The average cost of a radon mitigation system for a homeowner is $1,160, with a typical range of $865 to $1,725.
Professional radon remediation or mitigation is the act of reducing radon contamination problems in enclosed spaces. To find out if your home has a radon problem, get a radon test or inspection. The typical cost of a radon test performed by a professional is $840. Retailers, like Amazon and home improvement stores, sell DIY radon test kits for $10 to $35.
This guide includes:
- Average Costs
- Cost by Type of Radon Mitigation System
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Related Services
- Cost by Location
- FAQs
Average Costs for Radon Mitigation in 2024
| National Average Cost | $1,160 |
| Typical Range | $865 – $1,725 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $670 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $4,230 |
On average, a radon mitigation system costs $1,160, with a typical range of $865 to $1,725. Homeowners can expect to pay as low as $670 for wall-based mitigation systems and as high as $4,230 for a foundation-based mitigation system to remove radon from the soil under the home.
Cost by Type of Radon Mitigation System
A radon mitigation system can cost as low as $670 and as much as $4,230 depending on the type. Radon mitigation professionals can use various strategies to reduce radon gas in your home’s air and water supply, such as:
- Foundation-Based Systems
- Wall-Based Systems
- Ventilation and Filtration-Based Systems
- Radon Water Mitigation
Foundation-Based Radon Mitigation Systems
This is a type of mitigation system in which radon is vented from the soil under the home. The cost of foundation-based radon mitigation can cost an average of $1,100 from water drainage pipes but it can go to $8,250 for radon mediation from the crawlspace of the home.
See below the most common methods used to vent radon from the soil.
Active Sub-Slab Depressurization
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests using this setup to reduce the sub-slab air pressure. A PVC pipe is buried in the ground after drilling a hole through the concrete slab. Most people choose this as their radon mitigation strategy. The average price for an active sub-slab depressurization system is $1,550.
Drain-Tile Suction
Water drainage pipes are typically put around the house’s base during construction, providing a potential entry point for radon gas. Radon gas is sucked out of the drainage area using a sump pump and released via a roof opening. On average, homeowners spend $1,100 on a drain tile suction system.
Sealed Sump Pump Hole Systems
A sealed sump pump hole system is similar to active soil depressurization but with a sealed cover over the sump pump hole to increase the suction efficiency. Installing a system that includes a sump pump would cost you around $1,650.
Crawlspace Encapsulation
An average of $8,250 is required to complete a full encapsulation of a crawl space, which includes installing a drainage system, insulation, a vapor barrier, fixes, and sealing. A plastic vapor barrier is installed to prevent radon from entering the home through the crawl space’s dirt. Pipes run through the membrane and into the soil, where radon gas is extracted by a fan and evacuated from the house.
Basement Sealing
Polyurethane foam or flexible caulk is injected into the foundation holes and cracks to begin the gas sealing process. Afterward, a compound is used to seal the expansion control joints. After that, any points where plumbing pipes enter the home are caulked, and an airtight cover and caulk are used to protect the sump pump. The typical price for gas sealing is $4,300.
Wall-Based Radon Mitigation Systems
The cost to homeowners to remove radon from walls often falls between $625 and $2,125.
See below the most common methods of removing radon from the walls of a home.
Block-Wall Depressurization (BWD)
Installing a system for depressurizing block walls and suction typically costs $2,125. After the surface areas around pipes and other openings have been sealed, pipes are inserted into the walls to extract radon from the home. This approach to radon remediation is best utilized in houses with foundations constructed using brick walls.
Above Slab Air-Pressure Differential Barrier Technology (ASAPDB)
Radon-contaminated air is drawn from areas of the home such as ducts and wall cavities and then vented outside. Air can be pumped into the spaces between the drywall to reduce the chances of radon entering the pressurized space.
Because it does not raise relative humidity levels, this is a preferable way to eliminate radon from high-rise residences. The typical price of an above-slab air-pressure barrier is $625.
Ventilation and Filtration-Based Radon Mitigation Systems
One ventilation system can help keep radon out of the air in a home for about $1,650. Learn about the most common types of ventilation systems below.
Heat Recovery Ventilation
The average price of this system is $1,400, and it works by transferring heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air without the air streams ever mixing.
Energy Recovery Ventilation
The typical cost of this system is $1,225, and it works by capturing moisture from exhaust air and re-using it to humidify incoming air without the two air streams ever mixing.
Natural Ventilation
This approach uses natural ventilation, such as cracking open windows and doors, as a cost-free means of radon remediation. If done properly, up to 90% of the radon in a building can be eliminated in this way. It’s a cost-free strategy.
Radon Water Mitigation Costs
The average radon water mitigation system cost ranges between $1,650 and $4,700. The two most common technologies for purifying water are carbon and charcoal scrubbing and aeration.
