"Our radon system is safe, yours is not."  "No, yours is outdated, ours more reliable and safer!" 

​​​​​​​

 

American Type Radon System - Based on the very first Radon Mitigation Standards from 1994 EPA

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above we see an example of the most common American type radon mitigation system. This was also the most common type of system in Canada prior to about 2010. This American type radon system is basically comprised of a hole drilled through the basement floor with a PVC vent pipe secured to the hole; the vent pipe goes up and then angles out through the exterior wall usually a couple feet or so above the ground where the radon fan is mounted, and the vent pipe is routed up the wall and soffit until it extends above the roof. Care must be taken for the location of the vent pipe so as not not block windows or doors.

​

Pros - American Type Radon System (outdoor radon fan)

• In New York and the US in general, the American systems is what most people have seen and are familiar with.

• Less problems with realtors and home inspectors in the US when selling the home.

• The American type system follows the American Standards of practice, this eliminates the contradiction of the Canadian standards and recommendations, this is not necessarily a benefit and could be considered a fault.

• In some situations the American type system with the vent pipe terminating above the roof may be quieter or less noisy than the Canadian type system depending on where the vent pipe is located.

​

Cons - American Type Radon System (outdoor radon fan)

• Outdoor fan vent pipes are vulnerable to freezing. If ice caps form the mitigation process stops and the radon levels will rise quickly inside the home to pre mitigation levels. This is a significant safety issue. The fix for this is seldom performed, however for a significant added cost, the exterior vent pipe can be insulated or replaced with a special insulated pipe.

• If the vent pipe extends above roof where ice and snow can slide off the roof, especially a metal roof, the pipe will be vulnerable to being broken off. I've had to make this repair often times (not systems I installed).

• The exterior mounted radon fan has about 1/3 the service life of an indoor radon fan.

• Operating costs of the system is at least three times as much. My minimum cost to replace a radon fan including parts and labor is $495. Outdoor fans in New York are replaced on average about every 8 years and fans mounted indoors every 20 years or more.

• Aesthetically less desirable. The exterior mounted radon fan and vent pipe extended to above the roof is more of an eye sore than a dryer vent sized exhaust vent. Many homeowner associations require the exterior radon fan and vent pipe to be painted the same color as the house.

• American type radon systems can be quite expensive, difficult and dangerous to maintain, removing pipe from the wall to paint or when changing the fan, especially for vent pipes that extend up above a second story roof and attic space sometimes more than 30 feet.

• Some exterior mounted radon fans are louder, vibration can transfer from the fan and vent pipe to the wall of the home at attachment points sending the sound and vibration through the wall to inside the house. 

 

Compared to

 

  Canadian Type Radon System - Based on the American Mitigation Standards except for 2 things

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This set of photos above, shows the Canadian type radon system. It basically functions the same as the American type radon system, but two of the components are placed differently. The radon fan is placed in the basement and the vent pipe discharges near the ground like a dryer vent. You can see there is a lot less pipe used, which makes this system more efficient and less materials and labor cost. Photo below is of a radon vent blocked by an ice cap.

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When an ice cap fully forms, radon mitigation ceases because there is no air flow even though the radon fan continues to run. This poses a radon safety hazard as the radon will return to pre-mitigation high levels until temperatures warm up long enough to eventually melt the ice and the air flow is resumed. It could take days, weeks or months to melt before radon mitigation resumes. 

​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​How does an ice cap form on a radon vent pipe? The radon fan pulls warm moist air from below the ground which cools and condensates as it moves up the vent pipe. In freezing weather the air cools more and more the further it gets from the ground. The cooling moisture in the air condensates and collects as droplets as it comes in contact with the cold surface of the vent pipe and when cold enough the droplets freeze before they exit the pipe. The ice continues to form, building up and restricting air flow or totally stopping the air flow.

 

The freeze thaw process also takes a heavy toll on the service life of radon fans. According to my estimate from having replaced hundreds of failed radon fans, exterior radon fans in central New York have roughly one third the service life - 5 to 12 years, compared to radon fans located in a basement or attic space which last much longer, 20 to 30 years. I have replaced many dozens of exterior mounted radon fans from less than 1 year old to less than 10 years old. I have never seen an exterior mounted radon fan last for 20 or more years, however I have seen many dozens of basement or attic mounted radon fans still operational after 20 to 30 years.

​

Canadian Government's Health Canada, similar to the US EPA, recommends that radon fans to be installed in basements and to vent the radon air, near the ground to avoid the freezing problem. This solution makes for a better radon system in many ways for the vast majority of homes, including those in cold climates in the US. Putting politics and contradicting standards and laws aside, it is better choice, in most cases, hands down. ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​Photo courtesy of Health Canada booklet "Radon Reduction Guide for Canadians"

 

Pros - Canadian Type Radon System (indoor radon fan)

• Indoor fan radon systems are safer due to being more reliable; they will not freeze up and stop working when it gets really cold.

