Radon Systems can make homes more comfortable and much healthier places to live. A first class radon system is an excellent investment and can protect your family's heath and property from unnecessary deterioration. And it can increase your home's fair market value and make it easier and quicker to sell,  BUT...

*How Much Can Your Rely on What Some Radon Folks Tell You? CLICK and another  CLICK

*What about Permits?

*Key Benefits of Moisture Control: Click

*The Humidity Problems of Energy Recovery Ventilators ERVs in hot, humid climates: Click

*A Product that has made a number of condos uninhabitable from mold: Click

*Moldy Odors, Origin and Solutions: Click

*An Obvious Reason for an Intake Filter: Click

*Tips for HomeBuyers: Click

* What about referrals from Radon Testing Firms? Click

Your "Radon Expert"... Is he truthful? Or is he trying to sell you a flawed, but highly profitable system by making false and fabricated statements?

1. Phoney, totally fabricated Equipment Claims (see image) The phone number has been changed to 407-349-3931, but it is still the same business, same owner. This blower was removed from a serious mold problem condominium. It was hidden in the ceiling above the drywall. It ran 24/7, and unless your were an electrician, you would not have been able to turn it off. Reversing the Mold Issue in this home cost over $6,300.00. The new owner had bought the mold infested home at steep discount because of mold splotches and strong moldy odor. At the time of sale, neither the seller nor the buyer knew that there was a concealed radon system in the home. The home inspector missed it completely. Who should pay for for the restoration and cleanup of mold damage? If a child had gotten sick in that moldy environment, who should pay the medical bills and compensate the child and parents for making him sick?
   1. ARL Approval...Totally False... How many folks would bother to check to see if he was truthful?
   2. "EPA protocol" Radon Mitigation System...False  EPA has no protocol for mechanical ventilation radon reduction
   3. Patent 5131887...Totally False, a bold, brazen claim that he thinks you will never check up on.
   4. Patent 6328647...Totally False, a bold, brazen claim that he thinks you will never check up on.
2. Logos of every type that he can find included on his web...thinking that you will assume he really is a member or has the approval of all those organization. Or that he follows their Code Of Ethics. Why don't you check to see if he really has the authority to use this massive collection of logos...He bets that you will not bother to do so. Most of us do not expect to see such bold and false claims, so we asssume he is truthful. Look for yourself and check the membership lists for each of these logos
3. Claims about Energy Recovery Ventilators
   1. That they will maintain low indoor relative humidity in hot, humid climates False
   2. That they will keep your home dry enough to prevent mold in a hot, humid climate...False, they are not dehumidifiers and only add moisture in a  hot, humid climate, they cannot and do not remove moisture from indoor air... THE TRUTH: In a  hot, humid climate energy recovery ventilators actually act as humidifiers when indoor relative humidity increases. In other words, In a hot, humid climate, ERVs work the worst at controlling moisture when moisture control is needed most...and they actually make the moisture, mold and moldy odor problems worse. ERVs work well in climates other than hot, humid climates like southwest Florida.
   3. That they are energy efficient in hot, humid climates False...
   4. That they have excellent filters that are easy to maintain False...Filter maintenance is a messy, burdensome, time consuming task, and it needs to be done about six times a year. It the intake filter becomes clogged, which quickly occurs, your home will become depressurized and suck in radon from everywhere in the building to actually raise radon levels. Did anyone warn you about that?
   5. FACT: If you have an energy recovery ventilator in a hot, humid climate, you will probably turn it off and never use it once you realize that it is actually creating mold and moldy odor problems when you use it. If  you turn it off, it will do nothing to control radon. With ERVs in hot, humid climates you can expect indoor relative humidity to rise to 65% to 69%. And if you have the presence of mind to connect your mold and moisture problems to ERV operation and contact the seller, he will try to blame it all on the air conditioner and try to sell you a new air conditioner or a costly dehumidifier. EPA says to control mold, you should keep indoor relative humidity to 50% or less. EPA: a Brief Guide to Mold
   6. FACT: ERVs cannot pressurize a home to block radon entry, which is a well recognized and efficient method of radon mitigation. Since dilution is the only method of radon reduction ERVs have left, they must rely on increasing the air exchange rate is dilution. By doing so, they become much more expensive to operate and the higher ventilation rate adds even more moisture to the home.

