RADON TESTING & MITIGATION

Elite Restoration offers Radon Testing services in Twin Falls, Boise, Bellevue, Pocatello, Meridian, and Burley, Idaho. There are many ways to reduce radon in your home. Some applications are only used in special instances. We will discuss a couple of the more commonly used applications below.

Sub-Slab Decompression Systems/Slab System – This system is installed in the slab on grade homes. To install this system, we locate an area home where we can remove a section of concrete and dig a hole about 2 feet deep. We then install a PVC pipe and drill holes below the slab line on the pipe. Once the holes have been drilled in the pipe, we fill the hole with gravel and re-pour the cement. Once the cement has been poured, we route the pipe to the exterior of the home, where a fan is placed to create suction beneath the slab. An exhaust is then ran from the fan, to the eave of the roof. A catch is placed inside the pipe, to stop any unwanted critters or debris from entering the fan. The exhaust shall be placed in a vertical position, pushing radon away from the home, ground and other homes in the area.

Sub-Membrane Decompression System/Crawl Systems – This system is the most common. To install this system, we must snake perforated drainpipe through the crawl space. A 6-mil membrane is then placed over the top of the pipes. Most times, multiple pieces of 6 mil poly membrane is needed to cover the entirety of the crawlspace. The different pieces are then “seamed” together using an all-weather vinyl tape, to create a single membrane. Once the pieces are “seamed” together, the entire perimeter must be attached to the foundation. To do this, we use a strong foundation adhesive. The pipe under the membrane is routed outside, through either the foundation or an exterior wall. There, the pipe is attached to a specially designed Radon fan, to create a vacuum under the membrane and soil. Another schedule 40 PVC pipe is placed on the exhaust side of the fan and routed along the exterior wall, above the eave of the roof. A catch is placed inside the pipe to stop any unwanted critters or debris from entering the fan.

Not every system will be the same. We also offer many accessories to route moisture away from the fan, as well as suppressors to reduce the noise from the exhaust. Fan covers are also available to help protect the fan. Chases can be built around the pipe to hide the system, or the PVC can be painted to match the color of the home.

Radon in well water is a whole different ball game and is usually mitigated by a clean water specialist. The best way to reduce radon in water is aeration and filtration. A licensed water specialist will install an aeration unit in the home, between the well and the main water line going into your home. In many cases, Radon in water is much more concentrated than in the air but has little to no affect on the human body. What does affect us, is when the Radon inside the water escapes into the air and we breathe it in. Drinking water with radon in it, is much safer than breathing it in, according to most studies. For every 1000pCi/L recorded inside a water sample, it is safe to assume that about 1pCi/L escapes into the air.

A tester should be placed somewhere in the home for a minimum of 48 hours.  The location of the tester is dependent on the situation.  In some cases, a person might want to know exactly how much radon they are being exposed to on a normal basis.  In other cases, the potential of Radon exposure is measured.  You can test for radon specifically, or test for the decay products.  A short-term radon test will give the potential of Radon, and a long-term test will give you a better understanding of the exposure of Radon.

When it comes to Radon in water, a water sample is taken from a kitchen or bathroom faucet.  It is then sent to a lab to be analyzed and results are usually back within 7 business days.

There are many different types of radon tests that you can choose from.  Your choice should be dependent on the situation.  In a real estate transaction, a short-term test (48-96 hours) should be conducted.  This can be done with either a charcoal-based testing kit, or a Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM).  A charcoal test kit must be sent off to a lab to be read and analyzed.  It could take a week for you or the radon professional to receive the test results.  For faster results, a Continuous Radon Monitor can be used.  These testers can be pricey and are not readily available to consumers.  The easiest way to perform this test is to hire a professional.  These results will show Radon levels, Barometric Pressures, Temperatures and are also equiped with tampering notices.  These results can be read almost immediately and present a nice report to file for future needs.

For a more accurate representation of exposure, a long-term test (91 days-1 year) should be conducted.  Long term tests can be conducted with a Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) or with passive devices such as an Alpha Track Detector.  Using a CRM for a long-term test can be very expensive but will give the best results.  An Alpha Track Detector can be set or hung in a house for a longer period and are non-invasive to the occupants.

If you are testing for a real-estate transaction, the tester will be placed in the lowest possible livable area of the home for a short-term test.  This means if there is any possibility of someone turning an area into a living room, bedroom, or a space where occupants could spend a good amount of time in the future, that is where you should have a test conducted.  The tester should be between 3 to 6 feet above the ground and away from any other objects in the room.  A homeowner can choose to perform a short-term test outside of a real-estate transaction, in this case the homeowner can choose to test in the lowest livable area of the home, or in the lowest possible living area of the home.  When a short-term test is being conducted, closed home conditions must occur for accurate results.  This includes closing all windows and exterior doors 12 hours prior to testing and keeping them shut for the duration of the test.  You may enter the home as normal, but doors should not be left open for more than a few minutes at a time.  Any ceiling fans or bathroom ventilation fans should be left off.  Fireplaces can also cause a high reading, so it is recommended to limit the use of fireplaces.

During a long-term test, homeowners may operate inside their home as normal.  No closed home conditions must occur.  After 91 days the test can be taken down and sent to a lab.  The longer the test is active, the more accurate the results will be.