How Long Do Radon Mitigation Systems Last?

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “So how long do these systems last?” It is a fair question, when you’re spending a lot of money on a mitigation system it makes sense that you would want it to last long. To dive deeper into this topic, we’ll break the system down into two parts, the PVC piping and the exhaust fan.

PVC is a very hardy material, if glued together and assembled correctly, this section of the system can last 50+ years, similar to vinyl siding on a house.

However the exhaust fan’s aren’t quite as durable, they can last up to 20 years but that’s in the perfect scenario. Most manufacturers have a 5 year warranty. A lot of fans are in the attics of houses and the heat can cause the fan to degrade quicker. If the fan is on the outside of the house like most systems, then the elements such as rain and UV rays can have an even larger impact, making the fan’s lifespan even shorter. Another variable would be rain and condensation that runs down the inside of the pipe and goes through the fan. This has the effect of causing the bearings to go bad, creating a high pitch grinding noise.

For these problems we have a couple different solutions. One of them being our “Fan Moisture Guard”, this is a condensate bypass that directs a lot of the condensation and rain around the fan. Not only does this keep the fan running quieter and properly for longer, but it also allows us to raise our warranty from 5 to 10 years. Our other product for exterior systems is a fan cover, this helps to protect the fan from the sun’s UV rays, debris, and rain. It also retains the aesthetics of the house.

Both of these options can be essential to prolonging the life of your system. The EPA also recommends having your house tested every 2 years to verify that your fan is working properly and because as your house settles your radon levels can change. Feel free to contact us at 1-330-274-2390 if you have any questions!