Building a New Home With Radon Reduction Features

When building a new home, that's the best time to install your Radon mitigation.

Install Radon Mitigation From The Ground Up

When building a new home, that's the best time to install your Radon mitigation devices. When we built our home, before the concrete was poured, it was easy to get a simple Sub-Slab Depressurization System installed. What's that? Basicially it's a simple track of plastic tubing that snakes around underneath the slab, and leads to a simple fan that pulls air out from under the slab and directs it to the outdoors. Therefore, any Radon under the slab is expelled, with the idea being that the Radon will not build up in the home above. And it works!

The EPA guide explains sub slab depressurization and many other options for Radon mitigation in new homes.

Buying or Building a New Home.

The EPA answers the question, "How Can I Protect My Family?"

In addition, installing them at the time of construction makes it easier to reduce Radon levels further if the passive techniques don't reduce Radon levels to below 4 pCi/L. Radon-resistant techniques may also help to lower moisture levels and those of other soil gases. Radon-resistant techniques:

Make Upgrading Easy: Even if built to be Radon-resistant, every new home should be tested for Radon as soon as possible after occupancy. If you have a test result of 4 pCi/L or more, a vent fan can easily be added to the passive system to make it an active system and further reduce Radon levels.

Are Cost-Effective: Building Radon-resistant features into the house during construction is easier and cheaper than fixing a Radon problem from scratch later. Let your builder know that Radon-resistant features are easy to install using common building materials.

Save Money: When installed properly and completely, Radon-resistant techniques can also make your home more energy efficient and help you save on your energy costs.

Including passive Radon-resistant features in a new home during construction usually costs less than fixing the home later. If your Radon level is 4 pCi/L or more, consult a qualified mitigator to estimate the cost of upgrading to an active system by adding a vent fan to reduce the Radon level. In an existing home, the cost to install a Radon mitigation system is about the same as for other common home repairs.

One of The Smartest Choices

In summary, building Radon-resistant features into a new home is one of the smartest choices a homeowner or builder can make. Installing a sub-slab depressurization system during construction is simple, cost-effective, and far easier than retrofitting a system later. These passive techniques not only help keep Radon levels low from the start, but they also make it easy to upgrade to an active system if needed. The EPA emphasizes that Radon-resistant construction protects your family, improves energy efficiency, and can even reduce moisture and other soil gases. Whether you are buying or building, planning for Radon mitigation from the ground up gives you peace of mind and a healthier home for years to come.

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