Radon Mitigation System Maintenance FAQs

Answers to some of the most commonly asked service questions

From noisy fans to ice jams and warranties, Radon Defense Midwest answers some of the most commonly asked service questions. To learn more about maintenance for our radon mitigation or indoor air quality systems, call 1-844-912-0533 or click below to contact us today. We proudly serve Greater Omaha areas throughout Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln, and nearby.

• My radon fan is making noise - is something wrong?

  There is no such thing as a silent radon fan. The mechanical aspect of the motor will create some noise as it works to move air through the system, and the air moving through the system will create some noise as well. The sound is similar to the hum of a bathroom vent fan and ranges from 63-66 dBA.

  Since noise is subjective and depends on an individual’s hearing and sensitivity to sound, there is a chance that the noise of the radon fan could be an unwelcome change in your home or facility. We do our best as a team to prevent this situation from occurring.

  Our System Design Specialists discuss the sound and best placement of the system with our customers ahead of time. We suggest avoiding locations near bedrooms and living rooms, where the fan noise could be more noticeable. Ideal places would be near an A/C unit or up in the attic. We also have a muffler option that we can install right above the fan to help with suction noise. The radon fan cover is another option we install that can limit the decibels of a fan.

  If the noise of the system is an inconvenience for a customer, we encourage them to give it a few days to see if the situation improves. Often, it’s a new noise that simply takes some getting used to and the constant hum eventually fades into the background of day-to-day life.

  In other rare cases, the fan may have a mounting issue that causes vibration to transfer through the screws, into the brackets and walls that hold it in place, creating an issue with elevated noise from the vibration. If this is the case, our team can adjust the mounting to alleviate the vibration sound.

  In the rarest of cases, we are able to move the radon system to a more ideal location for a price. Noise is not covered under warranty, and therefore there is no guarantee that a system will be quiet.

• What if an ice jam is clogging my radon mitigation system?
  

  If your radon mitigation system has issues with ice jams, call Radon Defense Midwest about our copper defroster!

  

  The manometer is the U-shaped gauge on the system that evaluates the performance of the system by measuring the pressure inside the pipe.

  The issue of radon mitigation systems temporarily clogging due to ice forming in the vent pipe of the radon fan is very common in the winter of cold weather climates. The very nature of a radon system pulling damp air from under structural concrete slabs and crawlspace liners creates this issue.

  Radon travels up into a home from deep in the soil, and radon mitigation systems operate continuously, actively drawing radon gas from under concrete slabs, sump pit basins, and crawlspace liners. Moisture vapor and other soil gases also travel up through a radon system since both are present in the soil.

  There are many benefits to radon systems pulling the moisture vapor and soil gases out from under a building, like lower relative humidity, reduced odors, and cleaner air. The only downside of a radon system drawing out moisture vapor is the potential for ice jams in cold winter months.

  The vapor travels up and exits out into the atmosphere through the vent pipe of a radon system. As the vapor meets the cold air, it’s typical to have condensation form and drip back down. The fan running continuously transfers that liquid condensation back into moisture vapor and sends the moisture back up the vent pipe. The condensation inside the vent pipe cannot be avoided, regardless of the weather, and can then form into ice inside the pipe if the temperature is consistently below freezing, as is quite common in the winter months of the northern United States and Canada.

  Radon Defense Midwest has come up with a clever solution to this issue! We call it our copper defroster, and it works to transfer the condensation up and out of the vent pipe so that ice cannot form inside. Contact us if you’d like our team to install a copper defroster to prevent future ice jams from occurring.

  The manometer is the U-shaped gauge on the system located around eye level on the extraction point pipe that evaluates the consistent performance of the system by measuring the pressure inside the pipe. This gauge does not measure radon.

  Ideally, the liquid inside the glass should present like a ‘J’ with one side pulled up higher than the other. This indicates the radon fan is pulling air through the system properly. The initial reading of the pressure is recorded onto the system. If the reading deviates significantly, especially to above 3.5 or below 0.5, call us as it could be a sign that something has malfunctioned in the system. We will come to evaluate the system and provide service, as necessary.

