Radon Testing & Mitigation
NRPP-certified continuous-monitor testing and in-house mitigation across Northern Michigan, with fast results and post-install verification.
NRPP-certified radon testing and in-house mitigation across Northern Michigan, with fast results.
Radon, in plain terms.
Radon is a radioactive gas released as uranium breaks down in soil and rock. It has no color, smell, or taste. It moves out of the ground into the air inside a house, and the only way to detect it is to test.
Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground. Only a test can detect it.
Where it comes from
Uranium in the bedrock and glacial till under Northern Michigan breaks down into radon gas.
Pressure differences pull it up through foundation cracks, slab joints, sump pits, crawlspace floors and sometimes well water.
Uranium in local bedrock breaks down into radon, which seeps in through cracks, sumps and slabs.
Why take it seriously
The EPA identifies radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and the leading cause among people who have never smoked.
The risk builds from years of exposure at an elevated level, not from a single day in the basement.
The EPA’s #2 cause of lung cancer, and #1 among non-smokers.
The only way to know is to measure
Only testing can tell
There is no smell, no taste and no symptom to notice. A 48-hour continuous monitor returns an actual number in pCi/L with tamper detection, so the decision rests on data rather than a guess about the house.
No smell or symptoms. A 48-hour monitor gives you a real number.
An elevated result is fixable
A high result is fixable
At or above 4.0 pCi/L the EPA recommends mitigation. A sub-slab depressurization system draws the gas from beneath the foundation and vents it above the roofline, and a post-install test confirms the new number.
At 4.0 pCi/L or higher, a sub-slab system vents it outside. A retest confirms the fix.
A sub-slab depressurization system, of the kind installed on an elevated result. Video courtesy of Michigan EGLE.
Two ways to test for Elevated Radon
Bundling with a home inspection is cheaper and keeps everything on one timeline and one invoice.
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The preferred option for buyers. One appointment, one report.
- 48-hour continuous monitor
- Tamper detection
- Results within hours of pickup
- Written interpretation
For current owners, sellers, or anyone who only needs testing.
- 48-hour continuous monitor
- Tamper detection
- Results within hours of pickup
- Written interpretation
What the number actually means.
What the number means.
No action required, but worth regular monitoring.
A result below the EPA action level does not need mitigation. Radon varies with season, foundation work and changes to heating and ventilation, so it is worth retesting periodically and after any major work.
The EPA recommends mitigation.
EPA says mitigate.
At or above 4.0 pCi/L the EPA recommends a mitigation system in the house. Installation is usually 4-5 hours: a sealed pipe and an inline fan draw soil gas from beneath the foundation and vent it above the roofline.
Radon Mitigation
The good news: if the number comes back high, we can install a mitigation system.
Consult and design
We confirm the result, foundation type and the best system route, and explain exterior versus interior routing before quoting.
Install
A sub-slab depressurization system installed by our own NRPP-certified crew, sealing accessible entry points as appropriate.
Document
Before and after photographs, plus an explanation of how the system operates and what to watch for.
Verify
A post-install continuous-monitor retest confirms how the system is performing.
How a mitigation system works.
How mitigation works.
A sub-slab depressurization system does not filter the air. It changes the pressure under your floor, so soil gas goes up the pipe instead of into the house.
We make a cut through the slab so the fan can pull from the soil beneath the home.
Accessible cracks, gaps and openings sealed so the system pulls soil gas, not conditioned air.
Runs continuously and quietly, holding the area under the slab at negative pressure.
Soil gas is carried up the riser and released above the house, away from windows.
Frequently asked questions.
How long does a radon test take?
The monitor sits in the lowest livable level for a minimum of 48 hours under closed-house conditions. We collect it and send results within hours of pickup, not days.
What does 4.0 pCi/L mean?
It is the level at which the EPA recommends fixing the house. Below it you may still choose to mitigate. We give you the number and the context, not a scare.
How often should I retest?
The EPA recommends every two years, and again after any major renovation, foundation work, or change to your heating and ventilation system, since all of those change how air moves through the house. If you already have a mitigation system, retest every two years to confirm it is still performing.
Is it a conflict of interest that you both test and mitigate?
It is a fair question and we treat it as one. We disclose the relationship in writing on every test we run. We use continuous monitors with tamper detection rather than kits we could influence, and you are free to choose any mitigation contractor.
How long is a radon test?
The monitor sits in the lowest livable level for a minimum of 48 hours under closed-house conditions. We collect it and send results within hours of pickup, not days.
What does 4.0 pCi/L mean?
It is the level at which the EPA recommends fixing the house. Below it you may still choose to mitigate. We give you the number and the context, not a scare.
How often should I retest?
The EPA recommends every two years, and again after any major renovation, foundation work, or change to your heating and ventilation system, since all of those change how air moves through the house. If you already have a mitigation system, retest every two years to confirm it is still performing.
Is testing and fixing a conflict?
It is a fair question and we treat it as one. We disclose the relationship in writing on every test we run. We use continuous monitors with tamper detection rather than kits we could influence, and you are free to choose any mitigation contractor.
How long does a mitigation installation take?
Most systems are installed in a single day. The system uses a sealed pipe and an inline fan to draw soil gas from beneath the foundation and vent it above the roofline before it enters the house.
Can the system be routed discreetly?
Usually yes. On architecturally sensitive homes we can run the system interior and vent above the roofline with no visible exterior stack.
Is post-install testing included?
Yes. Every system we install includes a post-install continuous-monitor retest to validate the system efficiency.
How long does install take?
Most systems are installed in a single day. The system uses a sealed pipe and an inline fan to draw soil gas from beneath the foundation and vent it above the roofline before it enters the house.
Can the system be hidden?
Usually yes. On architecturally sensitive homes we can run the system interior and vent above the roofline with no visible exterior stack.
Is a retest included?
Yes. Every system we install includes a post-install continuous-monitor retest to validate the system efficiency.
Know your number. Know the next step.
Book a certified radon test, or send us an elevated result and we will build a mitigation plan.