Winter-Proof Your Radon System: Prevent Cold Weather Failures
When winter hits, your radon mitigation system faces unique threats from extreme cold, snow, and ice, which can lead to costly failures and a dangerous spike in radon levels inside your home. Continuous cold-weather maintenance is absolutely necessary.
The primary winter threat is moisture freezing inside the exterior vent pipe. Condensation from the air being drawn up through the pipe can freeze, causing a blockage that forces the mitigation fan to work against a wall of ice. This extreme stress can burn out the fan motor, which is an expensive repair. Furthermore, a blocked pipe can cause the radon gas to back up and leak into your home.
The mitigation fan itself, often located outside or in an unheated attic, is also vulnerable to snow and ice accumulation that can interfere with its operation. Additionally, the manometer (the U-shaped gauge that shows your system is running) can fail if the fluid freezes, leaving you with no way to know if your system has stopped working until you conduct a new radon test.
To keep your system running safely all winter, Radon Systems LLC urges homeowners to perform a visual inspection after heavy snow or ice. Check the top of the vent pipe for visible blockages and ensure the fluid levels in your manometer are still uneven, indicating proper suction.
Don't wait for your radon fan to fail. Contact Radon Systems LLC today to schedule your essential winter maintenance service!
