What the problem is
Radon systems are simple and durable, but they are not permanent. Fans wear out. Pipe joints crack from UV exposure or settlement. Sealed cracks open again as a slab moves. And some systems were under-designed from the start — installed with one suction point where the soil needed three. Because nothing about a failing radon system is obvious from inside the house, failures often go unnoticed for years.
How to know if your system needs attention
- The manometer liquid is level on both sides — the fan is not moving air.
- The fan is audibly grinding, rattling, or has gone silent.
- A recent test still reads at or above 4.0 pCi/L despite an installed system.
- The exterior pipe is cracked, chalky, or discolored from sun exposure.
- The exhaust terminates below the roofline or near a window.
- The fan is mounted in a basement or in living space, which is not permitted for the pressurized side of the system.
- The system is more than 10 years old and has never been serviced.
How the system is diagnosed
- 1Manometer reading is compared against the value recorded at installation.
- 2Fan operation, amperage, and noise are checked.
- 3The full pipe run is inspected for cracks, disconnected joints, sags holding condensate, and improper termination.
- 4Seals at the floor-wall joint, sump lid, and penetrations are re-inspected.
- 5Sub-slab communication is re-measured if performance was always marginal.
- 6A short-term test establishes the current indoor level.
What the repair process looks like
| Finding | Typical fix |
|---|---|
| Failed fan, sound system otherwise | Replace the fan with a correctly sized unit |
| Manometer shows suction but levels stay high | Add a suction point or upsize the fan |
| Cracked or UV-damaged exterior pipe | Replace the affected run and re-support it |
| Improper termination | Extend the exhaust above the roofline, away from openings |
| Fan located inside conditioned space | Relocate to attic, garage attic, or exterior |
| Reopened slab cracks | Re-seal joints and penetrations |
Expected timeline
- Fan replacement: 1–2 hours.
- Pipe repair or re-routing: half a day.
- Adding a suction point: half to a full day.
- Verification test afterward: 48 hours, starting 24 hours after restart.
What affects the cost
- Fan model and static pressure required.
- Accessibility of the fan and pipe location.
- How much of the original pipe run can be reused.
- Whether additional suction points or electrical work are needed.
What happens after the repair
Every repair ends the same way a new install does: 24 hours of runtime, then a 48-hour verification test, then documentation of the new manometer reading so future checks have a baseline. If a repair cannot bring the home under the action level, we will tell you plainly that the design — not the fan — is the limiting factor.
Related services
Keep learning
- How Radon Mitigation Actually WorksA mitigation system does not filter radon. It reverses the pressure difference that pulls soil gas into your home in the first place.
- What Radon Mitigation Costs — and What Drives the PriceRadon mitigation is priced on how hard it is to move air under your specific foundation — not on square footage. Here is what each line item actually represents.