Overview - Introduction - Contractors - Radon Reduction Techniques - Meeting Requirements - Radon Reduction System - Radon in Water
Living in a House with a Radon Reduction System
Maintaining Your Radon Reduction System
Similar to a furnace or chimney, radon reduction systems need some occasional maintenance. You should look at your warning device on a regular basis to make sure the system is working correctly. Fans may last for five years or more (although manufacturer warranties tend not to exceed three years) and may then need to be repaired or replaced. Replacing a fan will cost around $250 including parts and labor. By testing at least every two years, you will confirm that your radon level is staying low and that your fan is still performing well.
Remember, the fan should NEVER be turned off; it must run continuously for the system to work correctly.
The filter in an HRV requires periodic cleaning and should be changed twice a year. Replacement filters for an HRV are easily changed and are priced between $5 and $15. Ask your contractor where filters can be purchased. Also, the vent that brings fresh air in from the outside needs to be inspected for leaves and debris. The ventilator should be checked annually by a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning professional to make sure the air flow remains properly balanced. HRVs used for radon control should run all the time.
Remodeling Your Home After Radon Levels Have Been Lowered
If you decide to make major structural changes to your home after you have had a radon reduction system installed (such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space), ask your radon contractor whether these changes could void any warranties. After you remodel, retest in the lowest lived-in area to make sure the construction did not reduce the effectiveness of the radon reduction system. If you are adding a new foundation for an addition to your house, address the radon problem during construction.
Buying or Selling a Home?
If you are buying or selling a home and need to make decisions about radon, consult EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon. If you are selling a home that has a radon reduction system, inform potential buyers and supply them with information about your system's operation and maintenance.
If you are buying a new house, consider that it is almost always less expensive to build radon-resistant features into new construction than it is to fix an existing house that has high radon levels. Ask your builder if he or she uses radon-resistant construction features. Your builder can refer to EPA guidance about radon and new construction, or your builder can work with a state certified and/or RCP contractor to design and install the proper radon reduction system. To obtain EPA's technical documents contact your state radon office.
All homes should be tested for radon and high radon levels should be reduced.
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