Back Drafting and Fan-Suction Mitigation Systems:
Radon mitigation fans draw not just soil gas from the ground but also indoor air from the house through cracks and pores in concrete. This may cause back drafting and spillage of combustion gases from the furnace, water heater, or fireplace in modern, tight houses. Installing a CO alarm is a good idea. Lung cancer may kill someone in 20 years, but carbon monoxide can kill them in 20 minutes!
The risk of back drafting increases when house air
tightness increases and atmospherically vented
appliance are present. Houses are already
depressurized due to combustion appliances,
exhaust fans like in the bathroom and kitchen
(may exhaust 750 cfm), clothes dryers, range hoods,
natural "stack effect," etc. The radon mitigation fan
flow of say 100 cfm is comparable to a clothes dryer.
In a leaky house, this may reduce air pressure by only
1 Pa but in a tight house, it may produce
depressurization of 5–10 Pa which will reverse chimney
flows. If the house is already depressurized at say 4 Pa,
adding the radon mitigation system may take it over the
limit of 5 Pa. Building codes recommend that each appliance should provide its own make-up air. However, they rely on passive openings but dependent on wind direction, they may actually draw more air from the house. Spillage resistant appliances (e.g. direct vent gas appliances) are a much more reliable solution. Your radon fan might be over sized if odors or smells from upper floor levels of house are being drawn down to basement.
Adamski Builders LLC performs Pressure Field Extension (PFE) to properly design radon mitigation system, properly size vent pipe, and installation of correct fan size. Oversized radon mitigation fans draw not just soil gas from the ground but also indoor air from the house through cracks and pores in concrete. Causing higher energy costs to heat and cool the home. And possibly causing back drafting of appliances and carbon monoxide issues. Some companies say they perform Pressure Field Extension but are they. Especially if they are installing the same oversized fan for every project.
What to look for in a radon mitigation provider.
And information you should know about
Adamski Builders LLC uses schedule 40 pvc pipe on all their radon mitigation system installations. Schedule 20 pipe is not approved for above grade applications. It is approximately half the thickness of schedule 40 pipe. The schedule 40 pipe has a thicker wall which is more durable, it also helps reduce noise levels created by air moving through the pipe.
Specializing In Radon Mitigation radon mitigation system
radon mitigation systems.
Every structure is unique and so is every system designed. Installed many mitigation systems and have NEVER failed lowering the radon level on any structure regardless of age, size, style location or degree of difficulty. Adamski Builders LLC is the company that people call when no one else has been able to correct the problem.
The reason for the success is because of our unique ability to perform diagnostics which allows to design the perfect system for every structure. Our clients benefit by owning a system that is effective, attractive, efficient and as maintenance free as possible. After we've performed our diagnostics, we fully explain all possible options and our clients decide on which option they would prefer. Most radon companies in the U.S. don't provide options, don't perform diagnostics services. Diagnostics is the absolutely most important aspect of designing a system that will provide the lowest radon exposure possible for your family.