• Indoor radon cost fans last about 3 to 4 times as long. Replacing a radon fan typically costs $250 to $500.

• Indoor radon fans are less expensive to operate, saving money on your electric bill.

• Indoor radon fan systems cost less to install. Typical savings of $100 to $300 or more due to less in materials and labor costs.

• Interior radon fan systems are much easier to maintain.

• Canadian type radon mitigation systems are much more aesthetically pleasing. No fan mounted on the wall and pipe running up the exterior to above the roof.

• Radon systems with interior mounted fans typically have more options for location of the radon vent pipe discharge since it is similar to a dryer vent. 

​

Cons - Canadian Type Radon System (indoor radon fan)

• Indoor fan radon are much less common in central New York and many home owners, realtors and home inspectors are ignorant of the facts regarding Canadian Type Radon Systems.

• Uninformed persons often make false statements regarding indoor radon fans such as "Radon fans are not allowed to be in a basement", "they are illegal", "they are unsafe", "they are against code", "they are  not properly installed". Remember, these are false statements which could bring consequences.

• When selling a home with a Canadian type radon system for the above reasons, a radon fan located in the basement may be an issue if the well intentioned realtor or home inspector tells the buyer it is unsafe or against code and the fan should be moved to the exterior.

• In some cases the Canadian type system can be louder than an American system. There is very little to no noise heard inside the house with either type of system. In both types radon mitigation systems the loudest noise is at the discharge point of the radon vent pipe. If it discharges directly onto a deck or patio area, it would be louder than a pipe that runs up the wall two stories to above the deck or patio. Most systems are designed to discharge at one side or the other of the home where the small amount of noise is not noticed.

​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Proceed below for more details than you want to know on American vs. Canadian radon systems, the confusion and contradicting standards

 

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

​

Contradicting Standards

​

 

I became aware of the differences of radon systems in Canada and the US in 2017 when I got an email from a radon contractor in Canada regarding a blog post I wrote, titled, "Improper and Unsafe Radon Mitigation Systems." In which I pointed out several problems in a radon system installation from a YouTube video, that happened to be installed in Canada. You can watch "Mike Holmes on Radon" Video below

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​Two of the things from this video I pointed out as being improper and unsafe in my blog post, were, the radon fan being located in the basement and the radon vent pipe terminating outside, near ground level. As a 2-time graduate of Rutgers University's National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) certification courses for radon mitigation/measurement and a licensed NY State home inspector, I had been taught and was aware these two issues, radon fan in basement and venting near the ground, were not allowed according to the current "American" radon mitigation standards and that each was considered a safety issue. I was not aware Canada's radon mitigation standards contradicted the American standards on these two points. 

​

The Canadian radon contractor's email to me said, he agreed with all of the post, except that, "while yes, the EPA does state that “The exhaust fan must not be located in or below a livable area,” Mike Holmes is Canadian, and the Measurement and Mitigation licensing body in Canada is C-NRPP, teaches in the courses that we can not obviously put fans outside due to our way too cold winters, that it is in fact the standard in Canada to simply install the sub-slab depressurization system exactly the way Mr. Holmes did;" (i.e. the radon fan installed inside the basement.) He added "And the C-NRPP also teaches that the radon vent pipe should, preferably, be terminated near ground level."

​

​​So, I did some research and confirmed the Mitigation licensing body in Canada, C-NRPP has radon standards for radon mitigation that are quite contrary to the American National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) in regards to the radon fan and vent termination locations. In nearly every other regard the Canadian vs American standards are mostly identical. I had to eat some humble pie, apologized and deleted my post since it contained some misinformation. I found this to be confusing and even troubling as I dug into the reasons for the contradiction of standards. Especially since the NRPP and C-NRPP were so closely linked. In the fall of 2012, the AARST Radon Reporter states: "The National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) opened a Canadian version of the credentialing program (C-NRPP)." They are basically the same organization in two locations, agree on all points except the above two contradictions, which were the reason for the spin off organization being formed in Canada.

​

​​​​​​​​​​​

Deciding Which Type Radon System to Choose

​

Given an informed choice, most of my clients choose the Canadian

However there are some instances when I recommend or you may choose the American type system. Weigh it our for yourself. It can be difficult because of the contradicting standards and contradicting safety issues. If you bring in some common sense it becomes an easier choice. You can do your own research, this is some of what I have come across, hopefully will be helpful. 

​

New York State Requirements for Radon Mitigation Systems

As of this writing - 2/12/2024, New York State does not certify or license radon mitigators and there is no requirement for Radon contractors or mitigation firms to be certified or licensed. In fact, there is no state regulatory oversite regarding radon mitigation, meaning, homeowners or radon mitigation contractors or general contractors can install any type of radon mitigation system they like, as long as it complies with applicable local building codes. I've checked and there are no radon mitigation specific code requirements for Manlius, Fayetteville or Syracuse and there are none that I'm aware of in any other central New York locality.

