How Does Radon Mitigation Work? Step-by-Step Install Guide

A radon mitigation system is usually installed in a single visit that takes about 3 to 6 hours. A certified specialist makes a small opening in your foundation floor, connects a sealed pipe to it, and runs that pipe to a fan. The fan pulls radon gas from beneath your home and vents it safely outdoors, so it never builds up in the air you breathe. There is no major construction involved.

If your radon test came back high, the idea of a system going into your home can feel like a big unknown. It isn’t. A high result is common in Iowa, where the entire state sits in EPA’s highest-risk radon zone, and it’s a fixable problem. Here is exactly what happens, step by step.

What is a radon mitigation system?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that rises from the soil and enters homes through cracks and openings in the foundation. A mitigation system gives that gas an easier path to travel than into your living space.

Most homes use a method called sub-slab depressurization. The name sounds technical, but the parts are simple:

• A suction point, where the system connects to the soil beneath your foundation (often your sump pit if you have one)

• A sealed pipe that carries the gas out of the home

• A continuously running fan that keeps the gas moving

• A gauge on the pipe that shows the system is working

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Once the fan is running, radon is pulled from beneath the home and released outside, away from windows and doors.

The radon mitigation installation process, step by step

Step 1: The walkthrough and plan

The visit starts with you. Before any work begins, your installer walks through the home with you and explains how the system will go in:

• Where the suction point will be

• How the pipe will be routed

• Where the fan will be located

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This is the time to ask questions and to speak up about anything you’d like done differently, such as keeping pipe out of a finished room. The goal is for you to know exactly what will be in your home before it’s there.

Step 2: Preparing the suction point

Next, the installer creates the connection to the soil under your home. In a home with a sump pump, the sump pit often serves as that connection. In a home without one, the installer makes a small opening through the slab and clears a little space beneath it, which helps the system pull air evenly from under the floor.

Step 3: Running the pipe

A sealed pipe is attached to the suction point and routed up and out of the home. It can run inside through a utility area, closet, or garage, or along the outside wall, depending on your layout and what you prefer. The route is the part you agreed on in the walkthrough.

Step 4: Mounting the fan and venting outside

The fan is installed in the pipe line, outside the living space, so the gas is never pushed into the part of the home you use. The pipe vents the radon outdoors, away from windows and doors. The fan is wired in and runs all the time, which keeps pulling gas from beneath the home.

Step 5: Sealing and adding the gauge

The installer seals the openings around the system, along with any visible cracks and gaps in the slab where radon could enter. A gauge is installed on the pipe so you can tell at a glance that the system is working.

Step 6: The final walkthrough

Last, the installer goes over the finished system with you. You’ll learn:

• How the system works and how to read the gauge

• What maintenance it needs

• How the warranty works

• What to do if something looks different later

Your questions get answered before the installer leaves.

How long does radon mitigation installation take?

Most installations take 3 to 6 hours. A few things move that number up or down:

• Pipe routing. A short, direct run is faster than a route through finished space.

• Foundation type. Some foundations are simpler to work with than others.

• Sump pump. Using an existing sump pit as the suction point generally keeps the setup simpler.

• Layout. The number of floors and where the fan can go affect how much work is needed.

Your installer can tell you what to expect for your home during the walkthrough.

Homes with a sump pump and homes without one

At High Caliber Radon Solutions, our standard residential installation is a $1,600 flat rate, and it uses your existing sump pump in most cases. If your home doesn’t have one, we offer a custom system with an alternative venting setup. Call us to talk through which setup fits your home.

What happens after the system is installed?

The system starts working as soon as the fan is running, but a test is how you confirm it. After installation, a follow-up radon test shows whether your levels dropped.

From there, the system needs very little from you:

• Check the gauge now and then to confirm the system is running

• Retest your home every two years, and after any major renovation, since levels can change

• Call your installer if the gauge reading changes or you can no longer hear or feel the fan running

When should you call?

Call if:

• A radon test of your home came back at or above 4 pCi/L, the level where EPA recommends taking action

• You’re buying or selling a home with a high result

• You already have a system and the gauge looks different than it did on install day

A local installer can answer your questions and give you a plan. There’s no need to wait on a high result.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a radon mitigation system installation take? Most installations take about 3 to 6 hours, depending on your home’s layout, foundation, and where the pipe and fan go.

Will a radon mitigation system be loud? The fan runs continuously. Where it is placed matters, which is why the fan location is decided with you during the walkthrough.

Do I need a sump pump for radon mitigation? No. In most homes that have a sump pump, the existing pit works as the suction point. For homes without one, there is a custom setup with an alternative venting solution.

How do I know my radon mitigation system is working?

The gauge on the pipe shows the system is running, and a follow-up radon test confirms your levels have dropped.

Ready to schedule?

If your test came back high, or you’re not sure what your levels are, High Caliber Radon Solutions can help. We serve Altoona, Des Moines, and Central Iowa. Call 515-783-6566 or book online to get started.

We are an NRPP-certified and Iowa-credentialed Radon Mitigation Specialist serving Altoona, Des Moines, and Central Iowa.