Only 55x the legal Radon Limit?

Constantin

... because they were scratching their collective heads how I was able to collect 220picocuries/L when the legal EPA limit is 4... As she put it, "did you dig a pit?" Well, in a word, yes.

One of our abutters had to install a fan system to extract Radon from her basement. When the time came to replace our basement/foundation, I thought it would only be prudent to install the infrastructure to extract Radon from underneath the slab should it ever be a problem. Besides 12" of crushed gravel under the slab, I also installed thirty feet of 4" perforated pipe to carry the gases to a specific location.

That pipe is currently capped and the testing samples were installed into the pipe. I figured that if the Radon down there was non-existent that I would not have to worry about Radon at all. BTW, the previous basement had no problems with Radon, though that was presumably driven by copious infiltration (i.e. it was diluted ASAP).

Since the house isn't buttoned up yet, there is no way of assessing if enough Radon bypasses the membrane, seals, etc. in the basement to pose a threat. Only then could the test be used as intended, i.e. a couple of feet off the ground in an inhabited space and all that.

However, it's simple enough and inexpensive to run a 4" PVC pipe up to the roof when the walls are still open and let the stuff escape up there. So that is what we'll do. Nonetheless, I was impressed that the folks who stand behind the kit sold at Home Despot stores nationwide would actually call folks who have outlying results.

jerry scharf_2

That's an IAQ problem!

Constantin,

Good thing you don't plan on living under the slab. I always think of the roof vents as "sharing with your neighbors."

I find it funny and sad that when people talk about IAQ, CO and radon are almost always left out. These two have the best documented medical impacts. It's almost as if people have heard of these, so they aren't as afraid of them as mold and volitile organics. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for dealing with the later as well, but it seems like people skip the obvious tests and jump to the new stuff.

It's like people worrying about getting west nile virus, but not bothering to get their kids immunized for measles. go figure.

jerry

Constantin

Wouldn't I be sharing regardless?

Thanks for the thoughtful reply!

I too am amazed how few builders install a Radon system and sealed combustion units into their construction. Neither option costs a lot of money and can save a lot of trouble. In the case of Radon, it's literally peanuts, a cheap insurance policy!

However, I take your point about venting Radon up to the atmosphere. It should dilute rather quickly up there... nonetheless, you raise a good question: Would a venting system for Radon make a difference in terms of local Radon emissions?

I don't think it would, given that the stuff percolates upwards through just about any soil... then it may encounter the great outdoors, or go bump against the foundation of the house.

Since the underside of a house is not going to be gas-tight, the trapped Radon will at some point percolate up (probably after concentrating for a bit and building miniscule pressure). Then, the Radon will be released into the building before being ejected through exfiltration, etc. so the neighbors would experience just as much Radon post construction as before, I would think.

Then again, I have no experience and am purely conjecturing. Any enlightenment from a Radon pro would be appreciated!

Matt Clina

Radon Mine

Or you could just let the radon stay in your basement and charge admission:

http://www.radonmine.com

Cliff Brady

ERV/HRV Positive pressure

I have heard positive pressure maintained by an ERV/HRV can greatly reduce radon levels by not giving the radon gas an excuse to leave the soil for a lower pressure emvironment. Has anyone else heard of these claims?