FLASH! Can you imagine the look of the face of this new condo buyer when he first sees the radon system that was installed on the lanai of his new condo? It seems that someone other than the buyer picked out the radon system that the buyer is expected to live with. Although the Florida Radon Regs require labeling, there is no indication whatsoever of who installed this jarring example of poor radon system design and workmanship. There is a much better way. Radon Mitigation in Florida is like the wild, wild west. Some Radon Mitigators continue to get away with anything they dare from outright falsehoods (see image) to concealing major defects that they know will cause property damage and illness. They do it all in reckless disregard of the harmful consequences to others. Because no government agency inspects or approves their radon installations. And they have been getting away with it for  years. 

 

Photos of a Recent"Not So Pretty"  Installation Compared to a RadonMan Generation IV installation:

I encourage you to read all the way down to see RadonMan's installation

A Recent, Exposed Radon System Installation (Mechanical Ventilation) How would you like to see this every time you went out on your lanai? A remarkable installation in a Naples premium condo near the center of town.  . No intake filter of any sort on this system. Any mosquitos or small insects that pass by will be captured and quickly sucked into the airstream and spit out into the interior of the home. Bacteria and molds love to feed on wet insect body parts.

There is a much better way: a carefully designed and engineered, humidity controlled, Trickle Ventilation system that is installed out of sight

RadonMan bid on this project, for installation of a Generation IV system. (see below for the proposed RadonMan installation) It is believed that the seller saved several hundred dollars by selecting this technology instead of RadonMan's Generation IV approach.

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Note where the hot, humid air is dumped into the living room. You can see part of the grill that is not hidden behind the curtain. Unless the drapes are kept away from the air blast, they will quickly get wet, dirty and moldy from the unfiltered, hot, humid air blown against them from timed "Blasts." There is a much better way.

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This indoor-only rated Christmas tree timer is plugged into an outdoor weatherproof-rated outlet with a spring loaded cover that will not close over the timer. Note the non-grounded adaptor so that the radon blower can be operated as a non-grounded circuit in violation of Electrical Code. It may not be long before this timer will fail from corrosion in the wet, outdoor environment, perhaps in the "ON" position that will ensure a quick mold destructive result. How do you turn this radon system OFF? You have to unplug it and then plug it in again when you want it to start reducing radon again. If this Christmas tree timer fails in the "ON" position, and the owner or tenant forgets or does not know to uplug it, a $20.000.00 to $50.000.00 mold remediation cleanup and restoration could be required. See Example but click on thumbnail.  There is a much better way.

 

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The S & P blower in this installation is a very good piece of equipment. It is just not well suited to this application. RadonMan flow testing shows that this unit will blow about 130 cubic feet per minute, much more than is required for radon reduction in this home. RadonMan says that in a hot, humid climate like south Florida, 130 cfm of outdoor air 24/7 can add about 130 pounds of water every day to soak into the home, greatly adding to the air conditioner's dehumidification burden. Likely an additional moisture load for an air conditioner that is already working hard. It is no wonder that radon systems often create mold problems and mold damage. It is reported that the installer said, "The air conditioner should take care of the extra humidity." (Emphasis supplied.) On that simple assurance, the decision maker chose to gamble that it would. Taking that mold risk could become a very costly mistake for him and for the homebuyer. Unless this installation is turned off or greatly modified, mold is almost a certainty...Just to save the seller a few hundred dollars. "But when it happens, we will blame the moisture and mold problems on the air conditioner!"   "And the owners have always believed us."

Actual air delivery rate of this single speed blower? 130.8 cubic feet per minute. In this hot, humid climate, that amounts to approximately 130 pounds of water added to this home each day. Initially, the furniture, carpets, drapes, books, drywall will "suck" the moisture out of the air as if they were dehumidifiers so indoor relative humdiity will appear to be low for months until they become saturated and the indoor realtive  humidity measurements will quickly rise. Then the mold will begin to show up.

 

 

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Now compare the above installation to a RadonMan Generation IV installation that cost slightly more than the installation above.

The air intake includes a 2-3 year life Honeywell HRF-1 HEPA filter that will remove 99.97% of mold spores, pollen, dust, smoke, soot, airborne chemicals, radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses. Certainly no wasp, hornet or mud dauber nests with this filter...and no additional allergy and asthma triggers either:

The Honeywell HRF-11. It looks like an automobile air filter, but it is definitely not. This filter will need no attention for two to three years. It can be exchanged for a new filter in less than two minutes without even getting dirty hands.

