Anyone know about basement Radon mitigation?

[Robb]

Looking on-line and seeing it probably averages around $800.00 to have a system installed. Anyone here do this, or know of a reputable installer that you've dealt with?
I'm considering having it done to our unfinished basement, it's a full basement and not a crawlspace.
Could this be a do-it yourself job? What's involved and how difficult would it be? We have a sump pump that works actively during the summer, and great access to the sump that could go outside easily.
If we have any experts on the forum, let me know what's involved.

[newracer]

Have you done long term testing?

Core a 3" hole in the slab, run 3" PVC from that hole to the outside with an inline exhaust fan. Seal all the cracks and joints in the slab and around the PVC. Test before and after the mitigation. Might not even need to run the fan.

Your sump access will likely not work as it is lined, you need access to the soil.

[fitz19d]

Have you done long term testing?

Core a 3" hole in the slab, run 3" PVC from that hole to the outside with an inline exhaust fan. Seal all the cracks and joints in the slab and around the PVC. Test before and after the mitigation. Might not even need to run the fan.

Your sump access will likely not work as it is lined, you need access to the soil.

I'm assuming this would be complicated by a half finished basement? I have one room by sump pump bare, rest is carpeted/drywalled. I do have a large crawlspace with door 3.5 foot off the ground. Dirt inside just has that black plastic stuff over it iirc. Think I can just seal the door or do something with that crawlspace to cut my radon down, or would I need to think pulling carpets to seal. (Mainly interested in just lowering it, I'm not concerned with hitting 0. Though currently are over the limit but those are set so low I'm not too worried.)

[eneranch]

Contact a Radon Mitigation company to come give you an estimate. Have the person that shows up give you a detailed description of how they would do the install; then decide for yourself if you would want to do the work.
I just got a Mitigation Bid of $765 using a recommendation from my RE Agent; sight unseen, no one came to look at the install in a finished basement.

[newracer]

I'm assuming this would be complicated by a half finished basement? I have one room by sump pump bare, rest is carpeted/drywalled. I do have a large crawlspace with door 3.5 foot off the ground. Dirt inside just has that black plastic stuff over it iirc. Think I can just seal the door or do something with that crawlspace to cut my radon down, or would I need to think pulling carpets to seal. (Mainly interested in just lowering it, I'm not concerned with hitting 0. Though currently are over the limit but those are set so low I'm not too worried.)

You just seal the areas you can get to. The flooring will seal it some. For the crawlspace the plastic should be taped and or glued to foundation walls to seal the entire area.

[fitz19d]

Don't think it is, in which case that alone might drop my levels enough maybe? (I know it stays low, so kinda felt like the raised ground in the crawlspace could be wafting the radon into basement.

In related randomness, aside from storage looking for good ideas for that crawlspace other than MMJ. Kinda dreaming of scooping it out and turning it into a 2-3 foot deep multi thousand gallon wading/walkthru reef tank someday.

[TRnCO]

just sold a house and it had radon slightly over recommended levels. We used S.W.A.T and the cost was about $750. They did just what newracer described. After the install, re-tested and were back under the recommended level.
We didn't have a crawl space, so your situation may be some what different in what needs to be done.

[newracer]

Before any mitigation is done I would highly recommend at least one long term test be completed. Radon levels can fluctuate for many reasons.

[fitz19d]

I heard the long term test equipment is cheap at Home depot or something? (vs the fancy expensive equipment over 3 days when doing inspection.)

[newracer]

Long term tests are $26.

https://securechek.com/DIY/index.html

[spongejosh]

We had ours done by ACE Radon. Cost was right around $800. 700 sq ft unfinished basement, no sump. They sealed the entire perimeter and any cracks. Put a 4 or 5 inch PVC pipe through the slab, up the wall, outside to the inline fan and continues up 2 stories to clear the roof. I provided the paint and they painted the pipe to match the house.

Forgot to mention this was about 4 years ago.

[Robb]

Thanks for the info. I did a quick search and couldn't find it soooo.... The long term test, will I disturb the test by using the basement, opening windows, etc? Reloading and kids art table, and sons weights are in the basement so we're in and out of there often. I always tell them to open a window when they're down there. It would be difficult to seal the basement off for 3 months to get an accurate reading if that in fact will screw up the test.
I'll pick up some of the short term tests just to see what level I'm at, I have no idea.

[newracer]

Definitely test before you mitigate, there may not even be a problem.

For short term tests closing off the area is best because it creates a worst case scenario. For long term test I would recommend using the basement as usual.

Also check you local municipality for testing kits, many have programs that subsidize the cost.