How Long Does Radon Mitigation Take, and What Happens on Install Day?
One of the most common questions from homeowners who are ready to schedule is how long this actually takes. The short answer: most jobs are done in a single visit. Here is the longer version.
From First Call to Scheduled Install
Most jobs are scheduled within a few days of first contact. That can stretch during busier seasons, but a short wait is usually accurate.
If you are working toward a closing deadline, say so when you call. We can confirm whether we can meet the date before you commit, and we will work around it if we can.
What Happens on Install Day
Most residential installs take two to four hours. The timeline varies by foundation type and how the pipe needs to be routed, but a straightforward job on a slab-foundation home is often done in under three hours.
Here is the general sequence:
- A quick assessment of the slab and foundation before drilling
- One or more suction points drilled through the slab
- PVC pipe run from the suction point through the home and to the exterior
- Fan mounted and connected to the pipe
- Visible slab cracks and gaps sealed
- Manometer installed and baseline reading confirmed
Before leaving, the crew walks you through how to check the manometer and what normal operation looks like. There is not much to it — the reading should stay consistent, and if it changes noticeably, that is the signal to call.
How Quickly It Works
The system starts working as soon as the fan is on. Radon levels in the living space typically drop within 24 to 48 hours.
If post-mitigation documentation is required for a real estate transaction, a follow-up test is usually done during that 24 to 48 hour window. Your contractor can coordinate the timing with whoever is handling the testing.
What to Have Ready
Not much preparation is needed on your end. If there is storage or shelving directly against the planned pipe route, moving it beforehand speeds things up. Otherwise the crew handles the rest.
Make sure someone is home for the install — the crew will need access to the basement and attic or exterior wall depending on the route.
For Buyers and Sellers
Radon mitigation comes up often in real estate transactions, and the timing question matters more in that context. If you are buying and need a system installed before closing, call as early in the process as possible. Getting on the schedule early leaves more flexibility if something shifts.
More on the real estate side: buying a home with elevated radon and selling your home when radon comes up.
Ready to Get on the Schedule?
Call or request a quote and we will confirm availability for your area. Most jobs in Greater Chicago are scheduled within a few days.
More about what a completed system includes: our mitigation systems →