The holes are bored into the producing zone to give a lowered resistance path, so the radon tends to diffuse to the holes which are exhausted to outside. Unless your home is near a mobile water table, I’d not expect basement flooding.
Does the rain go down radon pipe?
The radon mitigation fans that we use are designed to handle water coming through the piping, and if water does come down into the pipe when it rains, the water will simply drain back into your drain tile underneath your home to be pumped out again from your sump pump.
What time of year are radon levels highest?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
How do radon fans work?
A radon vent fan connected to the suction pipes draws the radon gas from below the home and releases it into the outdoor air while simultaneously creating a negative pressure or vacuum beneath the slab. Common fan locations include unconditioned home and garage spaces, including attics and the exterior of the home.
Do radon mitigation systems leak water?
Yes, it probably is. If a swishing or gurgling sound is heard in the radon pipe, then it has partially or even completely filled with condensation. Water from rain, snow, and condensation is normal in any radon system but special measures need to be taken to deal with it.
Where does the water go in a radon mitigation system?
Any water that does get into the pipe will travel back through the sealed pipe and go back into the ground. Furthermore, the fans are designed to handle the water and the pipe is pitched in a manner so when water is collected it can drain down to the suction point.
Will opening the basement windows before a radon test lower the results?
Unfortunately, no, opening the windows does not reduce radon. It is not a gas that will just permanently escape the home like smoke from something burning in the oven. The radon may seem to leave when the windows are open, but as soon as they are closed, it is back.
Does opening windows decrease radon?
As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.
Does running HVAC reduce radon?
Based on the results it was concluded that an active ventilation system successfully reduces radon. For this particular house, it was also concluded that the presence of rain increases radon concentration levels.
Why is my radon pipe sweating?
Directly above the radon fan it is typical to have condensation form and actually drip back down through the fan into the pipe below the radon fan. The fan running continuously transfers that liquid condensation back into moisture vapor and sends the moisture back up the vent pipe.
Why is my radon mitigation system gurgling?
I hear a gurgling noise in the radon system. What does this mean? That means that water is not draining away from the suction point. If you have a ground water sump pump, this might mean that you should inspect your sump pump to determine if the sump is working properly.
Why is my radon mitigation system so loud?
Excessive noise and back pressure is created when too much air is moved through the pipe. According to the best standard, a 3” pipe should move no more than 34 CFM before the system is too noisy and loses efficiency.
Can a sump pit be used for radon mitigation?
Drawing and mitigating radon gas from a sump crock is a highly effective solution to successfully mitigating radon from your home. The glaring issue seems to be that most sump crock pits are located in the front corner of the home. This presents a problem of aesthetics and threatens to tarnish your home’s curb appeal.
How do you mitigate radon without a sump pump?
Remove soil to create a pit area under the slab opening; the more surface area of soil exposed in the pit, the better. Connect the “pit” to the radon fan with a PVC pipe pathway. This vents the soil gasses and reduces the sub-slab pressure.
Is it safe to drink water with radon?
Radon can be inhaled from the air or ingested from water. Inhalation of radon increases the chances of lung cancer and this risk is much larger than the risk of stomach cancer from swallowing water with a high radon concentration. Generally, ingested waterborne radon is not a major cause for concern.
How does radon get into your basement?
It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem.
Can radon cause shortness of breath?
Breathing radon does not cause any short-term health effects such as shortness of breath, coughing, headaches, or fever.
Does carbon filter remove radon from water?
Another method for removing radon from water is by using granular activated carbon (GAC) filters. Activated carbon filters can remove 99% of radon in water, but require relatively large amounts of carbon and long contact times to achieve this efficiency.
Does radon gas sink?
During its decay in the air, radon atoms transmute into radioactive metallic atoms which do not settle but float infinitely.
Which creates the greatest radon threat?
For most people, the greatest exposure to radon occurs in the home where people spend much of their time, though indoor workplaces may also be a source of exposure.
