Over the past few years, I’ve heard several variations of the same question: “Why should I care about radon diagnostics if levels are already low?” or “We only do diagnostics if the radon levels don’t go below 4.0 pCi/L.”
The short answer is this: an optimally installed radon system doesn’t just lower radon levels. It also does several other important things…
Why Should Every Radon Mitigation System Include Diagnostics?
Radon diagnostics should be performed on every mitigation system, not just when post-mitigation radon levels exceed the action level. While reducing radon is the primary goal, diagnostics ensure the system is optimized – and not just functional. Performing diagnostics allows a mitigation system to:
- Provide the lowest possible operating cost for the homeowner. Diagnostics help match the fan and system design to actual site conditions, minimizing energy use and unnecessary air movement.
- Help the installing company learn how to reduce its own costs. Understanding pressure fields and system performance leads to better designs, fewer callbacks, and more consistent results over time.
- Deliver the quietest system possible. Proper diagnostics reduce excessive airflow and pressure, which are common causes of vibration and noise complaints.
- Avoid health risks such as backdrafting. Diagnostics help identify pressure imbalances that could interfere with combustion appliances and indoor air safety.
- Prevent building damage, including condensation issues. Controlling airflow and pressure reduces unintended moisture movement that can lead to condensation and long-term structural damage.
Why radon Diagnostics Matter: A Case Study
Once a radon system is installed, building owners take on two ongoing costs. The first is the cost of running the fan. The second is the cost of unintended ventilation.
Calculating the cost of running the fan is fairly straightforward. In general, higher-energy fans cost more to operate: high-pressure and high-flow fans use more energy than mid-range fans, and mid-range fans cost more to operate than low-pressure, low-flow fans. Most can calculate this using an online tool.
Calculating the cost of added ventilation requires a bit more information. The image below shows what was calculated for a local homeowner Radon Solutions served. This was their operating costs before I sealed their home.
After the cracks were sealed, total system airflow was reduced from 70 CFM to 10 CFM. How much did our sealing efforts save the homeowner? $135 per year. Over the 10-year life of the fan, that’s $1350 – that’s more than I charged to install the system!
I also extended the pressure field to the entire sub slab, and in some cases, I am able to switch a mid-range fan to a low flow/pressure fan to save even more.
Closing Thoughts & Lessons Learned
This project reinforced several important lessons that apply to nearly every radon mitigation system.
- Sealing matters. Properly sealing cracks can dramatically reduce unwanted ventilation, which in turn improves system performance and efficiency.
- Lower airflow means lower costs. Effective sealing can significantly reduce operating costs for the homeowner by limiting unnecessary air movement and energy loss.
- Fan selection should be based on data, not assumptions. Tight soils do not automatically require high-pressure fans. In this case, selecting a high-pressure fan would have conservatively added $300 to the system’s total operating cost – while also increasing our own costs by $80.
- Air movement alone does not equal soil communication. A U-tube may indicate airflow, but that does not guarantee the air is coming from the soil. Before sealing, a large volume of air was moving with almost no pressure field extension. After sealing, airflow dropped dramatically while full pressure field extension was achieved.
- Shortcuts cost more in the long run. Skipping diagnostics and sealing may save time upfront, but homeowners ultimately pay the price through higher operating costs and less efficient systems.
- Sell the savings. Homeowners value lower energy bills, quieter systems, and long-term performance. Diagnostics and sealing make those benefits possible and measurable.
The takeaway is simple: diagnostics and sealing are not optional extras. They are essential tools for delivering optimized systems that benefit both the homeowner and the installer.
Reach Out Today
At the end of the day, radon mitigation should be about more than just achieving a target number on a test result. Radon diagnostics allow us to design systems that are efficient, quiet, safe, and cost-effective over their entire lifespan. When companies like mine take the time to measure, seal, and optimize, homeowners benefit from lower operating costs and better-performing systems, while installers gain the knowledge needed to deliver consistent, high-quality results.
Radon diagnostics aren’t an added step… They’re the difference between a system that simply works and one that works well.