How Long Does Radon Mitigation Take?
You're in the middle of closing on a house, your inspection found high radon, and the clock is ticking. The good news? Radon mitigation is fast. From start to finish, the physical installation generally takes less than a single day.
The Standard Installation Timeline
Most Active Sub-Slab Depressurization (ASD) systems can be installed in a matter of hours. The complexity entirely hinges on the size of your home and the architectural route required.
- Initial Diagnostic & Routing (1-2 Hours): The contractor evaluates the foundation type, checks soil permeability (sometimes drilling small test holes), and maps the ideal route for the PVC exhaust pipe.
- Floor Core & Sealing (1-3 Hours): A 4" or 5" core drill cuts down through the concrete slab into the crushbed below. The contractor then seals massive cracks or sump pump pits with polyurethane sealant to prevent pressurization loss.
- Pipe Network & Fan Install (2-4 Hours): The PVC pipes are routed up through the home, exiting via the roofline. The radon suction fan is mounted, usually in the attic or explicitly on the exterior wall.
- Manometer Activation & Cleanup (1 Hour): The fan powers on, and a u-tube manometer is attached to the visible pipe in the basement to verify suction pressure. Equipment is cleaned up.
Average Total Time: 4 to 8 Hours
When Things Take Longer
You will rarely hit the 4-hour mark if your home features multiple foundation types. Below are the three main reasons your project could extend into a second day:
1. Crawl Spaces
If your home has a dirt or gravel crawl space, the ground must be perfectly sealed before a fan is mounted. A heavy-duty polyethylene vapor barrier must be unrolled, cut to fit the pillars, and meticulously taped to the foundation walls. This process is grueling and can easily add 3 to 6 hours to the job.
2. Finished Basements (Drywall Tear-Down)
Routing a 4" PVC pipe through a perfectly finished basement ceiling often requires drywall patching after the mitigation system is run. Certified mitigators will cut precisely, but they will not do the spackle and tape. You may need to hire an independent handyman an additional day.
3. High Permeability / Multi-Drop Systems
Homes larger than 2,500 square feet running across massive slabs may not receive enough depressurization from a single suction pit. Contractors must map an underground network connecting two or even three suction points across the property.
The Post-Mitigation Clearance Test (2 to 7 Days)
Your timeline isn't completely finished once the van pulls away. While the system starts working immediately, a verified post-mitigation test must run for a minimum of 48 hours to confirm the levels have dropped safely below 2.0 pCi/L. Adding shipping time to a lab, you won't have the final clearance certificate for closing until 4 or 5 days after installation.
Start The Clock Today. Do it safely.
Need a certified mitigation team dispatched instantly? Locate the closest experts to calculate your costs.
Find Quick Contractors