is there a weather cap that will be going on the top of the gutter top?

[@vapeurdepisse]

No, it's designed to let the rainwater back under the slab. You can have one but it's not necessary.

[@garyzysk8017]

That's wrong! You don't want water to go back down into the basement Into the hole you cored out for the pipe! That water will have a lock effect and will not let air flow of radon from under basement to roof top vent! Put a PVC 90° on very top of exhaust vent above roof line or you can put on an upside down T

[@DVDVAMPIRE01]

How do deal with rain getting into the exposed vent?

[@johnlagreca6288]

Good video, thanks. I take it this is meant to be partially a customer facing video. If so, you should qualify your measurements with units when quoting numbers like "...273.6..." and "...almost 1000..." such as: "We measure radon levels in pC/l, I see 273.6 here and almost 1000 there" or "I see 273.6 pico Curies per liter here and 1000 pico Curies per liter there", but you don't have to listen to me, you obviously know what you are doing. Other than that I think the video is spot on. Nice drilling equipment.

[@pecker556]

I enjoyed this video. It was very well done, and very informative. Thank you.

[@rhodeislandfirearmsownersl9916]

Question, this is the only video that shows the use of piping outside the house thats not just pvc round pipe. Looks 1000% better. Is that just standard pvc gutter materials? Or something engineered for radon mitigation

[@jwiedle86]

Exactly. Everyone in my neighborhood has the ugly PVC pipe running up the house. This looks much cleaner

[@straphangersnyc2055]

great video! but get yourself some Hilti tools. the new water management system in the core rigs leave no slurry whatsoever and the torque control and AVR on the hammer drills wills save your guys' wrists and hands.

[@Sdean215267]

i would love to see what the radon levels came down too...

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Why not install the fan in the basement section of the pipe? Why the need to have the fan outside?

[@elbonezx3]

That's crazy to know you live on top of a Hazzard area never heard of radon until I seen tictok video, showing pipe work done but I guess rain water was back flowing into the foundation and was probably blocking air flow.. I live in the city side where we don't have septic problems like that but it's good to know how it works and what is the solution to the problem., the pipe work looks similar to wall mounted heating system pipe work. Love learning new things that can better a home tho...

[@cat5tracker581]

Why wasnt a test done after to prove it worked?

[@vitalieBu]

If in that house the 5min average was 104.4 ... and in my house the 1 day average is around 3.9-4.1 ... should I even worry or not?

[@bargym2312]

Anything 4.0 or below is considered a safe level. My advice would be to retest every year. If it gets up to 7-8 or more, you may want to consider mitigation

[@leodf1]

Very well filmed and presented. Thank you

[@switchex]

I see that you are using a square exhaust pipe. What kind of coupling did you use to connect the round end of the fan to the pipe and where can I buy it? I will be replacing my non-working fan and would like to change the coupling too as it is old with possible cracks but I am not finding any round-to-square flex coupling in home depot, lowes, or even online. If I don't find it, i have to change my pipe from square to round. Also, do you just let the fan sit on the pipe, or do you secure it to the wall with screws? My fan seems to be just sitting on the pipe and I read that it could cause vibration if attached to the wall. If that's true, why does my RadonAway fan have screw holes for securing it to the all? Thanks.

[@JeffreyFeyh-rb4xk]

That wet drill hole saw is dope

[@edcollier2526]

Excellent workmanship! My only suggestion is eye protection! Other than that, well done and I wished you were located up north!

[@bryonlippert5530]

I was thinking the same thing but other than that I would absolutley hire these guys for the job.

[@ironhorsealpha]

He was wearing his safety squints. Haha

[@markmcdonald890]

what radon detector do you recommend

[@vc2399]

Good morning, how much for installation of radon mitigation system ? i lived in UK (chesterfield)

[@structuredtogrow]

We're in North Carolina so installation wouldn't be possible in the UK sorry.

[@cantcomeupwithausern]

That is crazy high! I tested my completely finished basement last year because I've been wfh since covid and figured I should know.. Without any mitigation my basement is only 1.5 pci/l.

[@Sean-Aviation]

So how much do you guys charge for this specific system?

[@structuredtogrow]

Sean Contact Abe with some details and he can provide more info on pricing radonspecialist.org/

[@structuredtogrow]

Sean 1-844-778-4357

[@evilpaulstark]

Hi Abe, great video I wish you were up in the Washington DC area, I would have you install ours. Have you ever worked with or installed a system with basement walls built with Superior Walls? I having radon companies not being able to guarantee their work because of our. The house is only a couple years old and we have ratings of 8.7-9.0. You know anybody up in southern Maryland area (Prince Georges County) you would recommend?

[@structuredtogrow]

Claude Stark Contact Abe with some details and he can provide more info directly radonspecialist.org/

[@cayugacountryhomes8360]

For superior walls you need a back flow valve at the outside drain pipe. This is to stop air from simply coming from outside through the drain pipe and short-circuiting the rest of the slab. The stone under a superior wall is actually one of the best situations for radon reduction.

[@anthonytroia1]

Excellent video, thank you. Now I don't need to hire yall ;)

[@dwr1611]

Great video! I was an old radon mitigation PVC pipe in the basement was very moldy outside. Does that signal an issue with the system?

[@Intalesoffates]

what is the difference between high suction fan vs high vacuum fan? What radon level reading in order to use the high level vacuum fan? Isn't the rain going inside the gutter where radon is blowing out from?

[@danlayman2194]

Thanks. I have to install a radon mitigation system. Good information.

