Radon mitigation systems in Fargo
Sub-slab depressurization is the standard fix for high radon in basement homes. Here's what goes in and what to ask before you sign.
A sub-slab depressurization system doesn't filter radon out of your air. It lowers the air pressure in the soil and fill under the floor slightly below the pressure in the house, so soil gas gets pulled into a pipe and blown out above the roof instead of seeping through the concrete.
What's in a typical system?
- A hole cored through the basement slab, with some fill dug out beneath it to form a suction pit.
- Sealed PVC pipe from that pit, run either up through the house to the attic or out the rim joist and up an outside wall.
- A radon fan in the attic, garage or outdoors, running around the clock.
- A discharge point above the roof edge, away from windows and other openings.
- Sealing of reachable cracks, the floor-wall joint and the sump, which gets an airtight lid.
- A gauge, usually a U-tube manometer, that shows the fan is pulling.
Does Red River Valley soil change the design?
It can. The valley floor is the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz, and the lake sediments plus whatever fill went under your slab decide how freely air moves down there. Suction doesn't spread the same way under every house, so a good installer checks how far the vacuum reaches and adds a suction point if one isn't enough. Ask how they'll measure that.
What about the cold?
Fargo's record low is 48 below, set in 1887, and subzero nights are routine. Soil gas is warm and damp, so it condenses in cold pipe. Installers slope pipe so water drains back down and watch for spots where frost can build at an outdoor discharge. Routing the pipe through a garage or interior chase avoids some of that.
What does Minnesota add in Moorhead?
In Moorhead, an MDH-licensed mitigation professional working for a licensed company must do the work, following ANSI/AARST standards. The installer completes an MDH post-mitigation checklist, attaches an MDH tag next to the gauge, and leaves you an operation, maintenance and monitoring plan. Electrical work for the fan must meet Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry rules.
How do I know it worked?
Retest after the system has been running. A short-term test is fine for this. If the number is still high, the installer can adjust the fan, seal more or add a suction point. Get the post-install test plan in writing.
We don't quote prices. The radon company prices the job after it learns your foundation type and, in most cases, looks at the house. Treat any number you hear before that as a ballpark, not a bid.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is sealing cracks enough to fix radon?
Usually not on its own. ND DEQ says sealing helps but needs constant upkeep, and a reduction system is the most effective permanent fix.
Can a homeowner install a radon system in North Dakota?
ND DEQ says a homeowner or a radon mitigation contractor may install one. In Minnesota, work on a building you don't own requires an MDH license.
Related services
More background: Fargo-Moorhead radon guide.
Got a radon number you don't like?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a radon company that works in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.