Category: Commercial Inspections

There are many methods that can be employed to reduce radon levels should your home test above the EPA’s action level of 4 piccocurries per liter of air (pCi/L).  Those methods can include crawl space ventilation, vapor barriers and sub-slab depressurization systems to name a few.  The method used (and the costs involved) will be determined by the radon level and the type of construction of the house.  Please remember that all houses are different and the approach used to reduce radon levels should be determined by the specific conditions of the house.

The most common type of construction we see in the Phoenix area is slab on grade foundations.  However, some of the older homes and manufactured homes in the valley have crawl spaces.  Some slab on grade houses have the return air ducts for the HVAC system located beneath the slab floor and can be an entry point for radon.  A house with below slab return ducts will most likely require a different approach to radon mitigation then a house without these ducts.  High vacuum pressures can be generated in below slab ducts that can result in radon laden soil gasses being drawn in and circulated throughout the home by the heating and cooling system.  For more information on mitigating radon in houses with below slab ducts visit the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency.

However, for most slab on grade homes, a soil depressurization system will be used.  This type of system consists of 4 inch piping and a ventilation fan (see pictures above).  The pipe penetrates the concrete floor and is exposed to the soil beneath the house.  A depressurization fan installed in the vent pipe creates a vacuum and draws the radon into the venting system.  This pipe is then routed above the roof line where radon gasses can be safely vented.  This type of system can be contained inside the wall structures of the house or installed on the exterior of the house.

As with any mitigation system, it is recommended that a qualified contractor be consulted and radon testing be conducted before and after the installation of any product to insure that radon levels have been reduced.

If you are in need of a radon test, give us a call at:

(480) 503-2611 or 1-888-THE-WERX

Because an ounce of inspection is worth a pound of repair!