  When the manometer reads 0-0 flat across instead of pulled up on one side like a ‘J’, it is not measuring any pull or airflow from the radon fan. There are a couple of things to check and see if you need us to provide service for your system:

  • Is the clear hose that connects the manometer to the extraction point tube bent or pinched shut or otherwise obstructed? (The clear hose is on the end of the U-shaped glass where the liquid is typically pulled up higher when the system is powered on.)
  • Is there still power to the fan? Did a switch get turned off, a fuse blown, or the power source otherwise disconnected?
  • If you have checked these things and the fan is not responsive, give us a call to schedule a service trip. We also have replacement Manometers available to mail to you in the event the manometer is broken or defective.
• Where can I find more information about the warranty for my system?

  All specific warranty information can be found on the signed proposal for the project.

  For the applicable time periods indicated on the customer’s signed contract, the Radon Defense Midwest Warranty is transferable at no charge to future owners of the structure on which the work specified in the contract is completed.

  The Warranty is in effect if the job specified in the contract is completed and paid in full and, alternatively, is null and void if full payment is not received. Radon Defense Midwest does not warrant products not mentioned in the contract, but some of such products may be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. All material used is warranted to be as specified in the contract.

  All work will be completed in a competent manner according to the standard practices of the industry. Unless otherwise noted in the contract, the Radon Mitigation System (the “System”) is warranted to be free of defects due to workmanship or materials for ten (10) years from the date of installation. This “System” refers to the radon fan.

  Radon Defense Midwest warrants that upon installation of the System, the radon levels in the livable areas of the structure in which the System is installed will measure below 4.0 pCi/L for ten (10) years from the date of installation for a System installed WITH fan moisture guard unless the contract clearly states otherwise.

  Should a radon test measure levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L in that timeframe, Radon Defense Midwest will, at no further cost to the customer, take whatever actions deemed necessary to reduce the levels to below 4.0 pCi/L. At Radon Defense Midwest’s discretion, Radon Defense Midwest may refund to the customer the price that the customer paid to Radon Defense Midwest for the System in the event levels are not able to be lowered further.

  If noted on the contract, the above warranty language is not applicable, and Radon Defense Midwest does NOT warrant that after completion of work the radon levels will measure below 4.0 pCi/L in the livable areas of the structure in which the System is installed. Should a radon test measure levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L after the completion of the work, Radon Defense Midwest can, at the customer’s request, attempt further mitigation measures at an additional cost to the customer to reduce the levels to below 4.0 pCi/L, although such further reduction may not be possible.

  No registration is necessary for ERV and SaniDry products. Click here to register the BEZ / UVC Light for the manufacturer warranty.

• How do I know if my radon mitigation system is working?

  We provide a post-installation radon charcoal test kit with each radon mitigation install that we perform. A post-mitigation test is necessary. You must wait at least 72 hours before setting the provided test kit, and the test must be completed within 30 days of the installation. Please follow the instructions carefully.

  We also provide a charcoal test with each Annual Maintenance Service that we perform so that you may retest and learn your current radon level.

  With your radon test kit, be sure to set up in the lowest livable (unfinished or finished) space of your home in the middle of the room, at least 2 feet off the floor, and where no drafts will affect it from a fan, vent, or doorway.

  We recommend setting up the radon test on a Friday evening and let it run through the weekend. Then, mail it (FedEx or UPS is fastest) on Monday so that the test will have a full week to arrive at the lab. Alpha Energy of Carrollton, Texas is our 3rd Party Lab partner who assesses and takes care of all charcoal radon tests for us. Once the lab assesses the level, they will send you and our team a copy of the results.

• What should I do if there is water underneath the slab?

  If there is water under the slab of the home, you may hear a gurgling sound near the extraction point as the pull of air from the radon fan disrupts the surface of the water. Don’t worry, the fan is not strong enough to pull water up into your radon mitigation system. You will likely need to worry about waterproofing, however. We recommend hiring a company to properly install a waterproofing solution for your water issue.

• What are the electrical components of the radon mitigation system?
  • Fans: Fans installed prior to 2017 may have been installed as high voltage fans with a power box that has a power switch within 6 feet of the radon fan. Fans installed after 2017 may be our new low voltage fans that have a converter box with an electrical wire that plugs into the wall like any other household appliance.
  • Box Auto Shut Off: The converter box will naturally get hot since the system is on 24/7. This system has an automatic shut-off if it becomes overheated.
  • Operating Costs: Radon fans typically run between 42-85 watts. Operating costs can be calculated by multiplying the device's wattage by the hours used per day, dividing by 1000, and multiplying by the kWh (per kilowatt-hour) rate on the electric bill.

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