If your house is radon-infected, your radon mitigation fan must work constantly. Why? If you stop the fan, the radon levels can start increasing rapidly. You need to be constantly guarding your home against it. The only to do that is to keep the fan working constantly.
In fact, if the fan is off for a few hours, the radon levels can go back up to the pre-mitigation levels. It is only a matter of a few hours; it does not even take days to damage the whole system.
All the work that your radon system did to mitigate the radon can be undone in a jiffy if you turn the fan off. Also, when you turn off the fan for some time, the ground moisture starts to seep in. This directly affects the fan and its motor and bearings. And this can easily cause the fan to break down before its normal life course is over. Want to know more about turning off radon mitigation fans? Read on to find out more details.
Is it okay to turn off the radon mitigation fan?
It doesn’t matter if you’re at home streaming your favorite content or outside, you will need to ensure that the radon levels in your home stay low.
Some people feel that you can easily turn off the radon mitigation fan when you are not inside the house. It is a clear misconception. Experts always advise users to keep the fan working at all times. Even if you go on a long vacation and are not home for months, do not turn off the fan. It does not take months or days for the radon gas to spread; it only takes hours. The cost of running a radon mitigation fan is very low. It only costs a few pennies a day to keep this fan going. Radon mitigation fans do not impact your electricity bills much. So, why take the risk of switching it off?
Currently, some radon mitigation fans in the market work on timers. They get turned on and off as per scheduled timings. But, these fans are not efficient enough for places that have high radon levels. Do you feel that your radon mitigation fan is getting overworked or making weird noises? Call your service provider. They will do a detailed analysis of the current condition of your system. This will help you understand if your fan needs replacement or repair.
How will you know if your radon mitigation fan is working?
You must check the manometer to know if your radon mitigation fan is working. A red liquid substance is outside the device, which works as an indicator. If the fan stops working, this device will have a U-shape. When the fan is running and working properly, this device shows a J-shape. The pressure created by the fan speed determines the shape inside the manometer. When the fluid in the manometer is higher on one side and lower on the other, it works fine. If you still have some doubts, call your service provider to get it checked.
This radon mitigation manometer is absent in a passive system. Why? There is no running fan in this system; hence no indicator device is present.
How long does a radon mitigation fan usually last?
According to National Radon Defense, radon mitigation fans generally have a 5-year warranty. But with proper maintenance, they can last for more than 20 years. Depending on the quality of the fan, its lifespan can expand. It is advisable that if you keep the fan working at a low speed, its lifespan improves. The other factors impacting its lifespan are proper installation and external weather conditions.
What affects the lifespan of the radon mitigation fan?
- The temperature of the attic
Sometimes extreme temperatures inside the attic affect the radon mitigation fan. Extreme heat can put extra pressure on the fan and cause it to break down sooner.
- Moisture
If you turn off the fan for some time, the moisture from the soil and the concrete starts to seep inside the fan. This directly affects the longevity of the device and causes damage. Or if you live in a damp place, then this can happen even without turning off the fan. Get your fan occasionally checked if you live in a damp area.
Parting Thoughts
The fan will last longer even when working properly if you have the right service provider. Many unlicensed providers can mess up the work. You do not need an unfinished system that collapses every now and then? The right provider will provide a fan that comes with a minimum 5-year warranty.
