Radon is a radioactive gas that can enter a home from the soil beneath it. To minimize the risk of exposing your family to elevated levels of this carcinogen, you can install a passive radon system or an active version. If you have a passive system, there’s basic information you should know about how it operates so you can tell whether it's functioning correctly.

How Active & Passive Radon Systems Differ

Although both systems require PVC piping to be routed from beneath the slab at the lowest livable level of the home through the roof, there is one significant difference. An active radon system uses an electrically powered fan to drive air through the piping while a passive system relies solely on natural circulation to move air from below the slab to the exit point above the roof.

Because the active radon system develops a measurable vacuum/negative pressure at the suction of the fan, a U-tube (manometer) is used to monitor the setup and ensure its suction pressure is maintained. In the case of a passive system, there is little pressure difference (i.e., not easily measured) between the inside and outside of the system piping, so no monitor can be used.

How to Tell Your Passive System Is Working

To ensure a passive system is working properly, you need to have an experienced team install it, as placement of the equipment and piping route are crucial to its effectiveness. It’s also important to schedule periodic tests with radon mitigation professionals to confirm low levels are maintained under varying indoor and outdoor conditions.

For more than a decade, the team at Z&H Enterprises Inc. has been helping clients in and around the Lincoln, NE, area protect their families from radon gas. They’ll conduct a radon test in your home to detect the presence of the gas and equip you with a solution to remove it. Contact them online to learn more about what they do and call (402) 742-5806 to schedule service.