How Does a Radon Mitigation System Work?
You've tested your home. Your radon levels came back above Health Canada's guideline of 200 Bq/m³. Now what?
A radon mitigation system is the answer — and the good news is it's not complicated, it's not invasive, and it works. Here's exactly what goes into one and how it brings your radon levels down.
First, What Is Radon Doing in Your Home?
Radon forms naturally when uranium in the soil breaks down. It seeps upward through the ground and enters your home through any point where the building contacts the earth — cracks in your foundation slab, gaps around pipes, floor drains, sump pits, even tiny pores in concrete.
Your home is slightly depressurized compared to the soil beneath it. That pressure difference acts like a vacuum, pulling radon-laden soil gas up and in. Regina's cold winters make this worse — homes stay sealed tight for months, giving radon nowhere to go but up into your living space.
A mitigation system flips that equation.
Sub-Slab Depressurization: The Gold Standard
The most effective and most common radon mitigation method is called sub-slab depressurization (SSD) — sometimes called active soil depressurization. It's what Health Canada recommends and what C-NRPP certified professionals install.
Here's how it works in plain language:
1. A hole is drilled through your foundation slab. Usually in the basement or mechanical room, a small hole is cored through the concrete floor to access the soil or aggregate underneath.
2. A pipe is inserted through that hole. A PVC pipe runs from the suction point below your slab, up through your basement, and exits through the rim joist or up through the home and out the roof — similar to how a plumbing stack works.
3. A radon fan is attached to the pipe. A continuously running fan creates negative pressure below your slab. Instead of radon being pulled into your home by the natural pressure difference, the fan pulls it in the other direction — drawing it out from under the slab and pushing it outside through the pipe, where it disperses harmlessly into the open air.
4. The system runs 24/7. The fan never turns off. It's low wattage — similar to a light bulb — and runs constantly to maintain that negative pressure field beneath your foundation. That's why the electrical connection matters: it needs a reliable circuit that's always on.
How Fast Does It Work?
Faster than most people expect. Health Canada data shows radon concentration dropping from around 2,500 Bq/m³ to under 100 Bq/m³ within 24 hours of the fan being turned on. The system starts working the moment it's switched on.
Most systems bring radon levels down by 80–99%.
What Does the Installation Actually Involve?
A typical residential radon mitigation install takes one day. Here's what happens:
The C-NRPP certified contractor assesses your foundation type, slab composition, and where the pipe will run
A suction hole is cored through the slab — usually 3–4 inches in diameter
The pipe is routed to the exterior or up through the home
The radon fan is mounted and connected to a power source
The system is tested to confirm negative pressure is being achieved below the slab
There's no major renovation involved. No tearing up floors. No disruption to your basement beyond a small hole and a pipe on the wall.
What About Homes With Crawl Spaces or Sump Pits?
Not every home has a poured concrete slab. Here's how mitigation works in other situations:
Crawl spaces: A gas-impermeable membrane is installed over the exposed earth or gravel floor. Active suction is then applied beneath the membrane to draw radon out before it can enter the living space
Sump pits: If your home has a sump basin, it can often be integrated into the depressurization system. The pit is sealed and used as a suction point — a common and effective approach in Regina homes.
Multiple suction points: Larger homes or homes with complex foundations may need more than one suction point to achieve full coverage beneath the slab.
The Electrical Side
The radon fan needs a continuous power source. Where that receptacle gets wired matters more than most people think.
The smart approach — and what we always recommend — is wiring the fan's receptacle off a bedroom lighting circuit. If that circuit ever trips, your bedroom lights go out that night and you know immediately your fan is down. Same logic as smoke detectors. Passive monitoring built into your daily life.
A dedicated circuit tucked away in your mechanical room gives you no indication if something goes wrong. Your radon levels could climb for weeks before you'd kno
Does a Mitigation System Need Maintenance?
Minimal. Here's what to stay on top of:
Visual check the fan periodically. Most radon fans have a U-tube manometer — a small indicator on the pipe that shows whether the fan is creating suction. If the fluid levels are equal, the fan may have stopped.
Retest your radon levels after installation. Wait at least 24 hours after the system is running, then do a long-term test (minimum 3 months) to confirm levels are below the guideline.
Retest every 2 years. Radon levels can change over time as your home settles or soil conditions shift.
Ready to Get a System Installed?
Begone Radon is a Regina-based, certified radon mitigation company. We assess your home, design the right system for your foundation type, and install it properly.
If your test came back high, don't wait. Health Canada recommends mitigating within one year for levels above 200 Bq/m³ — and sooner if levels are significantly elevated.
