Demystifying radon mitigation systems
Contributed by Christin G. Crocker
Executive Director, Maine Indoor Air Quality Council
MAINE HOMES are more likely to have radon problems than those in many other areas of the country. Here, one of every three Maine homes likely has radon above EPA minimum action levels. In Cumberland County, that number increases to two of every three Maine homes. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer among the general population.
There’s only one way to know if you have a radon problem in your home, and that is to test it. All homeowners should test for radon in air, and homeowners with private wells should test their well water, too. If test results are high (i.e., above 4.0 picocuries per liter in air and above 10,000 picocuries per liter in water), a mitigation system should be installed.
These simple graphics explain how radon mitigation systems work, what they will look like in your home and the general costs to install them.
RADON IN WATER MITIGATION SYSTEMS
The cost of a radon in water mitigation system is typically between $6,000 and 8,000, about equal to or less than other common home repair projects, such as kitchen or bathroom upgrades or installing new windows and doors.
RADON IN AIR MITIGATION SYSTEM
In Maine, it generally costs less than $2,000 to install a radon in air mitigation system in a typical single-family home. Compared to other significant home upgrades, like switching out a heating system or repairing a roof, the ticket price isn’t unwieldy.
Resource: The Maine State Radon Section maintains a database of licensed radon mitigators.
This article appeared in the Spring 2025 edition of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES. Subscribe today!
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