Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil, rock and water breaks down naturally. You cannot see, smell or taste it. A test is the only way to know how much is in your home.
If a test in your Lynchburg home comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher, EPA recommends fixing the home. A radon mitigation system is the usual way to do that. Call (434) 455-8258 to be connected with licensed and insured local radon professionals who can look at your home and explain the options.
How active soil depressurization works
The method is called active soil depressurization. A vent pipe and a fan work together to draw radon from beneath the foundation and release it above the roof line. The gas is pulled away before it can build up in the rooms where you live.
The word "active" matters. The fan runs all the time, so the system keeps pulling air from under the home rather than waiting for the gas to drift out on its own.
Versions for slabs, basements and crawl spaces
The basic idea stays the same from home to home. The layout below the living space decides how the system is built.
Homes with a basement or a slab-on-grade floor have a concrete floor in contact with the ground. The system draws radon from beneath that foundation and sends it up through the vent pipe.
Crawl spaces are handled a little differently. The ground is usually covered with a plastic membrane, and the system vents from beneath that membrane. The covering gives the fan a defined area to pull from.
A home can also combine foundation types, such as a basement under one section and a crawl space under another. A qualified professional looks at the whole foundation before deciding how the pieces fit together.
Why sealing alone is not relied on
Radon can enter through cracks in floors and walls, gaps around pipes and wires, sump pits, crawl spaces and other openings in the foundation. It is natural to think that filling those gaps would solve the problem.
EPA does not recommend sealing cracks and openings as the only way to reduce radon. Foundations have many entry points, and some are hard to reach. Sealing still has a role, because it is used as part of a system. The pipe and fan do the main work of moving the gas away.
What you will see in your home
A finished system is fairly simple. You will see a vent pipe and a fan. Many systems also have a small pressure gauge that shows the fan is running.
The exact route of the pipe depends on the home's layout and foundation. Ask the contractor to walk you through it before work starts, so nothing about the placement is a surprise.
If you have a question about what the gauge should look like, ask the installer to show you at the end of the job. Checking the gauge and retesting later are covered on our post-mitigation testing page.
Lynchburg homes and radon
Any home can have elevated radon, whether it is new or old, and whether or not it has a basement. That applies across Lynchburg, from the older houses in Rivermont, Daniel's Hill, Federal Hill and Garland Hill to newer subdivisions in Forest, Timberlake and Madison Heights.
The Virginia Department of Health reports that high radon results have been found in every Virginia county. That includes counties marked low risk on EPA's map. A neighbor's result does not tell you what is under your own foundation.
Climate plays a part in daily life too. Winters here are cool, with January averaging about 36 degrees F, and windows stay shut for long stretches. A home that is closed up for months is a good reason to check your radon level and, if it is high, to ask about a system.
Choosing who does the work
Virginia Code 32.1-229.01 requires current certification from the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) or the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) for anyone doing professional radon testing or mitigation in the state. EPA also recommends hiring a qualified radon professional. It is fair to ask any contractor to show their current certification.
Cost depends on the foundation type, the size of the home and its layout. A professional gives a quote after looking at the home, so there is no one-size answer to quote here. Help is available across Lynchburg, Madison Heights, Forest, Timberlake, Rustburg and the surrounding county. To start the conversation, call (434) 455-8258.
A note on well water
Radon in private well water can be released into the air when the water is used. Well water is tested separately from air, and treatment options include aeration and granular activated carbon. For most homes, radon in air is the larger concern, so air testing is the usual starting point.