PSA: Tried DIY radon mitigation vs. hiring a pro in Edmonton

I spent three weekends last fall installing my own radon system (you know, the PVC pipe and fan setup). Cost me about $400 in parts from Home Depot and a lot of swearing in my crawlspace. Then my buddy paid a company $1500 to do the same job in one afternoon. His levels dropped from 200 to 30 Bq/m3 in a week. Mine barely budged from 180 after a month of running. Turns out I sealed the wrong cracks and my fan placement was off. Has anyone else regretted going the cheap route on this stuff?

4 comments

4 Comments

cooper.drew9d agoMost Upvoted

At least my failed DIY setup doubles as a great conversation starter when guests ask why my crawlspace smells like a hardware store.

moore.beth1mo ago

I had mine tested after a buddy's recommendation and it came back at 250 Bq/m3. I called three companies in Edmonton and the cheapest quote was $1400. I figure that's a lot less than lung cancer treatment. The key thing with radon is that the suction point has to be in the right spot or you're just moving air around. You probably missed the main entry route under the slab. That pipe has to pull from the aggregate layer below your foundation, not just seal up visible cracks. I'd pull the plug on your setup and hire a pro before winter hits again.

brianreed1mo ago

@moore.beth nailed it with the aggregate layer thing. Most DIY guys focus on the cracks they can see. But radon travels through the whole slab, seeps up through the concrete itself. That pipe needs to suck from the gravel bed below, not just the surface. I saw a guy on YouTube seal every crack with foam and caulk, still got high readings. His suction point was basically pulling from the air above the slab. Wasted weekend and fifty bucks on foam. Winter hits, you're stuck with that setup. Might as well dig it up now before the ground freezes.

finleyl391mo ago

Dude, "moving air around" is exactly what I did. I thought I was being smart with my setup but I swear I just made my crawlspace into a fancy wind tunnel. Your buddy's right about the aggregate layer thing, I had no idea that was even a thing before I read his post. Wish I had just paid the $1500 and saved myself the back pain.