Is My Radon System Working?

A lot of homeowners ask us how they know if their radon systems are working and keeping their levels down.

There are a couple different ways. One is just by putting your ear to the pipe or fan and listening for airflow. Oftentimes you can also hear noise coming from the exhaust point on the outside of the house.

Another way is by the red or blue meter that should be on the side of your system. This is called a “U-Tube Manometer”, like the name says, it is a “U” shaped tube that has liquid inside of it, and when the fan is working, one side of the liquid will be pulled up, creating a “J” shape. There are readings on the meter, and whatever the liquid is drawn up to, we record it on a sticker next to the manometer. This way if there is ever a big change in the reading then we can investigate further. For example, we did a fan replacement on a home in Twinsburg, OH where the level that the liquid was at started to drop. This indicated that the fan was losing strength and needed replaced in the near future. And if the liquid is even, or in a “U” shape then that means the fan is off, because it’s not sucking the liquid up.

The third way, which is an optional add-on, is a “radon alarm” that is inserted into the pipe and it is essentially a flapper. If the airflow from the fan stops, then the flapper will stop moving and it will set off an alarm to alert the homeowner.

If you have any questions about your system, or just simply gathering information before you have one put in, give us a call at 1-330-274-2390!