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Thursday, May 23rd by Shannon Brelsford
If you have radon in your home then a radon mitigation system is vital to keep your family safe. Most radon mitigation systems fall into one of two categories: passive radon mitigation and active radon mitigation systems.
Understanding the differences between these two systems is vital to understanding if you have the best radon mitigation system for your home.
A passive radon mitigation system uses natural pressure differentials and air currents to remove radon from your home without the use of an active element like a fan. These systems are often installed in new construction projects and your home might include one by default.
Passive systems are important to install correctly during the construction of a new home, but we generally do not recommend them as a stand-alone option. They should be activated. Why? There are a couple of reasons:
Sort of. Passive radon systems are completely quiet and use no electricity. While nice, this difference is incredibly insignificant. Why? Most active radon mitigation systems use extremely quiet fans that require barely any electricity. This makes this advantage offered by passive radon systems fairly insignificant.
However, one nice thing about passive systems is they are typically not visible, because they are installed during the construction of the home. This aesthetic advantage is why we recommend all new home construction install a passive system (often referred to as Radon Ready New Construction). After the home is done with construction, you should test your homes radon level and then activate the system.
An active radon mitigation system is a radon mitigation system that uses an electric fan to actively push radon out of your home. Often this takes the form of a pipe running from your basement to the top of your roof.
We find this type of mitigation system to be far, far more effective in nearly every case. The use of an active component, the vent fan, ensures that the radon is removed from your home and offers a variety of other benefits including:
If you already have a passive radon system installed in your home (or not), it’s important to test your home. The best option to test is hiring a Certified Radon Measurement Specialist to perform a radon test using a calibrated radon monitor. Another option is performing the testing yourself with a radon test kit. Test kits can be purchased online or in a hardware store. Both are inexpensive and accurate. Everyone should know their radon level.
As you might have guessed, we recommend that you use active radon mitigation systems in most cases. However, every home is slightly different and an experienced radon contractor can help you choose the perfect radon mitigation solution for your home’s specific needs and quirks.
As a leading national network of radon professionals, National Radon Defense can help you find your local radon experts. Contact us today and schedule your free estimate from an experienced radon contractor near you!