How do you get rid of radon in a slab home?
Radon Mitigation for Slab-on-Grade Foundations In order to reduce radon in slab homes, one of four types of soil suction methods are employed: subslab suction, drain-tile suction, sump-hole suction, or block-wall suction.
How do you detect radon in a concrete slab?
This involves visual inspection to identify possible radon entry routes and any construction features which could influence the design of later radon reduction techniques. Diagnostics should also include an evaluation of the ease of soil gas movement underneath the concrete slab if sub-slab soil ventilation is a potential control option.
Do slab foundations have radon?
Slab foundations are more common in warm climate states where the ground would not freeze resulting in a crack in the foundation. There are different methods to mitigate radon for slab-on-grade houses as follows.
How to mitigate radon in slab-on-grade houses?
Slab foundations are more common in warm climate states where the ground would not freeze resulting in a crack in the foundation. There are different methods to mitigate radon for slab-on-grade houses as follows. Sub-slab Depressurization. It is the most common choice of radon reduction method for slab houses.
How do you mitigate radon on a concrete slab?
Active Sub-slab suction — also called sub-slab depressurization— is the most common and usually the most reliable radon reduction method. One or more suction pipes are inserted through the floor slab into the crushed rock or soil underneath. They also may be inserted below the concrete slab from outside the home.
Can radon go through a concrete slab?
Radon, soil gasses, and water vapor will easily pass through any openings, cracks, gaps, drains, or thin concrete (rat slabs) in the basement.
Is radon common in slab foundation?
Yes, homes built on a slab can still have radon. Whether the home is old, new, insulated or not and regardless of construction materials it can have radon.
How do you install a radon pipe under a slab?
6:0312:14Radon mitigation in new construction - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSecure. When it comes to installing an under slab depressurization.MoreSecure. When it comes to installing an under slab depressurization.
How does radon mitigation work on a slab foundation?
0:032:08Treating Slabs and Basements for Radon - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRaid on another soil gases can also be removed from beneath the slab foundation when a vacuum isMoreRaid on another soil gases can also be removed from beneath the slab foundation when a vacuum is applied to a suction pit created beneath the slab. This technique is known as sub-slab depressurization
Does sealing concrete reduce radon?
Radon Gets Into Your Home Through: Sealing the basement floor can help reduce the amount of radon entering the home. But just sealing the cracks would be unlikely to reduce those amounts in the long term.
Which foundation is best for radon?
Gravel: Use a 4-inch layer of clean, coarse gravel below the “slab,” also called the foundation. This layer of gravel allows the soil gases, which includes radon, that occur naturally in the soil to move freely underneath the house.
Does cement contain radon?
Radioactive materials in sandstone, concrete, brick, natural stone, gypsum, and granite contain naturally-occurring radioactive elements like radium, uranium, and thorium. These naturally-occurring elements can break down or decay into the radioactive gas radon.
How long does radon last?
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It's produced as a byproduct as certain radioactive elements decay. The most common type of radon has a half life of 3.8 days, which means half of the gas is left 3.8 days after it formed.
Where should radon pipe be placed?
1:262:39Radon Vent Pipe and Fan Installation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd at least 10 feet away from any building opening that is less than two feet below the discharge.MoreAnd at least 10 feet away from any building opening that is less than two feet below the discharge.
Does vapor barrier prevent radon?
For a new home, a high-performance, properly installed vapor barrier is a critical component of an effectively designed ASD system — with a fan drawing air from underneath the barrier, radon is prevented from entering the house and instead vented out through a network of passive or active venting pipes.
How do you install a radon mitigation system?
Steps for Installing Radon MitigationStep 1: Make a hole. ... Step 2: Dig out under the slab. ... Step 3: Run pipe from cellar to attic. ... Step 4: Place and seal pipe. ... Step 5: Run the pipe to a fan. ... Step 6: Install a manometer. ... Step 7: Test the system.
What are the best ways to prevent radon from entering a home?
While the techniques may vary for different house foundations and building site requirements, the five basic features that builders should include to prevent radon from entering a home are: Gravel: Use a 4-inch layer of clean, coarse ...
Why is radon resistant important?
Radon-resistant features can be an important selling point for health-conscious home-buyers. The cost to a builder of including radon-resistant features in a new home during construction can vary widely. Many builders routinely include these features in some of their homes.
What is the best way to keep concrete from clogging the gravel?
