fight with Radon

Im completely new at this. I ve just finished basement when someone introduced me to Radon. My friend borrowef me some tester and yesterday i put it in the center of empty basement. Today we see results on our cell phone. It is bad so we need to but some equipment to remove radon so our kids can play on basement. Can you guys help me choose what to buy or give any advice. I was going to just choose somebody in yelp.

 

A standard radon remediation system consists of an exhaust pipe pulling air from beneath the basement floor and expelling it all the way up above the roof. If you have a furnace room or other space that wasn't finished it might provide a good area for the pipe to enter the floor.

Ideally there would be crushed rocks under the concrete with a few pipes running to all areas, but installing at this stage you will do the best you can and then test again.

There are lots of on-line instructions for the how-to and we can fill in the gaps.

There will be an exhaust fan that will run 24/7 and is often located in the attic, if you can get it up there with power.

Check out the videos and see what options your house has.

Bud

 

What videos?
I dont think im able to do it myself. Id rather choose contractor. My friend installed it for $1500. I dont have furnace.

 

I'm not sure how accurate that tester is and what readings you're getting.
It says air temperature is 20°. I'm guessing that's C ?
The level of 250 shown is not expressed as a normal radon measurement.

Best answer would be to call several different companies in your area.
They will test and then recommend a course of action.

 

yes. t is in Celsius so 68 F.
It says radon of 8 is ok. We have 250 and it is growing.
I changed settings to US.

I called. Yelp shows 4 companies who can install radon mitigation system. All others will only test. First company asks for $1200. Second one will tell me tomorrow on appt. The other two dont answer during holidays.

 

So how hard is to do it by myself? What parts i need? How much would i have to spend on parts comparing paying contractor to do whole job?
I found some time to look on youtube videos regarding radon. After first 2 videos it seems super easy. I cant kind of believe that people want to charge me $1200-1500 for drilling a hole in sump pump or basement and glueing few pvc pipes together with a fan in the middle. I was thinking there is some electronic equipment somewhere. I dont know how much is fan but i strongly believe it costs $50-200.
After finishing basement, installing whole house water filters and RO and reinstalling 2 sewer pipes I think this radon system is a piece of cake.
Or am I wrong?
I will still watch more youtube videos to see another angles of this installation but as of right now i just dont understand where to put this pipe? I dont understand what is better: drilling a hole in unfinished part of basement which is between furnace and sump pump or in the sump pump. I dont understand how sticking one 3-4" pvc pipe into sump pump or below basement floor would suck all radon air?
I would believe more in sucking air at least from every corner of basement. Unless this fan is so powerfull... But then it would be very loud. Then should stick these pvc pipes outside of basenent to go next to house/garage and finish as chimney next to lower roof? Or maybe install pipes so they go to garage and then to garage attic? Can radon air be released into attic or does it have to go outside of home? I dont have ladders to get on to roof and to drill hole in roof... So
Can you guys answers my silly questions? I need to fill all these gaps so i can understand what is best for me.
I

 

Unless you're real handy and know what you're doing, this is best left to the professionals. Think about what you're dealing with and who will be affected by a job not properly done.

 

This is why im asking. I dont get why this job can costs more than $1000. It is basically drilling 1 or 2 holes and glueing pvc pipes + fan probably on 2 zip clamps. Can you please answer all my answers so i can understand if i have all the puzzles.

 

You make it sound very simple. Lets build a car engine. All you need is a cylinder, a piston,spark and some gas. Bingo it's done!

I'm not trying to be a smart alec but talk to the pro's and ask exactly what is entailed in doing the job professionally. It's more than just material. I don't know the answer, but I know enough that this type of work needs people who have done it before. You need to run electric to the fan, and it must be to code. It must be of the type that can run 24/7. Piping must be installed to code and properly installed. Exhaust must be done to code and properly vented to t he right area.

Have you done a Google look up on how to install a radon evacuation set up? $1000+ is not that bad considering your looking to solve a very hazardous health problem. Hell, just to call plumber to come to a house is going to cost $100 or more without even doing anything. And most plumbers won't know about radon evacuation. And I'm betting it's a two man job. Maybe I'm wrong but I'd like to see what others have got to say about it.

edit, Yes you did look on Google and Ytube. And you found out it looks easy but there's more to it. Why do you think pro's are quoting so much?

 

If you do not have a layer of gravel or crushed rock under the slab then it may require many pipes through the slab to adequately remove the radon. All these pipes need to be connected together and then to the fan/blower that exhausts outside. Drilling through the slab will require a core drill and bit and these are not cheap. The fan/blower IS a bit more expensive than you think because it runs 24/7/365 and has to be airtight as well as quiet and use a minimum amount of electricity. Labor charges are not trivial.

Can you do it yourself? Sure, but how many mistakes will you make in the process? Mistakes are costly and trying to do it on the cheap may end up costing more than just hiring the pro in the first place.


In my first house I installed a built-in vacuum system. Thinking the power unit was way overpriced I opted to install a back-pack vacuum unit as it was between 1/2 and 2/3 the cost of the real thing. Within a few months I had to go back and get the real power unit and including the cost of the original vacuum it was significantly more money than had I just done it correctly from the beginning. Learn from my mistakes.

 

I have new house built after 2002 so even one of the Pros said he thinks that i will have gravel but he also asked for sump pump so im guessing he wont drill through basement floor.
Basic electricity is easy...
Well anyway you guys are pushing me back and make me not want to install it. Which is very strange. I was expecting you give me tens of ideas with steps how to do it. After all this is diy forum. Instead you tell me to pay. Maybe i say it that is easy but glueing pvc pipes and cutting with saw is one of the easiest things i have ever done.

 

It makes no difference to me if YOU or someone else installs it. I am merely pointing out the possible pitfalls in DIY. If you are confident that you CAN do the work then by all means do it yourself and save the labor costs of having someone else do it.

I would advise that you get a blower that is made for radon abatement and not try to cobble up something.

Best of luck to you.

 

Thanks. I still didnt get all answers i need so at this point i will get a pro.