Radon fan replacement and system repair
A radon system only protects you while the fan is pulling. Here's how to tell when yours needs attention.
Radon fans run day and night for years, so eventually every one wears out. Systems also get knocked around by remodeling, settling, wind, and Helena's long cold stretches. A quick look at the gauge every month or two and a retest every couple of years tell you whether the system is still doing its job.
Signs your system needs a look
- The liquid in the U-tube manometer is even on both sides
- The fan is silent, or it's started rattling, humming loudly or vibrating
- The system alarm is sounding
- Ice is building up at the exhaust, or a pipe joint has cracked or pulled loose
- A retest shows radon back near or above 4 pCi/L
- You finished the basement, added on or cut into the slab after the system went in
- The house went through noticeable ground shaking and you see new slab or wall cracks
How long does a radon fan last?
It depends on the model, how hard it has to work and where it's mounted. An outdoor fan in Helena deals with hot, dry summers and subzero January nights. If yours is old or getting noisy, a radon company can check whether to replace it with the same model or one sized differently for your system.
Should I retest a house that already has a system?
Yes. Montana DEQ recommends retesting at least every two years and after significant changes to the building. A short-term test is enough for a routine check, and DEQ suggests an independent tester rather than the company that installed the system.
Upgrades worth asking about
- An audible or visual alarm so you know right away if the fan stops.
- An added suction point after an addition or basement finish.
- Relocating a loud fan, or rerouting an exterior pipe that ices up every winter.
- Resealing new cracks or a sump lid that no longer seals.
Can I replace the fan myself?
Montana doesn't license radon work, so nothing stops a homeowner from trying. But fans are wired in and sealed into the pipe, and the wrong fan can underperform. A certified mitigator can match the fan to the system and confirm the result with a test.
We don't publish or quote prices. The radon company prices the job after it understands your foundation, and usually after someone has walked through the house, so treat any figure given over the phone as a starting point, not a quote.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How do I read the gauge on my radon pipe?
It's the U-shaped tube with colored liquid. With the fan running, the two sides sit at different heights. If they're level, the fan has probably stopped or the pipe is blocked.
Is some frost at the exhaust normal in winter?
A little frost at the outlet in deep cold can happen. Heavy ice that narrows the pipe, or a fan that stops, needs a service call.
Related services
More background: Montana radon guide.
Radon result came back over 4 pCi/L?
Call and get connected with a Helena-area radon company that can look at your foundation and design a system.