Radon Mitigation
We are selling our home and radon levels came back high.
Any recos for local, honest, certified radon mitigation companies?
hmmthoughts
Jdem Here's a list of previous recommendations that probably still holds:
http://www.hackettstownlife.com/forum/528828
I had used Soos over 10 years ago and was happy with them. Not expensive at all.
GC 
CraftBeerBob We need to do something about this too. I've noticed some houses with radon exhaust fans running seem to have no noise, but other houses you hear a constant whining sound outside the house. That would drive me crazy.so would be a big factor for me.
GC, is your fan installed by Soos quiet or noisy?
hktownie My daughter just had RaData install radon remediation as well as her water softener/contitioner. Done in 1 day. The only sound from the radon remediation is a very soft sound. You can not hear it in the living area of the house...just when you are in the basement near the unit and it is nothing more than white noise. And they left her place meticulous.
lizzy458 Lizzy - when we were planning to install mitigation system, we were told that fan can go only into attic. Unfortunately pre-installed by construction company pipe goes from basement to attic just near our master bedroom so we decided not to install a fan because of possible constant noise. We bought an electronic meter (have it in a basement all the time to monitor radon level) and keep windows open often (we like fresh air any way).
As per this recommendation - http://www.indoor-air-health-advisor.com/radon-fan-location.html
"Radon mitigation standards require that the fan to be placed outside of the living space of the home. Another way to define this is any where outside the conditioned air space of the heating and air conditioning system. So garages, attics and on the outside of the house are the only acceptable locations for fan placement. Basements and crawlspaces are considered part of the conditioned air space of the home thus not allowed.
I have seen many cases of homeowners who have disregarded the fan location standards and had to reinstall it when the house is sold. Most home inspectors will catch a fan in a basement or crawl space and you will be scrambling to get it relocated to please a picky buyer. Better to do it right the first time!"
Lena 
"we were told that fan can go only into attic"
Is that because of how your house is designed?
It's quite common for the fans to simply go on the outside wall right where the vent line from the basement comes out. That's how we installed mine when I sold my house in Hackettstown.
The purpose is to make sure that if there is a break in the pipe, you aren't venting radon rich gases directly into the living space. You also have to make sure the pipe exhaust is a certain distance above the roof line/away from windows/etc.
Mark Mc. back in 2013, i used Obar Systems for my house that needed a radon system put in because the previous owner refused to do it. i went with them at the time because i read and was told horror stories about Radata. i can't speak to how things are now but 3+ years later the system is still doing exactly what it needs to do.
Joe Friday They installed ours in one day. After a post test we were still a little high so they swapped out the fan with a higher velocity fan and the next test came back well below acceptable levels. This was about 2 years ago and still no issue .
Wondering how long these fans last. Mine has been going 24/7 for at least 12 years, seems like a long time.
eapos I am currently helping someone sell a home with Radon readings that came back at 18 - Obar is installing the system and the initial test after installation came back at 4.5 - at no additional cost they are returning to provide additional drops/larger fan (on Monday) and they carry a 3 or 4 (don't recall) year transferrable warranty. While the homeowner is paying for the system I saw the installation price and it was very reasonable (around $1,300.)
Based on what I have seen, I would highly recommend them!
Contact info:
Obar Systems
1-(800) 949-6227
2969 Route 23 South, Newfoundland, NJ 07435
Kurt Another upvote for Obar. They were great and did the job in one day. IIRC the system is guaranteed for life too.
Dancicus Fighticus Just sold our house, used Radata for water and Radon. They did the job in one day, were neat, on time and guarantee the work and readings. Price for PH and Coliform, and Radon fan install, all totaled 3200.00..
boobalaa RaData told us that it was difficult to get the radon level below 2 pCi/L. Has anyone been told this as well? And does anyone know that this is true?
Jules Thought it was compulsory for the seller to address a radon problem prior to the sale? Anyway, Obar installed the system in the home I purchased. I believe it was around $1300 for the work. No issues and they did clean work. Can only hear the fan when standing next to it outside the home. It’s far quieter than the central AC compressor...
NJIT Grad Jules that is surprising because RAData installed systems in 2 different homes of mine and levels tested below 2 post mitigation efforts. Original levels were both above 4 which is the limit in NJ were mitigation is required.
Jules, I would be skeptical of RaData and what they are telling you. Go with another company for a second opinion.
Joe, we are trying to get as much information as possible to make the best decision. We definitely want our level to be below 2.
Is it more difficult to mitigate radon in a townhome? Has anyone had experience installing a mitigation system in a townhome?
If it's a townhouse, you should be talking to the owner's association immediately. It may be their responsibility to fix. My experience with radon is it has more to do with the type and construction of the foundation than it does townhouse vs free standing home. But depending on the situation its very possible the entire set of units all needs to have mitigation done. That's exactly why it may be the association's responsibility.
Below 2?in the winter?never going to happen..perfectly safe below 4 , it is a complete money grab
GC, already contacted the homeowners’ association and they said that anything with radon mitigation is the homeowner’s responsibility.
I would check the Association's Master Documents to be sure. Easy for them to say it's your responsibility.
kb2755 kb2755, we reviewed our rules and regulations and can find nothing about radon at all.
I did some digging a couple of years ago, and I have to wonder if the radon "thing" may be a solution in need of a problem?
Taken from various sources:
"It is interesting that one Brazil nut contains up to 54 picocuries of radon. This is 12 or 13 times the radon amount the EPA says is unsafe in a liter of air. Bananas celery, drinking water, granite countertops, fireplaces. All these things emit radon. It's everywhere."
"at least 10rem before for adverse health affects… “folks, even at 20pico, we are about HALF a rem; .5 rem”
Go read for yourself, I'd love to hear other people's takes on it:
http://www.forensic-applications.com/radon/radon.html
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/should-homeowners-consider-radon-threat-false-alarm
http://www.city-data.com/forum/real-estate/583973-radon-business-scam.html
https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/radon-myth-truth.57145/
JeffersonRepub Good luck getting below 2. Location is everything. Mine will go below 2 in in the warmer months. Not unusually in the winter. I suggest you get one of these. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSEQYY9
It will enable you to really see what your numbers are. Mine will change from 1 to 10 based on the day/time and my remediation system is in perfect working order.
not sack, we have the very Airthings model that you sent the link to. We are watching the numbers fluctuate.
"Mine will change from 1 to 10 based on the day/time and my remediation system is in perfect working order."
Well, that is VERY telling....
You live in a townhouse, your neighbor could do nothing if they know they have a high reading and it will effect you,they could have a insect problem now you do... bottom line never buy a townhouse the association legally has to do nothing about it.
Keep in mind if you do put the fan in they could make you paint the pvc pipe to match trim color- extra expense... they are only responsible for the exterior and grounds.
Safe or not, you will pay for radon abatement if you sell your home. Rather than play doubting Thomas, get it now and enjoy it while you are there.
I used an airthings like device and ranged from 2 to over 4. Yes, winter worse, but really linked to pressure; more low pressure in winter. After abatement, we be under 2 all year long. Or skip it and test in summer for home sale, better chance of success.
Old house, found a raceway so my pipe is inside, fan in attic, running for close to 30 years. (Course, that raceway will be bad if there’s a fire.). Raceway means space next to chimney we could fish the pipe through. Got the AC in there now too. For me, finding and sealing all the cracks was the hardest part—-old house, stone foundation.
Used radata on another house. Expensive but good and fast and I needed fast.
StrangerDanger 
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