A radon mitigation system is a set of parts installed in or on a home to lower the radon level indoors. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that forms as uranium breaks down in soil and rock. Testing is the only way to know how much is in your home.
Prescott Radon connects callers with licensed and insured local radon professionals. They look at your home, explain the options, and install the system. If your test result is high, call (928) 582-8914 to talk it through.
How active soil depressurization works
EPA describes active soil depressurization as the usual way to reduce radon. A vent pipe and a fan work together to draw radon from beneath the foundation. The pipe carries it up and releases it above the roof line, where it mixes with outdoor air.
The idea is simple. Radon moves from the soil into a house through cracks in floors and walls, gaps around pipes and wires, sump pits, and other foundation openings. The system gives the gas an easier path out, so it is pulled away before it gets indoors.
Why sealing alone is not the plan
Sealing cracks and openings sounds like an obvious fix. EPA does not recommend it as the only way to reduce radon. Gas can find new paths, and it is hard to seal every one.
Professionals do often seal gaps as part of a system. The sealing helps the fan work more effectively, but the pipe and fan do the main job.
Versions for different foundations
The layout depends on how your home is built. Foundation type, size and layout all shape the design, which is why a professional needs to see the home before giving a quote.
- Slab homes: the pipe draws from beneath the concrete floor slab.
- Basement homes: the system works from below the basement floor, which is the foundation closest to the soil.
- Crawl spaces: the ground is usually covered with a plastic membrane, and the system vents from beneath that cover.
Prescott has a mix of housing. The historic downtown has many Victorian homes and brick buildings. Newer subdivisions sit toward the Granite Dells, Prescott Lakes and Willow Creek Road areas. A downtown home and a newer house in Yavapai Hills or Williamson Valley may need different designs.
What you will see in your home
A finished system is not complicated. You will see a vent pipe and a fan. Many systems also have a simple pressure gauge that shows the fan is running.
The fan runs continuously. If the gauge reading changes or looks different from when it was installed, that is a good reason to call a professional. Retesting is covered separately on our post-mitigation testing page.
Why this matters around Prescott
Prescott sits at about 5,400 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains. Just north of the city, the Granite Dells are exposed granite about 1.4 billion years old. The Arizona Geological Survey reports that this granite has an unusually high uranium content, so homes built over it should be checked for radon.
The Survey also notes that radon from the granite is a concern for people who build weather-tight homes on this rock. A tightly built, energy-efficient house can hold radon in. The world's highest-ever indoor radon level was measured in the Granite Dells area, according to KNAU Arizona Public Radio. That home's problem was solved with sub-floor ventilation and by sealing gaps in the well casing.
That said, any home can have a radon problem, new or old, with or without a basement. Testing is how you find out. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or higher, and says to consider it between 2 and 4 pCi/L.
Homes with private wells
Radon in well water can be released into the air when water is used. Well water is tested separately from air. Treatment options include aeration and granular activated carbon. For most homes, radon in the air is the larger concern, so the air result usually comes first.
Choosing a professional
Arizona does not run a state radon certification program. EPA recommends hiring a nationally certified radon professional, certified through the National Radon Proficiency Program or the National Radon Safety Board. You can ask any contractor about their certification before work starts.
Cost depends on the home's foundation type, size and layout. A professional gives a quote after looking at the home. No one can promise a specific result before the work is done and tested.
Serving Prescott and nearby towns
Help is available across Prescott, including Miller Valley, Forbing Park, Fort Whipple and Diamond Valley. It also covers Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and the rest of Yavapai County. To be connected with a local professional, call (928) 582-8914 and describe your test result and your home's foundation.