Hello,
I’m getting ready to start finishing my basement. I’m in the process of doing a 3 month radon test. I was wondering if there is any type of radon mitigation systems that are relatively simple to install myself? Even if the levels come back okay I was debating going ahead and installing a mitigation system so I would not ever have to worry about it once I have the basement finished.
Does anybody have some do it yourself guidelines and instructions for installing a radon mitigation system?
Thanks for your help,
Adam
Replies
Simplest, if you have drain tile under the floor, is a fan attached to the (covered) sump pit for the drain tile.
If no suitable drain tile system you're probably talking next about a sub-slab suction setup, with a pipe running around the perimeter of the basement (and maybe down the middle, if there's going to be a wall there) and suction pipes teed off the main pipe every few feet, run down through the slab.
In either case you need a vent pipe, which I believe is supposed to run up to above roof level. In a retrofit this is usually installed outside, but it may be legal to install it inside if you have the walls open.
Here's a good manual on radon mitigation.
http://www.infiltec.com/inf-catr.htm#Manual
I bought and used it to install a successful active system. The web site is a good source of fans if you don't have any local suppliers.
I finished my basement and THEN did the RADON test. Which, well, was dumb.
However, I went with a local remediation company that put in an active system with two main vents from the basement slab up through into the attic and out the roof.
It looks DIY-able, but I'm sure it's not in that they did suction tests before hand to establish the best location for the active vents.
They did it all in one day, and have had it tested since then so they did it right. I think that was one area I was fine paying someone else to do all the work.