Radon fans are the heart and soul of a radon mitigation system. This more of an allegory than a fact, but without a radon fan a radon system is not considered to be an active system but an inactive system, one with no moving parts. On all active radon mitigation systems it is primarily the radon fan that gets the job done, with some help from the vent pipe.
The best radon fans are those that do the job required of it. In other words they are properly sized to sufficiently reduce the radon to an acceptable level, in an efficient manner, with a relatively minimum amount of noise and power consumption. It is long lasting radon fan that has a good warranty and was purchased at a competitive price point. It is most likely made in the United States.
AMG radon fans, made in the USA are the best radon fans. OK that is my opinion and may or may not be a fact. I don’t believe I am prejustice, but based on my experience of having installed many hundreds of radon fans from several manufacturers, at this time, based on fan quality, warranty service, overall performance and value for the cost, AMG Radon Fans are my go to fan company for about 95% of fans I use in my business. I used to use a lot of RadonAway and Fantech fans almost exclusively from 2007 to 2014. Fantechs quality dropped off quite a bit several years ago and I had a lot of issues with both RadonAway and Fantechs warranty service, ended up eating the cost on several fans that I could not get warranty service on. I know both of those companies have revamped their lines of fans, hopefully they’ve also revamped their quality control and warranty service also. I occasionally order a new model of fan from different companies to try them out, but for now AMG Radon Fans are my #1 choice. .
You can only ask so much from a small, cheap radon fan. The most popular radon fan is very often not the best radon fan, and certainly not for every job. Just because a particular radon fan is the most popular or cheapest fan, or the most readily available or sells more than any other radon fan, does not make it the best radon fan. The Toyota Corolla was the best-selling vehicle worldwide, again in 2019. It is somewhat sporty compared to some cars, very dependable and capable to a degree depending what you ask of it. But it is woefully inadequate and in most countries illegal for transporting more than 5 people. However, every vehicle with third row seating can likely transport 6 or more people legally and much, much better than a Toyota Corolla. The same is true of radon fans. A small, relatively cheap radon fan can only do so much. The fact is that on some jobs you can get away with a small, cheap radon fan and it will reduce the radon, and other jobs you cannot.
One size radon fan does not fit all jobs. The only way you know if a radon fan, as part of a radon mitigation system, is doing a proper job of reducing radon, is to test the radon level after the radon mitigation system is installed. Only when the average radon level is shown by a proper test to be below 4.0 pCi/L (the further below 4 the better) does one know that the radon fan was properly sized. There is a reason there are over 100 different sized and powered radon fans. One size does not fit all.
I find it suspect and a disservice that so many radon mitigation contractors do not test the radon levels after they install their radon system to confirm that the fan was properly sized and performing the job it was intended to do. When they are called on it, or asked why not, they usually spout back something about a conflict of interest. But more often than not the homeowner is totally and on purpose, left with the impression, “The radon system is installed, no more worries, you are all set.” But, that impression stinks out loud when the homeowner is selling the house and the buyers home inspector does a radon test revealing excessive radon levels that must be fixed in order to sell the home. The homeowner also realizes, since no test was ever done since the system was installed, they have been living in a high radon house while thinking everything was fine since they had a radon system installed. I’ve entered into a scenario like this dozens of times, because that radon system installer is not to be found or will not return. Very often the solution or fix to the failed radon system is diagnosing and installation of the proper size radon fan; Which replaces the small, cheap, “most popular and best radon fan sold in the USA” – NOT! Not for that job anyways.
The old adage “buyer beware” holds true for both radon mitigation systems and replacement radon fans. It is a smart consumer who does their homework prior to hiring someone or a company to do almost any type of job, but especially one that your family may depend or for safety and piece of mind. The same radon mitigation contractors, if you can call them that, who don’t bother to test to see if their radon fans are properly sized to actually reduce radon to a sufficient level, will be ever so happy to charge you top dollar to replace a more powerful and more expensive radon fan, with their small, cheap, “most popular and best radon fan sold in the USA.” I’m not saying most radon mitigation contractors act in such manner, but some do, so be smart.
OFF TOPIC TIP: Genuine online reviews and to some degree the Better Business Bureau can tell you a lot about most companies including radon mitigation companies, i.e. how long the’ve been in business and how reputable they are, and how they handle problems when they come up, etc. Most radon mitigation contractors and those you might call for radon fan service only do radon as a side jobs or as a side line from their main line of work. Hense their actual radon experience may be limited and well as their commitment to their service. From what I’ve seen here in central New York in the past 20 years, there are very few full time radon companies that make a go of it, those that do, usually last no more than a few years or so.
I have to admit, there are a lot of new radon fans that have come out in the last couple of years and many I have not tried yet. At least some of them most likely are quality fans that will work well in a given application.
Hope this info was helpful for you.
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