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How do I get Rid of Radon in a Basement?

C. Daw
C. Daw

In order to remove radon in a basement, the homeowner must have a basic understanding of what radon is, and then a series of home improvement projects need to be completed in order to remove the radon, and to prevent it from returning. The process of removing the radon begins with opening up any basement windows and doors and then adding a ventilation system into the area. There are a number of pumps and fans designed to remove radon that can be found throughout local stores and on various sites across the Internet. The second step is to repair the basement to reduce the amount of radon toxins that enter into it. The combination of home improvements and the addition of radon removal venting will ensure that the radon within the basement will be removed, and stay removed.

First of all, before trying to get rid of radon in a basement, the basic concepts of radon need to be explained. Radon is a toxic substance that works its way up through the floors and walls of the basement. It can be found in most areas around the world settling into small, confined spaces, such as a basement. The toxins have to removed through specially designed ventilation systems, and then improvements need to be made to the basement to prevent it from having access to the area.

Radon can work its way up through the floors and walls of a basement.
Radon can work its way up through the floors and walls of a basement.

To begin the process of removing radon in a basement, open any doors and windows that are nearby. A hole will then need to be jack hammered through the floor all the way through the cement or concrete. A plastic pipe is then inserted through the hole and an exhaust fan is installed onto the top of it. Make sure that this fan has a vent to the outside of the basement built onto it, which will effectively take the radon from the ground and push it through the pipe and out of the basement. After the venting pipe is installed, mix some concrete and pour it into the hole, effectively sealing the floor from gaps. This will stop the toxic fumes from building in the basement.

Difficulty breathing is a symptom of radon poisoning.
Difficulty breathing is a symptom of radon poisoning.

The final step to removing radon in a basement is to ensure that the toxic substance can not get into the area. Fill in all the cracks along the floor and outer walls of the basement with a cement epoxy filler, and then use a foaming installation product to fill around the doors and windows that are present. Radon has to have a way to get into the basement, so filling in these weak spots will stop it from gaining access. These steps, along with the exhaust fan, will remove all of the radon in a basement and will effectively prevent another radon buildup that could be dangerous to the occupants.

Discussion Comments

Inaventu

I thought about finishing our basement and turning it into a man cave last year, but a friend of mine suggested putting down a radon test kit first. It turned out positive for radon, so I went online and got as much advice on DIY radon gas removal as I could. I discovered I had some serious cracks in the basement floor, so that was probably the source for the gas. I had to patch all of those cracks before I could move onto the next steps.

I found a schematic drawing that showed how to drill a hole in the basement floor and run a ventilation pipe into the ground. I bought a ventilation fan at the hardware store and some HVAC tubing to direct the air through an open window. It took a while for the tests to come up negative for radon, but they finally did. I gave up on the idea of a man cave, but the basement does work as a laundry room.

Cageybird

Most of the houses in my area don't have full basements because the bedrock is too hard, but they can still have some radon in the crawlspace under the foundation. We had to hire a professional radon gas removal service a few years ago because our landlord detected radon with a DIY testing kit.

He said he hired a contractor to put a second barrier under our foundation, so there's no chance of radon seeping into the actual living space.

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    • Radon can work its way up through the floors and walls of a basement.
      By: Steven Baines
      Radon can work its way up through the floors and walls of a basement.
    • Difficulty breathing is a symptom of radon poisoning.
      By: jovannig
      Difficulty breathing is a symptom of radon poisoning.