Earthorizons Inc. Radon Mitigation

Bob Burns is AARST certified and is the most experienced radon mitigator in the Black Hills area. He has been installing radon mitigation systems here since 1989. His son Murray has been on the team since 2013.

Questions about radon risk? Consult the EPA's Citizen's Guide to Radon.

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Radon levels can fluctuate throughout the year based on a variety of conditions including wind, rain, and temperature. If your level was found using a short term (2-4 day) test kit and the level is between 4-8 pCi/L, the EPA recommendation is to conduct further testing using a long term test kit (3-12 month). These can be purchased at Menards or online.



What is a sump pit? A sump pit is a pit in the lowest area of a house where ground water can collect and be pumped out of the house to prevent flooding. They are usually made of black plastic, with a diameter of 20" and a depth of a few feet. If a house was built with a sump pit, it will usually have a draintile running along the foundation that terminates in the sump pit.
Why does this matter for radon mitigation? A sump pit with a draintile significantly reduces the cost of radon mitigation. A radon mitigation system tied into a sump pit will easily create suction throughout the draintile, pulling air from around the perimeter of the house where it normally leaks in through the gap between foundation and slab.


What is a crawl space? A crawlspace is an unfinished area between the first floor of a house and the open ground. If a house has no basement or only a partial basement, the rest of the first floor sits either on a concrete slab or over a crawlspace.
Why does this matter for radon mitigation? Crawlspaces that are open to the ground freely let radon enter the home. To reduce the amount of radon entering through a crawlspace, a durable plastic air barrier may be installed over the ground and sealed to the foundation. Installation can be labor intensive, and may cost $3-$5 a square foot. In cases where air barrier installation is impossible or unaffordable, a crawlspace ventilation system can be installed without the plastic. This second option may increase the heating bill of the home and is not guaranteed to work on its own.