One homeowner had a radon mitigation system installed over ten years ago. Like most homeowners, they assumed the system was doing its job and moved on…no follow-up tests, no reason to think about it again. The problem had been fixed.
After installing one of our continuous radon monitors, the data told a different story. Radon levels were regularly spiking well above the EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, despite the mitigation fan running the entire time.
The system hadn't failed visibly…there was no alarm, no obvious sign anything was wrong. Radon levels aren’t required to be measured every year during the inspection visit. But it was no longer doing its job. We recommended a mitigation contractor assessment.
What they found was predictable in hindsight — a system installed a decade ago with a fan motor past its useful life and seal points that had degraded over time. A radon mitigation system is a mechanical system. It has a fan, it has seals, and it has a lifespan. Installing it is the beginning of the solution, not the end of it.
Recommendations
1. discuss radon mitigation with qualified professional
2. install continuous radon monitoring on all levels
3. monitor the power on the radon fan to ensure it continues to operate as expected