Radon fans actively pull radon gas from beneath your home. The technical term for this is called active soil depressurization. In homes without a radon system, conditioned “inside” air actively leaks out of the home and pulls replacement air in from the lower levels or soil. This convection process is called the stack effect. It’s the reason that radon levels are highest on the coldest days of the year.
A radon fan system negates the stack effect in much the same way that a hole in your straw ruins your milkshake. The radon fan mitigation system short circuits the stack effect and pulls the soil air safely out above roof line.
It is important to seal all foundation cracks and cover any crawlspaces, as a radon fan will pull air indiscriminately. The path of least resistance, so to speak. This leads to higher HVAC bills, as improperly designed radon systems take conditioned air (air you paid to heat or cool) out of your home. Your HVAC system then has to make up the difference. This is why using a certified radon professional will often pay for itself in energy savings over the life of your radon system. A typical radon fan moves anywhere from 5-500 cubic feet of air (CFM) per minute. A CFM is about the size of a basketball. That means if you went for the cheap, uncertified pro or you just picked the biggest radon fan you could find, you may be actively removing hundreds of CFM of conditioned air and seeing a huuuuge spike in your monthly utility bill.
Learn more about certified professional techniques here before you make this common radon mistake.
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