Planning For Radon Mitigation in your New Home

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how to install a radon Mitigation system in a new
home
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to suck air from under a slab, the slab must be
airtight
In the United States, the Surgeon General has
warned radon is the second leading cause of lung
cancer. Radon can be found all across the US, and
can get into any type of building. As awareness
of this hazard continues to spread, more and more
homes, offices and schools are installing radon
mitigation systems. As a member of National Radon
Defense, we will take you through one of our
standard installations.
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Test the sub-slab communication
Determining the air flow beneath the slab
ensures the system will be able to vacuum the
radon particles and vent them out properly. If
difficult or problem soils exist under the home,
more than one extraction point may be needed.
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Seal cracks in the foundation walls and floor
The overall goal of the system is to suck up most
the air from under the slab that is rising
through the soil. Sealing the cracks allows
better suction, and increases the amount of soil
gas captured by the mitigation system.
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Install a vertical PVC pipe, running from beneath
the slab and extending through an exit point
above the roof line
Once the PVC pipe is installed, test the sub-slab
communication again to check the system. It is
recommended to remove ten gallons of soil beneath
the pipe to create more surface area of soil to
suck from. Here, we tested the pipe using a
shopvac and noticed the pressure readings in the
air flow were much different after sealing the
cracks around the foundation.
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Install a manometer
The manometer is mounted on the pipe and has a
small tube which is inserted into the pipe.
Homeowners can check the manometer to make sure
the radon mitigation system is operating
correctly. If the fluid inside the manometer is
above zero on the side which has the small tube
extending out into the pipe, the air is being
vacuumed upward and the system is working
correctly.
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Cut the pipe in the attic and install the fan
The fan keeps a continuous vacuum affect in
place, sucking up the air from beneath the slab
in the basement and venting it out above the
home. There are different grades of fans
available, homes with compact soils may require a
more powerful fan system than a sandy soil home.
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Check the system
Once the fan is installed, the manometer should
have a reading greater than zero. If the reading
is still zero, the system has not created a
negative air pressure under the slab, and radon
particles could still be entering the home.
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More Information www.radon1.com Email
info_at_radon1.com Address 1014 4th Ave South,
Nashville, TN 37210