How Effective Are Radon Mitigation Systems?

How Effective Are Radon Mitigation Systems?

Radon gas is a dangerous substance that can leak into your home unannounced. If the results of your radon test indicate levels higher than 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends installing a radon mitigation system to reduce the level of gas. But how effective are radon fans in venting that gas safely outdoors? Festa Radon Technologies is here to put your mind at ease.

Active vs. Passive Mitigation

There are a couple of different ways you can vent radon gas out of your home.

An active radon mitigation system includes a fan that pushes radon gas through a vent pipe to move it outdoors. Mitigation generally starts with a suction pit in a basement or crawlspace, as well as a series of pipes that move the gas upward with the help of a fan.

Passive radon mitigation uses the same vent pipe as active mitigation, but without the fan to move things along. These passive mitigation systems are often installed in brand-new buildings to prevent radon from building up in the first place.

Mitigation Effectiveness

The installation of an active radon mitigation system can reduce your indoor radon levels by up to 99 percent. If your test results indicated particularly high radon levels, install a Festa radon fan with your active mitigation system; Festa fans will effectively force out that carcinogenic gas.

Meanwhile, a passive mitigation system will only reduce your radon levels by 30 to 70 percent. If your radon levels are on the low end of the scale, a passive system may work for your home. You can always add a mitigation fan to your system at a later date if the gas levels don’t decrease enough.

Tips To Increase Effectiveness

Want to get the most out of your radon mitigation system? Keep the following pointers in mind:

  • Have your mitigation system installed by a professional if possible.
  • Seal any cracks in your basement’s concrete slab with a non-porous epoxy.
  • Once your mitigation system is up and running, re-test your radon levels after a few weeks to see how much your levels have reduced.

Radon gas is highly hazardous to your health. If your home has high levels of radon inside, don’t panic—that’s what radon mitigation systems are for! How effective your mitigation system is depends on a variety of factors, but active mitigation is key to ensuring that your home is safe to inhabit for years to come.