Homeowners living within areas containing radon, oftentimes ask what the maintenance requirements are for their radon mitigation system. Concerns with maintaining your radon mitigation system are understandably high on the list of priorities when it comes to protecting yourself, your family, and your time!
How Does a Radon Mitigation System Work?
The majority of radon mitigation systems installed are a type referred to as a sub-slab-depressurization system. Sounds complicated – but it’s not. The system basically consists of a fan unit that runs 24 hours a day and creates a pull, or depressurization, to extract radon out of the soil before it has a chance to get into the home. Due to the fan constantly running, a typical radon reduction fan has an estimated serviceable life of 7-10 years. As with anything mechanical the life of the fan may be shorter or longer for no apparent reason.
The sub-slab part of the system means it is installed to pull radon gas from below the home – whether that’s a basement slab, crawlspace floor, or slab-on-grade construction. And yes, contrary to that old urban myth, radon can be present in a home whether you have a basement or not – any home construction can have radon present.
The gas comes up out of the soil and doesn’t care if you have a basement or crawlspace or slab – if the radon is elevated in the soil below your home, you’ll have radon in your home. The typical radon mitigation system is made up of the following components: a fan unit that creates the depressurization, electrical power supplied to the fan, and piping that runs from the fan down to the lowest level of the home, and more piping to extend from the fan up to the highest point on the outside of the home to push the radon gas out into the air.
Does A Radon Mitigation System Require Maintenance?
Similar to your chimney, HVAC system, and many other continuously used systems in your home, radon mitigation systems are self-sufficient for the most part. Outside of a regular visual inspection, there’s not much more that needs regularly doing to keep your mitigation system working and your level of radon in the safe zone.
The most important part of the typical radon mitigation system is the radon mitigation fan that feeds your radon pipe. Its power and continuous work keep radon from building to unsafe levels.
The fans in radon reduction systems should continuously operate, so fan upkeep and maintenance are necessary. Fortunately, radon fans come with a warranty covering repairs and replacement for up to five years.
Properly installed radon mitigation systems have a warning device to notify you of any radon mitigation system failures. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the installation of devices with all approved radon mitigation systems, so make sure that your mitigation system has this warning device installed. You should check the functionality of your radon warning device as part of your regular check-up and maintenance routine. Checking your warning device once every three months takes only a bit of scheduling time on your part. It is a simple and straightforward process to make sure your system is functioning correctly.
The two most essential parts of radon mitigation system maintenance, your fan, and your warning system, rely upon each other and require only occasional check-ins to ensure proper functionality. Maintaining your radon mitigation system isn’t a hassle, and it protects your family from this harmful radioactive radon gas.
Checking Your Radon Warning Device
A licensed contractor can assist you in understanding how your warning device works. The warning device should be checked by your contractor to ensure that it is functioning properly. Once you learn how to gauge whether your warning device is properly working, you check your radon warning device on a monthly or bi-monthly schedule. If you see that the pressure is where it needs to be, you can rest assured that your system is working. If you notice that the pressure levels are off, don’t panic. This would be the time to call in a professional to check your device and system.
Contact Pine Breeze Radon Mitigation
Typically, there are two reasons for system failure, power loss to the fan and fan failure itself. Again, radon Mitigation fans typically last 7-10 years, that being said if it’s not a power interruption issue it’s probably time to replace the fan. All it takes is a phone call to our office, and we will schedule a technician to come out to evaluate the current situation, if the fan can be turned back on, without any additional materials, all that is owed is a service call fee. If it is determined that the fan needs to be replaced, We stock all of the typically used Radon Mitigation fans and components and can have your system up and running in no time.
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