How to Mitigate Radon with Your Sump Pump


What is a Sump Pump?

A sump pump is essentially an added form of flood protection for a home. It is generally installed under the basement floor to collect ground water before it can rise and enter your home. It comes in handy during the rainier seasons or when the snow begins melting in the winter.

What is Radon?

Radon is radioactive gas that you can’t see or smell. It is capable of causing cancer if you are exposed to it for too long, so homes generally have ways to mitigate it put in place. You can have a radon testing company test your home for the gas if you’re concerned about its presence. This is a wise thing to do whenever you move into a new home just so that you can be aware of the radon levels you are dealing with.

Sump Pumps and Radon

Sump pumps can either be a gift or a curse when it comes to radon. Some can be converted into a suction point to help rid your home of radon, while others can be a source for radon in your home. The type of sump pump you have determines if it can be used to mitigate radon or if it needs to be sealed to keep radon out.

Sump pump installation is a good form of radon mitigation when it is paired with another radon mitigation system. This is because the PVC pipe from the mitigation system needs to be inserted into the sump pump to create the suction needed to get rid of radon. If you have a pre-existing pump that isn’t located in the proper position for this procedure then it will have to be sealed.

Should You Have a Sump Pump Installed?

Assuming you don’t already have a sump pump, you can determine the answer to this question starting with a radon test. Have a radon testing company test your home and find out if you need some kind of mitigation system installed. If it turns out that the radon levels in your home are high (generally more than a level 2), you should consider getting a sump pump installed along with another mitigation system. You can reach out to a radon mitigation and abatement company for help with this process.


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