Carbon & Charcoal Scrubbing System
The EPA does not recommend carbon filtration for radon levels in water that are more than 5,000 pCi/L. A carbon or charcoal scrubbing system is more cost-effective and may be purchased for an average price of $1,650.
Aeration or Bubble-Up System
The typical cost of installing an aeration or bubble-up system is $4,700. It includes the price of the system itself as well as the cost of the necessary electrical, plumbing, and venting components. This technique can reduce radon levels by 95-99%, making it a trustworthy and practical choice. Although the initial investment is substantial, it can save you money in the long run.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Additional cost elements and considerations, such as home size and design, foundation type, and location, should be accounted for when estimating the cost of a radon mitigation system.
Labor and Permits
Regarding radon mitigation, you don’t want to compromise on quality by hiring a contractor who hires less-qualified workers. The labor cost is typically factored in when calculating the total radon mitigation cost. It’s worth noting that higher-quality radon mitigation contractors with more experience may ask for $4,230 or more. Radon mitigation may need a local permit in some areas. The average permit cost is $85. Any new electrical work requires an additional permit.
Radon Levels
There are a lot of houses with radon levels that are too high compared to what the EPA considers safe. Even though the EPA recommends starting radon mitigation at 4 pCi/L, some homeowners start at lower levels to ensure their family’s safety, even if it costs an average of $1,160.
Radon Fan
Ventilation systems can reduce the air pressure in a house, creating a vacuum that draws the radon gas from the soil to the upper levels of the building. The problem can be solved by installing vents or pipes that lead to the outdoors close to a radon fan.
It is necessary to keep the radon fan running constantly, so you will see an increase in your energy bills. Running a window fan for radon mitigation costs approximately $18 annually, while the cost to run a fan for a central furnace is approximately $220 per year, and the cost to run a fan used to depressurize a basement can be as much as $350 per year.
Related Services
Before you can tell if your home needs a radon mitigation system, you’ll have to find out the radon levels in your home through a radon test, home inspection, or radon monitors.
Radon Monitors
The most up-to-date radon gas detectors do self-tests automatically and display the results digitally, both for the short and long term. They can be used wirelessly or integrated into a structure for continuous operation. The normal cost of a radon monitoring device is approximately $175 per unit.
Locations far from windows, places with high humidity, and sump pumps will yield the most reliable results.
Radon Inspection
Radon gas is the second largest cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Due to its lack of discernible physical features, radon can only be detected by extensive testing. Homeowners can expect to pay anywhere from $310 to $1,420 for a radon test performed by a professional.
Home Inspection
During a professional home inspection, which is usually conducted before selling a home, inspectors can check radon levels in the home as part of the overall inspection. The typical home inspection costs between $240 and $435.
Radon Mitigation Cost by Location
Radon mitigation systems range in price depending on where you live. The nationwide average cost of a radon mitigation system is $1,160. However, this number can vary widely depending on factors including the local cost of living, the availability of qualified radon mitigation professionals, and the EPA standards in effect in your area.
A fan for added ventilation in a crawl space may help, but in cooler regions, the pipes carrying water and sewage may need to be insulated, driving up the cost of heating the home by as much as $4,230. Speak with a local radon mitigation professional to find out accurate costs for your area.
FAQ
If the home has been properly sealed, some radon mitigation units may lower high radon levels by as much as 99%, while others can only reduce them by 50-90%. To achieve the 99% reduction necessary for your home, homeowners may need to mix reduction approaches.
The amount of radon gas in a home can be measured with either an active or passive radon test performed by the homeowner or a professional. If you run the tests over a longer time frame, you’ll get more reliable findings, and radon testing might cost you an average of $840. If a home’s radon level is 4.0 pCi/L or more, the EPA advises homeowners to take action to reduce the gas’s presence.
Radon inspectors are responsible for determining the presence of radon gas, whereas radon treatment professionals strive to lower the levels of radon gas in a home. However, radon treatment professionals typically conduct testing services, as do professionals specializing in home inspections.
A radon mitigation system can help keep dangerous levels of radon gas out of your home. This radioactive gas is one of the leading causes of lung cancer.
Bringing down radon levels helps improve air quality and protects people’s health. If testing reveals that radon levels are high, you should take action to reduce them per EPA guidelines. Some homeowners may consider various radon mitigation methods if the levels fall above the set threshold.
Final Thoughts
Radon is common because the soil naturally produces it, but its concentration is usually low, as it mixes well with air. However, high levels of radon in your living spaces can be very dangerous. You can better prepare for dealing with radon issues if you know the typical prices of radon inspections and radon mitigation systems.
Hire a nearby professional today to conduct a test and reduce radon levels, which might cost you an average of $1,160.
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
Main Photo Credit: Electron_shell_086_Radon.svg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
