Radon Mediation
 

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

Radon Mediation
 

mzm wrote:
How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

It is difficult to guess as each application is different. However I
would suggest that when it is done properly it is almost always very
effective. The trick is to have someone who is knowledgeable and honest do
the work.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Radon Mediation
 

On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

Good luck, please keep us up todate to yoru success.

later,

tom @ www.NoCostAds.com

Radon Mediation
 

mzm wrote:
How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

9.7 where. If that's in the basement, you might have success. It that
on the first floor, then wow.

Age of house plays a factor, too. Newer ones are tighter.

You don't happen to have a drainage system under your slab, do you?

Do you have a basement or a crawl space or what?

Radon Mediation
 

Pat wrote:
mzm wrote:
How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

9.7 where. If that's in the basement, you might have success. It that
on the first floor, then wow.

Age of house plays a factor, too. Newer ones are tighter.

You don't happen to have a drainage system under your slab, do you?

Do you have a basement or a crawl space or what?

The test was done in a basement, if the sellers didn't move the
canister. I am really nervous about this especially because I have a
four year old, and we are making a choice to maybe move into this
house. The house is 18 years old, and yes it does have a drainage
system under the slab.

Radon Mediation
 

Tom The Great wrote:
On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

Good luck, please keep us up todate to yoru success.

later,

Thanks for the info. I am not too confortable with these percentages.
I am waiting till tomorrow to speak with some local mitigators.

tom @ www.NoCostAds.com

Radon Mediation
 

mzm wrote:
Pat wrote:
mzm wrote:
How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

9.7 where. If that's in the basement, you might have success. It that
on the first floor, then wow.

Age of house plays a factor, too. Newer ones are tighter.

You don't happen to have a drainage system under your slab, do you?

Do you have a basement or a crawl space or what?

The test was done in a basement, if the sellers didn't move the
canister. I am really nervous about this especially because I have a
four year old, and we are making a choice to maybe move into this
house. The house is 18 years old, and yes it does have a drainage
system under the slab.

You need professional help :-))

If might be able to install a sub-soil abatement system. You
effectively venilate the subsoil. You hook up a pump and pump air into
the drainage field at various locations. Then you try to go to the
other side and suck out air. But you need a pretty good, rough stone
bed under the house. See if you can find someone who knows how to
handle it. Then you seal the basement walls, too. You also have to
examine your make-up air. If your dryer is on the first floor and you
turn it on, where is the air coming from. You don't want to draw up
basement air and bring that into the living space. Same for furnace
(esp. forced air), air conditioning, etc. etc.

You might also be able to ventilate the heck out of the basement and
just keep it from coming up. Might work in warmer climates but not in
colder ones.

If you can get a good abatement plan, you'll be fine. But it'll cost
money, so get an estimate before you buy. You'll need to talk to the
seller. That's the GOOD news.

The bad news is that radon comes from underground rock formations. If
you have it in one area, you'll probably have it in other areas that
are nearby. So if you want to live in that area, you'll have to deal
with it.

I don't want to be all gloom and doom. I just think you should examine
it before you decide. Professional help is available.
So, if you're not in love with the house and not willing to invest some
time (and maybe money) to see if this house is feasible, cut your
losses and move on. If you are, it makes sense to do your homework
BEFORE you buy.

Breathe deeply and put your emotions about homebuying aside, if you are
buying. Spend the time (and money) to get the reports and information
you need before you buy. If a report comes back bad, don't be afraid
to walk from a just because you've invested money in it. That's part
of the process. But if the reports are good, you know you're making a
good choice.

Radon Mediation
 

On 22 Oct 2006 09:18:19 -0700, "mzm" wrote:


Pat wrote:
mzm wrote:
How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

9.7 where. If that's in the basement, you might have success. It that
on the first floor, then wow.

Age of house plays a factor, too. Newer ones are tighter.

You don't happen to have a drainage system under your slab, do you?

Do you have a basement or a crawl space or what?

The test was done in a basement, if the sellers didn't move the
canister. I am really nervous about this especially because I have a
four year old, and we are making a choice to maybe move into this
house. The house is 18 years old, and yes it does have a drainage
system under the slab.


Personally I'd move on and select another house. Keep in mind that
radon levels vary from season to season and levels are usually highest
in the lowest part of the house.

Radon Mediation
 

On 22 Oct 2006 09:20:44 -0700, "mzm" wrote:


Tom The Great wrote:
On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

Good luck, please keep us up todate to yoru success.

later,

Thanks for the info. I am not too confortable with these percentages.
I am waiting till tomorrow to speak with some local mitigators.

tom @ www.NoCostAds.com


Talk to your neighbors. Find out who they recommend, check with the
BBB for any potential contractors, and read the EPA site. I belive it
has suggestions about getting guarentees about a reduction level.

