Crawl space radon systems in Minot
A dirt-floor crawl space is an open door for soil gas. The usual fix is a sealed plastic cover with a fan drawing from under it.
Not every Ward County house has a full basement. Older farmhouses, some additions and some small homes sit over a crawl space, often with bare soil or loose gravel on the floor. DEQ lists exposed soil as one of the ways radon enters, and a crawl space can be a lot of exposed soil.
How does a crawl space system work?
The EPA calls submembrane depressurization the most effective way to reduce radon in crawl space homes when it's done properly. The installer covers the crawl space floor with heavy plastic, seals the seams and edges, and runs a pipe from beneath the plastic to a fan that vents the gas outside. The idea is the same as a sub-slab system: the plastic takes the place of a concrete floor.
What does the job usually involve?
- Clearing debris and sharp objects that could puncture the plastic
- Laying the membrane across the floor and up the foundation walls, with sealed seams
- Sealing around piers, posts and plumbing that pass through the plastic
- One or more suction points under the membrane, piped to a fan outside the living space
- A gauge or alarm that shows the system is drawing
What if the house has a basement and a crawl space?
This is where a lot of Minot jobs get more involved. The EPA notes that homes with mixed foundations may need a combination of techniques. An installer might put a suction point in the basement slab and tie a membrane in the crawl space into the same pipe, or give each its own leg. Tell the radon company about every foundation section when you call.
Where should I test in a crawl space house?
DEQ's testing guidelines say that where there's a crawl space, consider testing in the room above it. That's the lowest space people actually live in. After the membrane goes in, test again the same way.
Does the membrane need care?
Yes. Anyone who goes into the crawl space later, such as a plumber, an electrician or a pest technician, can tear or shift it. Check it after any work down there, and keep an eye on the gauge. The EPA recommends retesting at least every two years.
We don't give prices. Each radon company sets its own after it knows the foundation, how many suction points the house may need and where the pipe can run, which usually means a visit. A figure you hear over the phone is a rough idea, not a quote.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I just cover the crawl space dirt with plastic?
Plastic alone may help a little, but the EPA's recommended method for crawl spaces adds suction under a sealed membrane.
Will a crawl space membrane help with moisture too?
It can cut down on ground moisture, but its purpose here is radon. Ask the installer what membrane they use and how it's sealed.
Related services
More background: Minot radon guide.
Radon kit came back high, or your fan went quiet?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a radon company that works in the Minot area.