radonmitigation

Actually, WHO reduced their action level to 2.7 pCi/l in 2009. http://www.aarst.org/images/US_Highligh ... ndbook.pdf http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-332212

The monitor that you have is giving a long-term average so you're not going to see the levels jump up and down by turning the system off and on (only a grab sampler has that functionality.) The display is only going to show the average of the levels since the last time the data was cleared. So if the monitor was reading 8 pCi/l for 2 months (for example,) and your levels were reduced to 1.5 by installing a mitigation system, your monitor would not accurately reflect the 1.5 reading until all of the old readings averaged-out against the 1.5 current levels. However, if you hold the button down for a minute or two (until you see "CL" on the display), you can clear the data out of the monitor and it will begin a fresh, new measurement. The monitor will stay blank for 48-hours before displaying the new reading. This is one of the reasons that I am fairly confident that the system is working. You mentioned that the readings on your monitor started dropping shortly after the installation without having cleared out the old data. Once you clear the data and get a fresh reading, you will see that the levels are now very low. I tried to explain this to you on the phone when we spoke last, but you hung up on me before I got that far. Believe me, a lot of people have these monitors and they expect to see the levels plummet the day after the mitigation system is installed yet they are unaware of the way the monitor stores the data (even if you unplug it from the wall.) Once we explain to them how to clear it, they clearly see the impact that the mitigation system had on the radon levels. Mr. Katen is correct in the fact that the monitor that you are using is not approved for professional radon testing so any result that you get from using it should be verified by additional (approved) testing methods. From what I've seen, they are usually accurate within +/- 20% when used properly and we would be happy to do some verification tests with calibrated instruments in conjunction with your monitor to determine its accuracy.

Michelle: The system is working. Perform a radon test for any duration that you choose (48-hour, 30-day, 90-day, 1-year...) and you will see that it is working. We would be happy to perform the test or you can hire an impartial third-party to do it. If the test shows that the levels are elevated, we will make any and all necessary repairs to correct the problem. We will even pay for the third-party test if it fails! If you'd like, I can stop by with a radon grab sampler (which gives real time, instantaneous radon readings) and take measurements both with the system running and with it turned off and you will see that the system is working. We can even take radon measurements below the slab, in the air stream of the system, or anywhere that you choose. Obviously, a longer-term test will give you a better indication; but hopefully this demonstration would put your mind at ease for the short-term. If there are any provisions of the warranty that you are unhappy with, let's discuss it. It's not etched in stone. Within reason, I can modify it to where you're comfortable with the wording. Mitigating radon is all that we do and we've been doing so since 1988. We know what works. The method used for your home was not experimental; it's been done thousands of times with great success. No offense to any of the bloggers on this site, but Michelle; you are getting a lot of information from people who have never installed a radon system in their lives. They are citing excerpts from EPA documents that have not been supported by the EPA for over 5-years. We are willing to work with you in every way possible and I don't think that any of the solutions that I have offered are unreasonable by any means. I'm sure the Attorney General will agree that there is nothing fraudulent about installing an effective radon system in your home and they will be just as confused as I am as to why they would be brought into this. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to respond. I hope that we will have this matter resolved very soon.

Michelle: It was a pleasure talking to you on the phone today. As I explained in our conversation, you will see from performing some post-mitigation radon testing that the system is working properly and your radon problem has been fixed. If for any reason the system malfunctions, we will repair it free of charge.

The reason that the system was designed/installed the way that it was is based on several unique factors about your home: 1. Your home is fully buried below grade so there is no direct pathway from the slab to the outside. 2. The entire area of the lowest level of the home is finished living space (which would require a significant amount of destruction/disturbance to tap directly into the slab and route the pipe to the outside.) 3. The home has the heating and cooling ducting (both supply and return) embedded below the slab. Tapping into the air space below the slab could adversely impact the efficiency of the home. The method used is effective at mitigating radon by depressurizing the aggregate (loose soil) around the outside perimeter of the footings. Once a post-mitigation radon test is performed you will see that the radon levels inside the home are now in check. The post-mitigation radon testing can be performed by us or a certified third-party company. Please contact us at your convenience so we can make arrangements to get this done. And rest assured that if for any reason the system is not performing properly, we will make repairs free of charge. Sincerely; Air Quality Control (517) 322-2999 mattn@radonmail.com