Good luck,

tom

Radon Mediation
 

In article ,
says...
On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

My raised ranch in NY had 12pCi/L radon in the basement. A sub-
slab pump brought it down to under 3pCi/L.

Good luck, please keep us up todate to yoru success.

--
Keith

Radon Mediation
 

On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:50:06 -0400, krw wrote:

In article ,
says...
On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

My raised ranch in NY had 12pCi/L radon in the basement. A sub-
slab pump brought it down to under 3pCi/L.

Doing simple math, that is right in the middle of the EPA's suggested
50-99% reduction. Very nice.

later,

tom @ www.BlankHelp.com




Good luck, please keep us up todate to yoru success.

Radon Mediation
 

In article ,
says...
On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:50:06 -0400, krw wrote:

In article ,
says...
On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

My raised ranch in NY had 12pCi/L radon in the basement. A sub-
slab pump brought it down to under 3pCi/L.

Doing simple math, that is right in the middle of the EPA's suggested
50-99% reduction.

Yep, I was told by the mitigation company that the test used would
likely show 2pCi/L if the unit was left outside.

Very nice.

Yep. Even nicer, it brought it under 4pCi/L so I could unload the
dump on the relocation company. ;-)

--
Keith

Radon Mediation
 

On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:30:00 -0400, krw wrote:

In article ,
says...
On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:50:06 -0400, krw wrote:

In article ,
says...
On 21 Oct 2006 12:06:43 -0700, "mzm" wrote:

How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

imho:

Each type has its own success ratio.

I found this, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consgu...l#installtable

it says subslab suction, low range it only 50% so you can get down to
4.85, which is still over the 4 action limit. So worse case it seems
that subslab suction will have to be used in conjunction with another
technique like sealing cracks and seams.

My raised ranch in NY had 12pCi/L radon in the basement. A sub-
slab pump brought it down to under 3pCi/L.

Doing simple math, that is right in the middle of the EPA's suggested
50-99% reduction.

Yep, I was told by the mitigation company that the test used would
likely show 2pCi/L if the unit was left outside.

Very nice.

Yep. Even nicer, it brought it under 4pCi/L so I could unload the
dump on the relocation company. ;-)


Ha ha ha ha

later,


tom @ www.WorkAtHomePlans.com

Radon Mediation
 

Uless yor living in a sealed basement its not too bad. The requirement
for testing is house closed up.

normal living going in and out etc etc keeps levels down.

incidently in a sub surface system they just pull vacuumn in the
drainage system, no new air is added.

The idea is radon moves to where the lowest pressure is, the vacuumned
drain system. the basement being higher pressure gas doesnt move there.

oddly enough the lifetime risk for non smokers is really low, like one
additional lung cancer in 100,000 people or more.

but for smokers the radon is terrible combo with smoking. like 10 more
cases in a 100,000

of course smokers really dont care about their health or that of people
around them:(

ALL radon mitigation efforts should include crack sealing etc as part
of the larger job of reducing radon/

Hows the condition of the home eyond this issue?

Remember ususaally its the SELLERS resposiblity to fix the radon and
have it retested before sale

Radon Mediation
 

mzm wrote:
Pat wrote:
mzm wrote:
How effective is radon mediation when the house is testing at 9.7?

9.7 where. If that's in the basement, you might have success. It that
on the first floor, then wow.

Age of house plays a factor, too. Newer ones are tighter.

You don't happen to have a drainage system under your slab, do you?

Do you have a basement or a crawl space or what?

The test was done in a basement, if the sellers didn't move the
canister. I am really nervous about this especially because I have a
four year old, and we are making a choice to maybe move into this
house. The house is 18 years old, and yes it does have a drainage
system under the slab.

If that's the basement reading, then usually upstairs will be
negligible, so... is it a finished basement? Will anybody be spending
significant time there?

Radon Mediation
 

wrote:
oddly enough the lifetime risk for non smokers is really low, like one
additional lung cancer in 100,000 people or more.

but for smokers the radon is terrible combo with smoking. like 10 more
cases in a 100,000

EPA standards assume (from statistics) risk of .0018 of lung
cancer/(pCi/L) for lifetime exposure for nonsmokers, .013 for smokers,
so at 10 pCi you're talking about 1.8% risk for 80 years of breathing
in that air fulltime (i.e. living in the basement and never going out
for 80 years) for nonsmokers, 13% for smokers. If you don't breathe in
the air full time and don't live in the basement for 80 years, then
adjust the estimates accordingly. It's not like you would need a scuba
tank to run down there twice a year to change the furnace filters.

Just ventilating the basement isn't recommended, it may result in
blowing the radon upstairs and/or into bedrooms, which would be a big
negative.

If there's a sump pump, two approaches are 1) to seal the hole airtight
and/or 2) try to ventilate the subspace by sucking the air out of the
airtight sealed sump pump hole. No idea how effective they are in real
life.