Radon test without AC

[David A. Andersen]

I agree, but that is not the protocol.

I test in closets, crawl spaces, unfinished basements etc.(sometimes testing conditions are not favorable for the 48 hr Real Estate Test).

I don't use this for the 4.0 pCi/L action level test. I do testing that is a "diagnostic test". I conduct a five minute test and compare it with the 48 hour test.

EPA protocol actually addresses unfinished basements that may be finished in the future. They recommend follow-up testing when any modification is made to the structure as it may affect the overall radon concentration throughout the house.I do not agree with testing in an unfinished basement when you're using the EPA "action level" however. Radon concentration should be tested where inhabitants spend the most amount of their time. It's like carbon monoxide poisoning, small quantities with long duration can be more deadly than sticking your face down the chimney!

Personally I prefer to determine the "potential" of radon infiltration. Those unfavorable testing times may be long in the South. Running the air conditioner causes the air to become more dense within the house and prevent infiltration from the crawlspace-basement. There is no stack effect when the outdoor temperature is higher than the indoor. All this changes in the winter time, but when you have a short winter there is a very small percentage of your home inspections in the appropriate testing window timeframe.

If you have a client with a 2.1 pCi/L in the house and a 9.7 pCi/L in a basement, what would be your recommendation?

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by dandersen

I agree, but that is not the protocol.

I test in closets, crawl spaces, unfinished basements etc.(sometimes testing conditions are not favorable for the 48 hr Real Estate Test).

I don't use this for the 4.0 pCi/L action level test. I do testing that is a "diagnostic test". I conduct a five minute test and compare it with the 48 hour test.

EPA protocol actually addresses unfinished basements that may be finished in the future. They recommend follow-up testing when any modification is made to the structure as it may affect the overall radon concentration throughout the house.I do not agree with testing in an unfinished basement when you're using the EPA "action level" however. Radon concentration should be tested where inhabitants spend the most amount of their time. It's like carbon monoxide poisoning, small quantities with long duration can be more deadly than sticking your face down the chimney!

Personally I prefer to determine the "potential" of radon infiltration. Those unfavorable testing times may be long in the South. Running the air conditioner causes the air to become more dense within the house and prevent infiltration from the crawlspace-basement. There is no stack effect when the outdoor temperature is higher than the indoor. All this changes in the winter time, but when you have a short winter there is a very small percentage of your home inspections in the appropriate testing window timeframe.

If you have a client with a 2.1 pCi/L in the house and a 9.7 pCi/L in a basement, what would be your recommendation?

9.7 in the basement? Mitigate...

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

9.7 in the basement? Mitigate...

Agreed.

[David A. Andersen]

Yup!

That's why I do what I do.
Though it may not be exactly protocol.

What is all this about anyway?
Letting the buyer (your client) know what they are getting.

If you got 9.7 in the basement, you know it will find it's way in at some point in time (without mitigation).

[Terry Clayton]

Mark In our area there are very few homes with basements that do not have a discharge register for heat and cool, return grills and laundry hook ups.