Radon mitigation systems in Minot
Most Minot houses have basements, and sub-slab depressurization is the standard fix for a basement home with high radon. Here's what goes into one.
A sub-slab system doesn't clean radon out of the air you breathe. It keeps the soil gas from getting in. A fan pulls a slight vacuum on the gravel and soil under the basement floor, so the gas flows into a sealed pipe and out above the roof instead of up through the concrete.
What does a typical system include?
- A hole cored through the slab, with fill removed below it to make a suction pit.
- Sealed PVC pipe from the pit, run up through the house or out the rim joist and up an exterior wall.
- A fan in unconditioned space such as an attic, a garage or outdoors. The EPA says the fan must not sit in or below a livable area.
- A discharge above the roof surface and at least 10 feet above the ground, per the EPA.
- Sealing of cracks, the floor-wall joint and the sump. The EPA notes a sump can be capped so it keeps draining and doubles as a suction point.
- A warning device, usually a manometer, that shows the fan is pulling. The EPA says every active system must have one.
What if the house has more than one foundation?
That's common: a full basement under the original house, then a slab or crawl space under a later addition or porch. The EPA says these homes may need a combination of methods to get below 4 pCi/L. A good installer checks how far the vacuum reaches under the floor and adds a second suction point, or a crawl space membrane, where one point won't cover it. Ask how they'll measure that.
How does Minot's cold affect a system?
Soil gas comes out of the ground warm and damp, and Minot sees subzero nights every winter. Moisture condenses in cold pipe and can freeze at an outdoor discharge. Installers slope the pipe so water runs back toward the pit, and many prefer an interior run through a garage or chase where the layout allows. Ask your installer how the pipe will handle a January cold snap.
After the 2011 flood, does my basement need anything special?
The Mouse River flood that June affected over 4,100 homes in Minot. Many basements were gutted, re-drained, re-floored or fitted with new sumps afterward. None of that changes the soil, but it can change how gas moves under the slab and where it gets in. If your house had that work, mention it so the installer can plan suction points and sealing around the new drainage.
How will I know it worked?
Retest. The EPA says the follow-up test should come at least 24 hours after the system starts and within 30 days of installation, and then at least every two years. If the level is still high, the installer can adjust the fan, seal more or add a suction point. Get the follow-up plan in writing.
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
Is sealing cracks enough by itself?
Usually not. ND DEQ says sealing can lower radon but the seals need constant upkeep, and a reduction system is the most effective permanent fix.
Can I install my own radon system in North Dakota?
ND DEQ says a homeowner may install one or hire an installer. DEQ has published videos on do-it-yourself mitigation.
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.