Plastic Sheeting or Vapor Retarder: Place heavy duty plastic sheeting (6 mil. polyethylene) or a vapor retarder on top of the gravel to prevent the soil gases from entering the house. The sheeting also keeps the concrete from clogging the gravel layer when the slab is poured.
What is the best way to reduce radon levels?
Active subslab suction — also called subslab depressurization — is the most common and usually the most reliable radon reduction method. One or more suction pipes are inserted through the floor slab into the crushed rock or soil underneath. They also may be inserted below the concrete slab from outside the home.
How many suction points are needed for radon?
Often, only a single suction point is needed. A radon vent fan connected to the suction pipes draws the radon gas from below the home and releases it into ...
Why are Some Homes Built on a Concrete Slab?
This method of construction is the least common foundation-type in Minnesota. It is more commonly used in warmer climates where seasonal freezing and thawing of the ground is less of a concern.
How Can Radon Enter Through Slab-on-Grade?
Most people don’t realize that concrete is porous and soil gas can penetrate it, especially through cracks in the slab. A home’s air pressure also has a tremendous impact on how easily radon gas can enter. Appliances such as water heaters, fireplaces, clothes dryers, furnaces, and exhaust fans remove air from the home.
How Do I Mitigate Radon with a Slab-On-Grade Foundation?
Our company only tests a home’s radon levels, we do not mitigate. However, there are some commonly known methods to mitigate radon for slab-on-grade houses. A mitigation company will help determine which method is best for your home.
Not All Radon Tests are Created Equal
The professionals at Branch Property Investigations use industry-leading, continuous radon monitors to test slab-on-grade foundations. Our radon testing devices are verified by the EPA for accuracy and approved for radon testing in real estate transactions.
How does radon enter a house?
Radon can enter your new house through cracks or openings in the foundation. The differences in air pressure between the inside of a building and the soil around it also play an important role in radon entry. If the air pressure of a house is greater than the soil beneath it, radon will remain outside. However, if the air pressure of a house is lower than the surrounding soil (which is usually the case), the house will act as a vacuum, sucking radon gas inside.
How to know if your home has radon?
The only way to know if your new home has a radon problem is to test. The EPA recommends that average annual indoor radon levels do not exceed 4.0 pCi/L. If your home is built with a passive radon system, you should test it immediately after moving in to make sure that radon levels are below the EPA guideline.
What is a passive radon system?
Radon-resistant construction techniques comprise a "passive" radon system. This system overcomes the vacuum effect experienced by most houses by creating a pressure barrier to radon entry. The system also includes a pipe to vent radon gas safely to the outdoors.
How does radon affect the lungs?
As it further breaks down, radon emits atomic particles. These particles are in the air we breathe. Once inhaled, they can be deposited in our lungs. The energy associated with these particles can alter cell DNA, thus increasing the risk of lung cancer.
What is radon gas?
What You Should Know about Radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the soil. Exposure to radon gas it the second-leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking) in the United States. About 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer.
Can a builder deter radon?
You and your builder can design your new house to be radon resistant. For a small fee your builder can take the following four simple steps to deter radon from entering your home.
Is it cheaper to install radon control after construction?
Even if you must install a fan, adding a radon control system to a house under construction is much less expensive than installing one after the house is built. The average cost for a radon control system in an existing house is comparable to other home repairs.
How much radon is in water?
As a rule of thumb, 10,000 pCi/L of radon in the incoming household water is equivalent to 1 pCi/L of radon in the indoor air.
What is the potential concern with radon in water?
The potential concern with radon in water is the airborne radon released when water is used. The amount of radon that is given off from water depends on the amount in the water initially. The amount given off will increase as the temperature of the water increases and as the surface area exposed to air increases.
Can forced ventilation be used in a house?
Forced ventilation, like natural ventilation, can be employed in most houses, but, in many cases, the trade-off in decreased comfort and/or excessive heating or cooling costs may prove unacceptable. This approach may be useful as an interim measure with very high radon levels.
Can you test for radon reduction?
Due to the many factors affecting the performance of any reduction technique, a trial-and-error approach often will be necessary to achieve lasting radon reductions . If short-term testing indicates that radon has been reduced to an acceptable level, you may wish to test on a long-term basis.
Is radon measured in water?
The measurement of radon levels in well water is a good way to learn whether water is an important contributor to the airborne radon level. Similarly, measuring gamma levels inside and outside the house can help identify the possibility of building materials as a radon source.