How Is your Sump Pump negatively impacting your health by Sourcing Radon ?
Connecting a radon mitigation system directly to a sump pump is generally considered a bad idea because it can inadvertently draw more radon gas into your home, especially if the sump pump isn't properly sealed, creating a negative pressure that pulls radon from the soil through cracks and gaps in your foundation, essentially acting as a vacuum for radon gas instead of removing it.
Key points to understand why this is problematic:
Negative pressure:
When a sump pump operates, it can create a negative pressure around the sump pit, which can pull radon gas from the surrounding soil into the house through any available pathways.
Interference:
Both systems operate by displacing air or water and have similar operational concepts. Each system, while operating, will affect the efficiency of the other, reducing its effectiveness. When the Radon system is operating in a sump pump environment (depending on the suction power), it can negatively affect the check valve of the sump pump unit and cause premature failure or produce whistling or clapping sounds while in operation.
Improper sealing:
Even if a sump pump is designed to handle radon, any small gaps or leaks around the connection point can allow radon to enter the house.
Radon mitigation system design:
A properly designed radon mitigation system should have a dedicated vent pipe that is routed directly outside to ensure the radon gas is effectively removed from the house, not channeled towards the sump pump
Dedicated radon mitigation system:
Consult a qualified radon mitigation professional to install a separate system with a dedicated vent pipe that is properly sealed and directed outside.
Important note:
In RADON MANITOBA we do not install a mitigation system in the Sump Pump well or incorporate 2 systems in one.
However, we can modify the already installed system and reroute it properly.