Menu
When a radon mitigation system is installed in your house, it includes a manometer. Radon Manometers are a quick way to check that your system is pulling radon from the ground below your home so you can rest assured the radon levels in your home are not getting out of hand.
A manometer is a U-shaped tube that measures air pressure. It has liquid that indicates if there is suction within the radon system. If the liquid in the tube is uneven, your system is properly suctioning gasses out of the ground and into the air outside your home. If the liquid is even, your system may not be functioning correctly and might need maintenance.
Manometers do not measure radon gas levels, which is a very common misunderstanding. They only measure the air flowing through a radon mitigation system. When the manometer is installed, a small hole is made in the radon pipe. A tube connected to the manometer is inserted into the hole and secured in place. As air passes through the radon pipe, the air flows into the tube, causing the liquid in the manometer to move. The liquid in the U-shaped tube should always be uneven, signaling air is flowing through the radon pipe. If the liquid is even, the radon fan is likely not working.
If your manometer’s liquid is even in both tubes, this often indicates that the fan inside the system is not turned on or running correctly. If the fan is unplugged, simply plug it back in! If it is plugged in but still not functioning, you may want to check that the outlet is receiving electricity. If you have a GFCI outlet, press the reset button between the two plug locations. If this does not solve your problem, check your circuit breaker to ensure electricity is available for the outlet.
If your outlet is functioning and the fan is plugged in, but the manometer is still reading even, please call the radon company that installed your system (or us!) to perform any necessary repairs on your system.
