Radon? (lender, house, neighborhood)

[cgs2000]

My house has a radon gas extraction system, the only one in the neighborhood. It is noisy and possibly superfluous. How do I determine: (1) is it needed or was it promoted to a previous owner? (2) how do I sound proof the externally mounted motor? (3) if needed must it run fulltime?

[Wilson513]

If your house was built after 1990 and is sealed up like a Tupperware container, and you don't use your basement for anything, you might, just might have enough radon to deal with. Turn off everything for a week, get a radon test kit and see what is there. My money is on total BS from some creepoid that ripped off the previous owner with tales of poison gas in the basement.

$11.99 at Amazon:

First Alert RD1 Radon Gas Test Kit - - Amazon.com

[joe from dayton]

Get a radon test kit.

[Zen_master]

Radon is ubiquitous up here in Central Ohio. Nearly every house that has been sold in the last decade requires a radon mitigation system. Our lender required we have one for underwriting/resale when buying our current house. It may not be an issue in SW Ohio, but either way it should not be noisy. We don't hear a peep out of ours and the barometer-type vacuum meter says it is working.

[cgs2000]

Originally Posted by Zen_master

Radon is ubiquitous up here in Central Ohio. Nearly every house that has been sold in the last decade requires a radon mitigation system. Our lender required we have one for underwriting/resale when buying our current house. It may not be an issue in SW Ohio, but either way it should not be noisy. We don't hear a peep out of ours and the barometer-type vacuum meter says it is working.

Thank you. I have ordered a test kit and will look at the results. Meanwhile, I'll talk to the house warranty people (First American) about the noisy blower.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by cgs2000

Thank you. I have ordered a test kit and will look at the results. Meanwhile, I'll talk to the house warranty people (First American) about the noisy blower.

In high enough concentrations radon can be a health hazard. Since the gas emision is a continuous process, so is the extraction system. The extraction system should be virtually silent. If yours is not complain to somebody up to the point of getting it replaced. Check to see if the extraction system was installed as part of the requirements for the house sale. If it was, I would anticipate either a bare-bones cheap-ass unit or a defective one. Either way you deserve better.

[cgs2000]

Thanks again to all. I called the manufacturer who was informative, then called the original installer (who was away on vacation!!!) who described the setup. So being brave and foolish I disassembled the outdoor fan box and found that a loose capacitor/transformer/whatever pack had come loose. It is now tightened and reassembled ....and I can't hear the fan.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by cgs2000

Thanks again to all. I called the manufacturer who was informative, then called the original installer (who was away on vacation!!!) who described the setup. So being brave and foolish I disassembled the outdoor fan box and found that a loose capacitor/transformer/whatever pack had come loose. It is now tightened and reassembled ....and I can't hear the fan.

Sometimes, after a little investigation, you can perform an effective repair. Sounds like this is one.