Thread: Radon Abatement?

Radon is a serious issue and so is cancer.

Your inspection reading of 6.2 is, IN MY OPINION (Not Advice [/disclaimer]), nothing to get worked up about. There are also a lot of factors that can affect the test results...temperature, barometric pressure, occupied or vacant housing and on and on and on. It's close enough to 4 that I would retest and see what happens.

Years ago, the EPA had to come up with a number, and that number was 4. I've spoken with many indoor air quality experts and they've all agreed that until you get into the 20+/-'s you're not facing a real significant threat.

Of course, the most important thing to remember is that cancer is a real threat and that each persons tolerance for the radioactive radon is different.

The cost of radon mitigation is like you're talking about is minor in comparison to the cost and hassles of chemotherapy or any other type of medical intervention caused by cancer.

If you live in an area where radon is present, then it is what it is, get the equipment and consider it an upgrade.

As for 6.2 though, don't panic.

Aaron,

Thanks for the response. We have two kids and had a radon test performed anyway to make sure what the levels were OK and got a 0.5 radon reading which is great (I believe the regular outside rating is 0.4).

Our radon fears have been alleviated and now agree that a radon abatement system is a reason to buy a house, not a reason not to.

FYI, the radon test only cost $99 and took two days, I highly recommend...

Up here in the NE quadrant of Pa (and all over the state for that matter), Radon tests are essential for both buyers and sellers. The fan that midagates the gases is called "continuous duty" and I don't think it's hooked up to a thermostat since they are designed and must run 24/7 for a minimum of five years. It's recommended by the Radon testing people that you have your basement tested again in three years AND test the water. The gases come out of the shower head too. You kind of lucked out with regard to the piping: it's in the wall. Here, in my area, it's on the outside of houses. Yes, the testing is reasonably priced but the system and installation now begin at $650.

Good luck. No problems to report with my system.

Christopher,

Thanks for the input. What I called a thermostat like device, I found, is actually a manometer ("The inclined and vertical u-tube manometers are inexpensive and common in differential pressure measurements").

We were concerned that this device may fail and we'd never know it. It's just a simple (no electricity or batteries needed) U shaped glass tube with liquid in it. There is a tube coming out of the 2 - 3" PVC connecting to one side of U shaped glass top manometer. The fan up in the attic runs constantly which creates suction on the manometer making the liquid higher on the end with the tube. When you see the liquid even on both sides, that is an indication there might be an issue with the fan.

No more radon fears... Thanks!

BTW, The abatement system installed was $950. Drilled through the concrete foundation and ran the PVC from the basement, up through the first floor into the attic and out the roof. The inline fan is located in the attic.

Are you performing continuous radon testing?