Radon Mitigation: 7 Proven Ways to Protect Your Home

If you’ve ever worried about what might be hiding in your home, radon gas probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it — yet it’s one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. The good news? Radon doesn’t have to be scary. With the right knowledge and a few proven strategies, you can take control of radon mitigation levels in your home and protect your family.

Key Takeaways

• Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can build up indoors and increase health risks.
• Testing is the first step to knowing if you have a radon problem.
• Proven mitigation strategies can reduce radon levels to safer limits.
• Professional help is often the best option, but homeowners can take simple steps, too.
• Staying informed and proactive ensures your home remains a healthy place to live.

Understanding the Radon Risk

Radon is a naturally occurring gas released from the soil. Outdoors, it’s usually harmless because it disperses into the air. Inside your home, however, radon can get trapped and build up over time. Long-term exposure can be harmful to your health, making it important to know what you’re dealing with.

Think of radon like dust or mold — you may not notice it right away, but ignoring it won’t make it go away. Testing your home is the only way to find out if you have elevated levels, and mitigation ensures you can keep them under control.

Seven Proven Radon Mitigation Methods

Below are seven widely recognized strategies to reduce radon in homes. Each one tackles the problem a little differently, but all are proven ways to keep your indoor air healthier.

1. Sub-Slab Depressurization (Radon Fan Systems)

The most common radon mitigation method is called sub-slab depressurization. A fan and piping system is installed to pull radon gas from underneath your home’s foundation and vent it safely outdoors.

Why it works: Radon naturally rises through cracks and openings in your foundation. By creating negative pressure under the slab, the system directs the gas away before it seeps into your living spaces.

When to consider it: This is often the go-to solution for homes with basements or slab-on-grade foundations.

2. Sealing Foundation Cracks and Openings

Radon enters through even the tiniest gaps in your foundation, crawl space, or basement floor. Sealing these entry points with caulk or epoxy can help reduce the flow of radon into your home.

Pros: It’s affordable and relatively simple.
Cons: On its own, sealing isn’t usually enough — but combined with other methods, it boosts effectiveness.

3. Improving Home Ventilation

Sometimes the simplest approach is increasing air flow. Opening windows, using fans, or installing a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) can help dilute radon levels by pulling in fresh air and pushing out the old.

Best for: Homes with mild to moderate radon levels, or as a short-term measure until a more permanent system is in place.

4. Crawl Space Ventilation

If your home has a crawl space, it could be a major entry point for radon. Installing a ventilation system or adding vent fans helps move radon out before it rises into the living areas.

Pro tip: Pairing crawl space ventilation with a vapor barrier provides even stronger protection.

5. Sub-Membrane Depressurization

For homes with crawl spaces, another option is sub-membrane depressurization. This involves laying a durable plastic sheet (often called a vapor barrier) over the soil, then using a vent pipe and fan to draw radon gas from beneath the barrier.

This method is considered one of the most effective ways to deal with radon in crawl spaces.

6. Passive Radon Mitigation Systems

Some homes — especially newer constructions — include passive radon systems built into the design. These systems rely on natural airflow and pressure differences to direct radon gas outside without the need for a fan.

Upside: They don’t require electricity or moving parts.
Downside: If radon levels are high, you may need to upgrade to an active system with a fan.

7. Pressurization Techniques

In certain cases, homeowners can use fans to create positive pressure inside the home, preventing radon from seeping in. By slightly increasing indoor air pressure, this method pushes radon back into the soil.

Note: While effective in some situations, this method requires careful setup and isn’t as widely used as depressurization systems.

Comparing the Methods

Here’s a quick side-by-side look at the pros and cons of different radon mitigation methods:

Mitigation Method	Best For	Pros	Limitations
Sub-Slab Depressurization	Basements, slab foundations	Highly effective, reliable	Requires professional installation
Sealing Cracks	Any home	Low cost, simple	Not effective alone
Improved Ventilation	Mild to moderate radon levels	Inexpensive, easy to do	Limited effectiveness
Crawl Space Ventilation	Homes with crawl spaces	Reduces radon entry	May increase energy costs
Sub-Membrane Depressurization	Crawl spaces	Very effective	Requires professional setup
Passive Systems	Newer homes, low radon levels	No electricity needed	May need upgrading
Pressurization	Specific home designs	Can be effective short-term	Complex and less common

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Why Professional Help Matters

While some steps, like sealing cracks or improving ventilation, can be handled by homeowners, most radon mitigation systems are best installed by professionals. Certified radon contractors have the tools and knowledge to design a system that works for your home’s unique structure.

Remember, radon isn’t something you want to gamble with. A DIY approach might lower levels temporarily, but ensuring long-term safety usually requires professional support.

Staying Proactive

Radon mitigation isn’t a one-time task. Even after installing a system, regular testing is key to making sure levels remain low. Most experts recommend testing every two years, or sooner if you make changes to your home.

Radon may be invisible, but your peace of mind doesn’t have to be. By staying proactive and using proven strategies, you can keep your family safe and your home healthy.

Final Thoughts

Radon doesn’t announce itself with a smell or a sound, but it doesn’t have to be a mystery. With proven mitigation methods — from sub-slab depressurization to sealing cracks and improving ventilation — you can take clear, effective steps to protect your home.

The first step is always testing, and from there, choosing the method that works best for your situation. Whether you tackle simple improvements yourself or bring in a professional for a full mitigation system, you’ll be creating a safer environment for the people you care about most.