Western North Carolina's granitic mountain geology contains high natural deposits of uranium that decay into odorless, invisible, radioactive radon gas. When radon seeps through foundation cracks, sump basins, and expansion joints, it accumulates to hazardous concentrations in finished basements and living areas. Our NRPP-certified mitigation specialists install active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems that draw soil gases safely outdoors, dropping indoor levels below the EPA action threshold.
We core-drill a clean 5-inch hole through the basement concrete floor slab and excavate a 10-gallon suction pit within the aggregate sub-base beneath. This creates a low-resistance vacuum plenum that allows a single suction point to draw air from across the entire foundation footprint.
We install specialized RadonAway RP-series (high airflow) or GP-series (high static suction) exterior centrifugal fans. Mounted on the outside wall or in unconditioned attic spaces, these continuous-duty fans maintain a perpetual negative pressure field beneath the concrete slab.
Radon gas must be discharged where it cannot re-enter the home. We route heavy-wall 3-inch or 4-inch Schedule 40 PVC vent pipes vertically to exhaust at least 12 inches above the roof eave, safely away from operable second-story windows and mechanical fresh-air intakes.
Every system includes an oil-filled differential U-tube manometer mounted in the basement. The gauge provides an immediate visual confirmation of suction pressure, while optional audible alarms notify homeowners if fan power is interrupted or airflow drops.
Radon fans are continuous-duty fractional horsepower units that consume between 40 and 80 watts of electricity—similar to a single traditional light bulb, costing approximately $3 to $6 per month to operate.
The EPA recommends mitigation for any home testing at or above 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Our engineered systems are designed to reduce levels well below 2.0 pCi/L.
Most residential sub-slab systems are fully installed, tested, and operational within a single working day (4 to 6 hours).