Factors Impacting Cost of a Radon Mitigation System

If you’ve recently tested your home and found high levels of radon present, you’ll naturally be looking for radon mitigation methods to help limit the risks of this harmful gas. While there are a number of factors involved in this pursuit, one that’s important to virtually all homeowners is the cost of a radon mitigation system they’re considering.

Costs are just one of several important areas we’ll go over with you when you work with the team at Absolute Radon Safety for your radon mitigation needs, which we provide to clients throughout Colorado. What are the key factors that will impact what your radon mitigation system ends up costing? Here are several of the most important to consider.

Home Size and Layout

First and foremost, the cost of your radon mitigation system will be impacted by the size and layout of your home. Larger homes or those with more levels or a more complex layout will typically require a more sophisticated – and therefore, costly – system.

In addition, a major consideration here will be whether or not your home has a basement. If so, this will open up more potential system approaches that can be used, which may help to keep costs down.

Another consideration here: Whether or not your home has a crawl space. Crawl spaces will require an airtight vapor barrier to prevent any radon that enters the home from further traveling upwards. Again, this can be done effectively with a cost-effective system for many homes, but it will depend on your particular situation.

Geographic Location and Climate

It’s also important to note that your geographic location and climate can play a role in the cost of a radon mitigation system. Some locations may have naturally occurring high concentrations of radon, while others may not. In addition, some areas of the country are more prone to extreme weather conditions like heavy rains or snowfall, which can impact the effectiveness of some system components – and therefore, the overall cost.

Foundation Type

Generally speaking, there are three foundation types out there — and which your home has may impact the cost of your radon mitigation. Here are these types:

• Below-grade slab: This type typically refers to homes with basements. For radon mitigation in these settings, a sump pump hole or drilled hole will typically be used to allow for PVC pipe insertion and radon removal directly below the concrete slab.
• On-grade slabs: An on-grade slab is generally found in homes without basements. In this case, a suction pit is usually dug next to the foundation wall to allow for pipe insertion and radon removal.
• Crawlspaces: As we touched on before, if your home has a crawlspace, an airtight vapor barrier will likely be required in addition to other system components. In this case, the vapor barrier will be installed under the concrete slab.

System Type

There are two primary forms of radon mitigation systems used today:

• Depressurization: The most common form, a depressurization system will use negative pressure to pull radon out of the ground and away from your home.
• Lower-level pressurization: Working in coordination with a vacuum, and typically requiring an airtight home (or close), this system will push radon through a vent and out of the home.

Equipment Used

Another important factor to keep in mind when evaluating costs for your radon mitigation system is the equipment used. As you can imagine, more complex or sophisticated systems will usually cost more.

Let’s explore some of the primary types of equipment used:

• PVC piping: This type of piping is generally one-inch thick and runs horizontally through crawlspaces and basements. It’s then connected to a fan that pulls the radon-laden air from under the home and vents it outside.
• Sealants: In order for a radon mitigation system to be effective, all openings or cracks in your foundation must be sealed. This is typically accomplished with a polyurethane or epoxy sealant.
• Sub-slab depressurization fans: While there are a variety of fans out there that can be used for radon mitigation, this particular type is typically installed under the slab at the lowest point of your home and helps to pull radon from beneath the home.

Labor and Permit Considerations

In some cases, the actual installation of your radon mitigation system may be included in its overall cost. However, this isn’t always the case – and it’s important to inquire about labor charges upfront so there are no surprises later on.

Additionally, some municipalities will require a permit for any type of home renovations – and this may include the installation of a radon mitigation system. The cost of the permit will obviously be passed on to you, so it’s something to keep in mind. Permit fees won’t usually be too expensive, luckily, typically ranging from about $20 up to $150 depending on your location.

Warranty

Depending on the type of radon mitigation system you have installed in your home, it may come with a warranty. Typically, these warranties will range from one to three years, and if the equipment becomes damaged or malfunctions during this time, repairs or part replacements will likely be covered. You’ll just need to ensure that the company who installs your radon mitigation system and the manufacturer of the equipment are both reputable to ensure your warranty is valid.

When it comes to searching for a radon mitigation system that fits your needs, there’s a lot to consider. By being familiar with some of these cost factors beforehand, you can save yourself time and hassle while narrowing down your options in this department.

For more on this, or to learn about any of our radon testing or radon mitigation solutions, speak to the team at Absolute Radon Safety today.