I just analyzed a mitigation system installed by a certified mitigator's company. The 2500 sq' basement has crushed stone beneath the floor, but for some reason the GP401 fan was not providing adequate radon reduction through the 6 uncaulked suction points, 185' of 3" pipe, and 47 elbows and tees!
The original installers overlooked/neglected the bomb shelter in the center of the basement (with open pipes through the wall), the unsealed sewer lift basin with a pipe coming in from the soil, the 6 floor drains with pipes that may terminate in the soil, the open hole in the corner of the floor around an old oil line, and the 300 sq' bare dirt crawlspace under the porch that is open to the basement. They did, however, treat the other 500 sq' crawlspace with a sealed vapor barrier and a GP501 fan!
This is the kind of thing that gives our industry a bad name, but what really bothers me about this situation is the business practices. The original mitigation company gave a quote with a firm price and a ten-year gaurantee of radon concentrations below 4.0pCi/L. It has been 7 years, radon concentrations are 15-20 pCi/L, and at least twice the homeowner was charged for additional work in spite of what the contract said.
Frankly, it took 20 years, but I am glad this company is no longer in the radon mitigation business.
OK, thanks for letting me "vent"!
Henri Boyea
Radon Control Products
PO Box 6263 , Hendersonville, NC 28793
www.radoncontrolproducts.com
ph/fax (828) 698-4960
********** RN PROF (Subscription changes - archives) - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A0=RADONPROFESSIONALS ***********
From Name
Henri Boyea
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radoncontrol@CS.COM