Rochester Radon Mitigation Co.: Radon Mitigation Services in Rochester, Minnesota

Homes with concrete slabs or basements often need radon removed before the soil gas can enter the living space. Sub-slab depressurization is the main mitigation method for Rochester homes with these foundations. We core a suction pit through the floor and connect it to a sealed schedule-40 PVC riser, which is a thick-walled vent pipe. A fan then draws soil gas from beneath the concrete. When air moves freely below a connected slab, one well-positioned suction point can often treat it, and reductions of 90% or more are common.

A radon test gives you a measured result before you make decisions about the house. We place a continuous radon monitor under EPA testing protocol and maintain closed-house conditions for a minimum 48-hour test, which means keeping the windows shut while normal coming and going, and HVAC operation, remain fine. The hourly log can reveal unusual ventilation or movement of the device. Short-term devices run 2 to 90 days, while long-term options run beyond 90 days to capture a home’s year-round average. We also document real-estate transaction results for closing, then review the report with you and explain the EPA’s 4.0 pCi/L action level.

Exposed soil in a crawl space gives radon and moisture a direct route into the building, which is a common setup in the area’s older housing stock. To block that route, sub-membrane depressurization covers the soil with a heavy-gauge 6- to 10-mil polyethylene membrane. We seal the seams, boot the membrane around support piers, bond it to the foundation walls, and draw suction from beneath it. The finished system limits soil-gas entry while reducing ground moisture in your crawl space. Placing the membrane so it remains accessible also leaves room for future inspection and service.

A failed fan or a loss of suction can leave your existing system unable to perform as intended. Radon system repair restores that suction. We diagnose every brand using a u-tube manometer, airflow checks, and static-pressure readings. If the fan needs replacement, we install an in-line radon fan sized for the existing piping and suction points. While we are on site, we also check the vent piping, joints, and sump seal. After a radon system repair or fan replacement, we verify the airflow and complete a verification test.

Planning for radon while a building is under construction allows the main components to go in before walls and finishes restrict access. The Minnesota radon-resistant new construction code, adopted in 2009, calls for features such as a 4-inch gas-permeable aggregate layer beneath the slab. A soil-gas membrane limits upward movement, while a vertical vent stack rough-in carries gas toward the roof. The rough-in is the vent pipe run installed during construction. We consult with builders and verify the rough-in before it is concealed. If later testing finds an elevated level, the prepared vent can accept a fan without requiring a full retrofit.

Owners and facility managers need radon testing that covers the whole building. Large buildings are tested to a different standard than houses, so we follow the ANSI/AARST large-building protocol and place monitors zone by zone across every ground-contact area. We deliver the results in reports formatted for owners, facility managers, and compliance files.

A complete radon mitigation system installation should leave you with a system designed for the whole home and documented at handoff. Sub-slab depressurization is the method; this service is the full project built around it. We begin with diagnostics and design the active soil depressurization layout around the home. Depending on the building, vent piping can run through a closet, chase, garage, or along an exterior wall. Before handoff, we seal slab penetrations and fit the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) system tag, which is the state’s registration label for a professional install. Roofline discharge maintains 10-foot clearance from windows, doors, and other openings where required. Proper fan sizing and vibration isolation help keep system noise low.

A home with a passive vent stack may already have much of the pathway needed for a powered radon system. Our passive radon system activation includes an in-line fan retrofit, inspection of the existing vent path, and sealing at unfinished joints. Placing the fan in the attic protects the equipment from outdoor weather. We also install a u-tube manometer so you can check suction at a glance. A post-activation test confirms the result, and many suitable stacks can be activated in about half a day.

HUD financing brings its own radon testing and reporting requirements. We test to the ANSI/AARST multifamily protocol; the 2020 HUD MAP Guide requires 100% of ground-contact units plus an upper-floor sample. We format the reports around lender submission deadlines.

Owners of commercial buildings need radon work that covers the slab without shutting the building down. Commercial slabs require building-specific system design rather than simply scaling up a residential installation. We map the pressure field across the slab zones and connect multi-point suction to high-capacity fans. We also phase the work around business operations and provide documentation for owners and compliance files.

In an apartment or condominium building, multiple units share one soil footprint, and tenants may remain in place while mitigation work proceeds. We design to the ANSI/AARST multifamily mitigation standard and route risers through chases without relocating anyone. Once the work is complete, we verify each treated ground-contact unit with its own clearance test.