Radon mitigation & testing in Mont Vernon, NH

Already have a radon system? Checking, maintaining and retesting it in Mont Vernon

Bought a Mont Vernon home that already has a radon pipe in the basement, or had a system put in years ago? A radon system only protects you while it is working. The EPA says radon reduction systems, like a furnace or chimney, need occasional maintenance. (EPA)

Check the gauge

Active systems must have a warning device that alerts you if the system stops working properly, such as a liquid gauge (the EPA says usually a manometer), a sound alarm, a light or a dial gauge. (EPA) The EPA says to look at it on a regular basis. If it shows the system is not working properly, call a contractor to have it checked. (EPA)

Keep the fan running

The EPA says the fan should never be turned off; it must run continuously for the system to work. (EPA) Fans may last five years or more, and manufacturer warranties tend not to exceed five years, so expect a repair or replacement at some point. (EPA) NH DHHS says the fan is the main part that can fail. (NH DHHS)

Retest, even if nothing seems wrong

• The EPA says it is a good idea to retest at least every two years to be sure radon levels stay low. (EPA)
• Test in the lowest lived-in level: the basement if it is used often, otherwise the first floor. (EPA) NH residents can order a free state test kit. (NHDES)
• Finishing the basement or adding on? Ask a radon contractor first, and retest in the lowest lived-in area after the work to make sure the construction did not reduce the system’s effectiveness. (EPA)

Who should service it

NH requires radon-in-air mitigation designers and installers to be nationally certified. (NHDES) You can check names in the NRPP directory. If you bought the home with a system already in place, ask the seller or the original installer for any written operating instructions and warranty. (EPA)

Private wells

An air system does not treat radon in water. NHDES says radon is common in water from bedrock (drilled) wells, and recommends testing well water for radon at least twice, about a month apart. It recommends treatment at 10,000 pCi/L or more, and possibly between 2,000 and 10,000 pCi/L if indoor air is 4 pCi/L or higher. (NHDES) See our guide to radon in well water in NH.

Nearby

See Amherst, Milford and Bedford.

Well pump or pressure trouble? Our sister referral site, NH Well Pump Help, connects Mont Vernon homeowners with local well pump pros.