See related message from the New York state radon office:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

Click here too view full page:       "...New York State does not regulate radon service providers, however, certification through one of the national organizations is recommended."

 

​​Other States Requirements for Radon Mitigation

Some other states do have require licensing and certification for radon mitigation, such as Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The states that do require certification, likewise require following of the American standards so the Canadian type radon systems may not be allowed for installation by contractors. Often times homeowners can get around the standards because they do not have to abide by the for radon mitigation standards.

​

Choosing The Best System is a Problem Because of the Contradiction of Standards and Laws. You need to make your own decision.

There is a clear and direct contradiction between the Canadian and  American Radon Mitigation Standards. The Canadian government, Health Canada and the Canadian all recommend radon fans be placed in basements and the second states radon shall not be installed in basements. The old and current American EPA and National Radon Mitigation Standards of Practice do not allow radon fans to be placed inside basements, below or in the living areas of the home for "supposed potential" safety reasons. In contrast Health Canada, Canada's agency similar to the EPA, recommends that radon fans should preferably, be placed in basements, typically in a mechanical room or unfinished part of the basement.

​

Quote from Health Canada's Radon Reduction Guide For Canadians - "The sub-slab depressurization pipe can be vented at either the roof level or ground level of the home. The fan can be placed in the basement or an area outside of the living space such as in a garage or attic. If the fan is placed inside the living space of the home"

​

In contrast the EPA's Consumer Guide To Radon Reduction states, "The exhaust fan must not be located in or below a livable area. For instance, it should be installed in unconditioned space" 

​​​​

​​​Brief Radon Mitigation History – The Cowboy Days of Radon Mitigation

Canada actually followed the original American Radon Mitigation Standards, set by the EPA back in 1993. At the time, in the early days of radon mitigation, the EPA scrambled to put together some type of standards for mitigation of radon since contractors and homeowners were throwing together all type of things to mitigate radon including all types of unsuitable fans and improper vent materials. For example using flexible plastic dryer vent attached to fans using tape. Many of these cobbed together components fell apart in no time and became safety hazards. The EPA for the most part copied the Plumbing Vent Code intended for venting sewer gas and used that for the standard to vent radon radon gas. Today, in 2024 the American National Standards of Practice for Radon Mitigation have changed very little.

​​​​​​

An excerpt from Canada Health publication “Reducing Radon Levels in Existing Homes: A Canadian Guide for Professional Contractors” Section 9.3 – Fan Location

... “In the early days of radon mitigation, prior to development of the US mitigation Standards, the fans used were not airtight, and leaked some of the exhaust air from their casings. A variety of ducting materials was also used and not all joints were airtight. As a result, best practice was to place the fan and discharge piping outside the building envelope. The interior piping was then under negative pressure, so neither fan nor duct leakage would enter the building. Fans located outside the building envelope are required by US mitigation standards.

​

In-line centrifugal fans specifically designed for radon mitigation are now available. Some airtight fan designs are available with sealed joints; some have the casing joints and electrical connections located on the suction side of the fan, so leakage from the fan is not a concern. Plastic plumbing pipe is now used routinely for the suction and exhaust ducting, with airtight solvent welded joints in the piping and airtight rubber plumbing couplers to the fan.

As properly installed fans and ducting will not leak soil air and radon into the building, the fan no longer needs to be located outside the building envelope, but can be mounted inside the building. If this is combined with a grade level discharge, almost the entire system can be inside the thermal envelope. In cold climates, this eliminates concerns about condensation or frost in the fan or piping, as only a short length of discharge pipe outside the house will be exposed to colder temperatures.

​

A fan should be installed so that the flow is vertical, so that any condensation in the system will drain through the fan, rather than pooling in the casing. To reduce vibration and noise transfer to the building, it should be connected to the piping with airtight rubber plumbing couplers that hold the fan 1 cm from the pipe. If the supply and discharge pipes are firmly mounted, the fan can simply be attached to the pipes by the couplers without other support. If it is attached to a wall, a masonry or concrete wall will give lower noise than an internal framed wall.

​

If the selected fan is not airtight, it must be mounted outside the building envelope. In cold areas, an outside fan is at risk from premature failure due to moisture in the exhaust air condensing, and freezing in the fan. To prevent this, a fan mounted on the exterior of a building should be placed inside an enclosure (commercially available enclosures are available) for cold weather protection. A condensation by-pass should be installed to collect and divert condensation in the discharge pipe around the fan. To prevent the condensate from freezing, the discharge should be led to the soil through an insulated pipe, or in very cold areas, back into the fan suction pipe. The suction pipe inside the house must be sloped so that condensate passing through the fan can drain back to the sub-slab fill with no low spots where condensate can accumulate.”

​

Source Location: Canadian Radon Mitigators Installation Guide.pdf (wpb-radon.com)

​