Are there DIY radon mitigation options, or is it always necessary to hire a professional?

I've discovered high radon levels in my home and I'm wondering about DIY radon mitigation options versus hiring a professional. Are there effective DIY methods for reducing radon levels, or is it always necessary to bring in a professional? What are the pros and cons of each approach, including considerations like cost, effectiveness, safety, and any potential impacts on home resale value?

Radon often enters homes by seeping out of the ground. Opening windows may lower the concentration of radon in the home.

If the home has a crawl space, then adding vents in the crawl space can lower radon levels inside. If it has a basement, leaving a window open in the basement can lower radon levels in the main living area. You could get more proactive, by leaving a bathroom ventilation fan running constantly in the basement with a window cracked in the main living area.

If your radon levels are only slightly elevated and you're handy, DIY may be feasible. But for levels above 4.0 pCi/L, or if you want peace of mind, resale value, or system certification, hiring a professional is often the better long-term choice.

Welcome to the forum!

From what I understand this is all about ventilation.  Something on the order of what Joseph suggested.

Maybe some big fans to circulate the air to the outside.

We bought a radon detector which helped immensely to figure out the areas of our home that were consistently problematic. We used it for a month or two then sold it on ebay for about 30% less than I paid. Easy, accurate and helpful. We also hired someone because they can do it so simply and we were new in our forever home with young kids. If I recall, they sealed a crawl space under an addition that was dirt with heavy plastic and installed the big vent thing and I think that was it. The detector readings dropped dramatically and we called it done and done well.

If you like learning and DIY'ing new and very particular things like this, I'm sure you could do it yourself. You can also call or have a pro out to get an estimate and to learn from. Without wasting their time, or maybe paying to consult for an hour, you can learn so much from the pros. Either way, a digital detector is a big help.

We had a radon-mitigation system at our last house. It was there before we were, so I don't know the details, but from what I saw, it appeared to be collecting radon below the basement slab and venting it out above our roof. So if you're doing it yourself, that seems like a good way to go -- get it gone before it even enters the envelope of your home.

I live in radon risk area..we are advised to either
A) ventilate: build pipes under the house with a propeller that whisks the radon out via a chimney pipe
B) insulate the floor religiously
C) build a radon pit next to the house.

Christopher Weeks wrote: So if you're doing it yourself, that seems like a good way to go -- get it gone before it even enters the envelope of your home.

It appears that for new builds in my province, this is now part of the code, and yes, the systems I've seen are designed to intercept it under the foundations and send it out before it enters the living areas. However, at least one system I've seen pictures of, it is not rocket science, so I have no doubt that if one is capable of doing basic upgrades/renovations, I suspect many permies could fix up a system that works.

The more we seal our houses, the greater the risk from radon, so making sure you have a way to ensure good air exchange will also reduce the risk. If your house is in a high risk area ( https://bccdc.shinyapps.io/bcradonmap/  this shows how different areas of my province have lower or higher risks) and retrofitting will be too difficult, it sounds as if a really good air to air heat recovery/ventilation system would decrease the risk of humans getting sick.