Can Radon Be Vented Through A Wall

An unvented crawl space or better yet no crawl space in humid climates vented crawl spaces don t make sense because they increase moisture problems.

Can radon be vented through a wall.

Efficient motor operates quietly. It means opening up walls and messing up painted drywall. If the building has a roof overhang most buildings do the pipe will still need to penetrate the roof near the eaves and will still require roof flashing. A recent health canada study demonstrates that a side wall terminated radon mitigation system saves 57 in labor and 14 in material costs compared to a roof terminated.

The radon pipe that vents radon gas from a building is an essential part of a radon abatement system. Because the radon vact tm side wall system evacuates through the basement side wall homeowners can avoid having pvc pipe run vertically through living areas or outside of their homes to the roof line. The radon mitigation pipe system must be totally sealed to impede the gas to go back into your home. You have to cut through an already finished roof and make sure you get the vent flashed properly.

One of the newest fans designed specifically for radon mitigation vents directly through the side wall similar to a dryer vent using an aspiration hood to mix and disperse the radon gas. The intention of that design is to keep it far enough from open windows to prevent the radon gas from re entering the home but that is unnecessary and can work against you. It follows the same clearances as high efficiency gas fired heating appliances that also vent through side walls they are allowed to at least 4 feet directly below a window opening. While radon can be an issue for all foundation types homes on slabs stem walls or basements offer more control over water and soil gases like radon than houses built over a crawl space.

A new home buyer may ask the builder about these features and if not provided may ask the builder to include them in the new home. Pvc pipe is the most popular material used not only for drain and vent pipe for plumbing but radon abatement systems. Saves this radon vac radon fan saves hundreds of dollars in extra materials and labor over a typical radon mitigation systems. Called radon vact tm the proprietary system consists of a plug in fan exterior hood and installer purchased pvc pipe.

If a roof penetration is impossible you can route the radon vent through the wall or rim joist and continue the riser up the outside of the building. Install an electrical junction box outlet in the attic for use with a vent fan should after testing for radon a more robust system be needed. Keeping the vent pipe indoors keeps it warmer enhancing the stack effect. If you don t do it and the house tests high for radon it becomes much more difficult and expensive.