Radon Levels Remain Elevated

Question

I recently purchased a home. During the inspection there was measured radon levels of 6.3 PiC/L.
After having a professionally installed radon mitigation system, an electronic sensor indicates an unchanged level of 6.3. The system was installed 5 days ago.
The contractor noted clay soil underneath the basement slab.
What strategies can I employ to reduce my radon levels further? Should remain optimistic about reducing the levels below the WHO guideline of 2.7?

xeeka · Answer

A gas or oil burner in the basement could produce a small vacuum if that burner takes the combustion air out of the room where it is installed.
If the basement windows and doors are closed, the radon could be sucked into the basement via cracks and openings in the walls/ground slabs.
Newer burners do get the combustion air through the exhaust pipe (counterflow in a ring).
Also other equipment could provide a tiny vacuum in the basement, f.e. fans blowing outward.
The layer(s) just below the first solid building layer and next to the walls under ground should always be made of material to break the capillary effect, f.e. small pebbles. This will avoid water getting sucked into the basement.
The radon can free flow in these pebble layers, and one way to reduce the radon level is to suck the air from this layer and blow it to the Lee side or over the roof of the building.

Radon Levels Remain Elevated

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