[@drwatson32bit]

'Radon from the Soul' would be a cool song name

[@jamieofalltrades536]

Anyone else notice that None of the mitigation experts who put out these videos, this one included, wear any PPE such as an Approved P100 mask? If it's so bad, you would think that someone who works with n this field everyday, exposing themselves constantly to high levels would want to be protected from it...

[@scotta9114]

The problem as I understand it, it Radon is very difficult to filter out of the air. It's not like dust but a gas that cannot be separated out. I could be wrong here but that is what I read. I guess that is why you can install a Radon filter instead.

[@ludvikjerabek]

Also radon exposure about exposure over time. So radon is present in the air everywhere but high concentrations radon is the problem long term. Radon levels above 4 pCi/L should be mitigated.

[@krichards8472]

Excellent workmanship Abe. Putting a hole in the cement and hooking the fan in the cement sealed around the edge.. Would that make the fan struggle to exhaust out the pipe.

[@ryanoswald5506]

So how do you do all this on a Finished Basement???

[@dustinheinze8484]

What kind of radon sniffer do you use?

[@truthseekerKJV]

My question is, for appearance reasons, why does the fan need to be installed on the outside the house instead of inside the basement or crawl space ?

[@nateanth]

You only want negative pressure side of the pipe inside the house. If you were to put fan inside, if a leak formed in the pipe on the positive pressure side of the pipe you could pump radon inside the house.

[@JimBowman69]

New homes it common to put the fan up in the attic and vented through the roof. On a retro install that’s going to be a challenge to run that 3 or 4 inch pipe up through finished walls so most of the time they just do side of the house.

[@nateanth]

@@hecklefish You are not wrong, but Radon Gas is cancer causing and odorless. Steam from a bathroom and kitchen fans aren't as critical to not let what they are exhausting vent into living space.

[@nateanth]

@@JimBowman69 That is fine. Attic is not considered living space, and ridge vents, etc would allow it to escape if there was a leak "after" the fan. Most likely the fan to the exhaust out the roof is a solid piece of pipe without joints where that would be highly unlikely for a leak to occur.

[@reinsrobertson1102]

Why is the fan outside? Could it not be installed in the basement?

[@OK-zn9su]

This is building code requirement. Radon fan must be installed outside so only negative pressure applied inside the living space. This is to prevent the situation when exhaust is blocked and vented air goes back to living space. You can install it in attic or garage though if you can route PVC pipe in there.

[@bc69006900]

Wow the home had really high radon levels

[@JFinch57]

Is there any reason why you can't install the fan inside?

[@jsf11fra]

It is against code. The fan has to go in a non livable space. So the garage attic or outside the house. Not allowed in the basement either.

[@tylerjohnson6701]

The specialists install them inside in Alberta

[@patrickkanick1283]

Beautiful install until .... you dont put a cap on the vent? So rain water can go under slab?

[@youknowglenn]

That would be normal, there isn't anything wrong with condensation or rain going back into the slab. A cap would restrict airflow.

[@patrickkanick1283]

@@youknowglenn not a sealed cap.... a rain cap. Regardless i don't agree with you , imho water is going to go back under slab.

[@youknowglenn]

@@patrickkanick1283 that's fine, you don't have to. I own a radon mitigation company and am NRPP certified and a member of AARST. A "critter gaurd" is the only acceptable "cap", which wouldn't stop rain from going down the pipe. In fact, it is against protocol to install a "cap" on the system. Also, the system itself is probably creating way more condensation than rain that would enter the pipe. Just my two cents :)

[@ironhorsealpha]

Do you guys do the electrical work yourself or did you have to have a licensed electrician install the switch for you?

[@shawnl3154]

How are you guys alive working in radon all day ?

[@youknowglenn]

Google "Working Level Month"

[@johnjenkins1707]

How do you determine whether the home needs a high airflow vs a high suction fan?

[@rickwood2050]

David, the only thing missed on your 3-hole mitigation, was to view the finished center point where the three PVC pipes channeled together?

[@miloskaroly7921]

What a bullshit? From a geologist point of view, there is no system today that eliminates the presence of radon unless you remove all the soil, bedrock or the grade on which the foundation and the house sets and even if you do that remains in the air. However, this is more like a placebo pill which makes a very good niche to make a lot of money and good for you If homeowners are not educating themselves and learn that a $30 fan/venting outside can take care of pretty much any kind of soil emanations, fumes, odors. It is more dangerous the microwave radiations than the overrated and blown out of proportions radon gas which is not only coming from the ground beneath homes, streets or buildings through cracks, sumps, joints, floor drains or other tiny openings in foundations or crawl spaces but is present in everything including your car. From a scientific aspect and based in evidence radon is considered a noble gas due to its none aversive which does not rise more than few inches from the ground and last more than minutes until entering in contact with other gases, particles of any kind extending its presence which exists even in the most unpolluted areas because it is in the air and you can not give read of it. Your 150 grams of potassium present in your body emanates more toxic radiation than all the radon present in 1000 homes. People exposed to radon are at a greater risk of developing lung cancer. EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air (a “picocurie” is a common unit for measuring the amount of radioactivity). Oh EPA recommends based on what? it is no scientific evidence of such claim considering that 1 picocurie is the equivalent of a nanogram. What a bullshit?

[@OK-zn9su]

Fan is good... better if it is installed close to the point where radon enters home though. Granted homeowner can do it for $150-200.

[@heathg2681]

Radon in certain levels could actually be beneficial to you. What do you think the Nuclear Therapy sign in a hospital is for? The thing is the long term exposure. Radiation isn't a scary ghost. I've talked to people who install these systems and truth be told, open a window, put up a fan, something to ventilate if high amount. No need for these costly systems.