Radon Reduction In Hot, Humid Climates: A Mold-Risky Ventilation Procedure with a Wonderfully Simple and Elegant No-Mold Solution
In most parts of South Florida, the soil depressurization
approach used elsewhere with excellent success will very rarely reduce radon levels at all.
As a result, It is extremely common for radon to be reduced by
dilution which is done by blowing unconditioned outdoor air into a home.
Mold is a serious problem in hot, humid climates. Scientists tell
us that mold not only destroys property, but it can also cause
serious health issues, especially in children and senior citizens.
Experience underscores the connection between simple radon
mitigation and mold in humid South Florida. It is simple. Blowing
humid, outdoor air into a home will make it wet all year long. Air
conditioners only run part of the time (and part of the year) and do
not begin to dehumidify until they have been running for 20 minutes
or more. Mold loves moist wood, furniture, clothing, shoes, books,
photographs, art, and just about all other houseshold furnishings.
Mold can destroy them all. Mold can reduce a safe, comfortable,
valuable home into an uninhabitable, unhealthy, uncomfortable,
stinky building that cannot be sold except at a very steep discount.
Amazingly enough, a carefully designed, elegantly simple radon system can make it all happen.
"Moisture Brain Dead" or "Moisture Dumb" Radon Reduction? Simple and Cheap
It is simple. All you have to do is drill a hole in the
wall and install a fan to blow outdoor air into the home to dilute
radon. It is simple, easy and profitable. The higher the radon, the
more air you blow. "Hey, I can do that. All I need to do is take a
two day course and pass a multiple choice test, and I am in
business." "I don't need to know anything about the
psychrometric chart, relative humidity, absolute humidity, moisture
loads, Δ t, grains per pound, air conditioner run
times, duct capacity and sizing, heat loads, SEER Rating, MERV 8
filters or any of that stuff.
If anybody asks about mold, I will just tell them that the air
conditioner will handle the moisture." "And if they get mold, I will
just tell them that the air conditioner must have failed, get a new
air conditioner." "Ain't nobody sued me yet." "Except that one time,
and then I just got a new business name and went right back to work
since I didn't have insurance that covered mold. I heard a
rumor that the real estate office ended up paying out about
$100,000.00 for the mold damage anyway." "But they keep it real
quiet." "Nobody talks about their mold problems 'cause they think it
will make their property hard to sell." "They call it
stigmatized property." ..."One other good thing is
that nobody will come behind me to check my work. Not the city, not
the county, not the state...nobody...not even the home inspectors
look at or inspect my work."
"Moisture Smart" Radon Reduction? Technology that is not quite as simple, but it is often the least expensive
- FIRST Find and seal up the accessible radon entry ports.
- SECOND Disable the defects that allows the air
coniditioninig system to "suck" radon out of the ground and out
of the concrete block walls.
- THIRD Check air conditioner dehumidification performance
- FOURTH Deliver adjustable trickle rates of HEPA filtered
outdoor air into the home