Air Delivery Grille Inside the Home:

The very compact, yet powerful blower is located inside the wall between the air intake filter and this grille. This system is detuned to deliver slightly over 19 cubic feet per minute into the home. Final radon level 2.2 picoCuries per liter. Wiring is concealed out of sight behind the drywall. Very quiet.

 

Radon System Control Panel:

Green LED indicates system operation, analog meter reveals system perfomance level. This installation achieved 2.2 picoCuries per liter operating at 1/2 power.

 

Radon Test Results:

Radon entry points concealed inside wall cavities: Seal two major radon entry points, and much less outdoor air is necessary for desired radon reduction. The first is of the electrical power entry conduit from underground. It is common for some radon mitigators to tell you what you want to hear and to claim to seal these penetrations but not to do it because it is a labor intensive task and easier just to add more air...and nobody checks to see if it has been done anyway. And the mold probably won't show up for a year or two, and when it does, we can just blame it on the air conditioner.

The second is the point where the freon lines for the air conditioner pass through the slab hidden from view inside the wall. It is very common that a great deal of soil gas and radon enter a ground floor home through these penetrations. Sealing must be as successful as sealing a hole in the hull of a boat. Of course the drywall must be restored to original appearance. And of course, RadonMan does restore it.

Airflow of this Generation IV installation after detuning performance and achieving 2.2 picoCuries per liter.

 

RadonMan always recommends that the home buyer and not the home seller select the radon system installer and the radon system with which he and his family will have to live.

RadonMan also believes it is a serious error in professional judgment for a real estate professional in the transaction to suggest otherwise.

RadonMan believes that a radon system should not be installed until after closing and after the buyer has taken possession.

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If There is Anything you should Remember, You Should Remember This:
Building Scientists Say: In a hot, humid climate, outdoor air usually holds lots of moisture or water vapor. When this hot, wet air is brought into an air conditioned (chilled) home, the moisture will tend to condense everywhere. When the materials soak up the condensed moisture to a moisture meter reading of about 21% moisture, mold can and will grow everywhere. Bacteria too. And you will likely begin to smell them both until you get used to the odors. Then you won't smell them at all. But your guests will smell the odors for about thirty seconds every time they come to visit. UGH! Homebuyers too. Mold and bad odor cleanup and remediation is costly and inconvenient. Your clothes will pick up the odors, and the odors will follow you everywhere you go. Even though you don't smell them, the people around you will. UGH! The USEPA states that if you wish to prevent mold, you should keep indoor relative humdiity below 50%. Not easy to do if your radon system is adding hot, humid air to your home all the time or when the Christmas Tree Timer tells it to run and you have not unplugged it.

For A Fascinating, "Must Read" Article Click Here

There are three kinds of radon mitigation systems that use outdoor air to dilute radon and to pressurize a home:

1. RadonMan "Moisture Smart" Robotic Trickle Ventilation Systems that use:

   •  Moisture-sensing robotic electronics and variable speed blowers to reduce the air trickle rate when outdoor air is wet and increase the air trickle rate when outdoor air is dry. Operation is fully automatic and occurs minute-by-minute.

   • Occupant sensing robotic systems to turn the radon system on automatically when the home becomes occupied and automaticallly turn it off 24 hours after it becomes vacant and radon reduction is not needed.

   • A powerful, automatic "Indoor Air Flush" system to flush the radon and  other contaminants out of the home for one hour when the home becomes occupied again.

   • A long life (2-3 years) High performance HEPA or pleated filter to keep pollen, mold spores, red tide toxins and organic mold food (insects and other critter body parts) out of the ducts to keep the ducts free and clear of mold and bacteria growth and to keep allergins and asthma triggers out of the breathing zone and out of your family's lungs and sinuses.

   • A RadonMan optional extra is a small, compact, high performance dehumidifier that can be installed almost anywhere in any size home at very reasonable cost. (Just in case you may already have a slight moisture problem...Hmmm, good idea)

2. "Moisture Dumb" Always-running-when-you-leave-the-switch-on "Blast" Systems.

   • The occupant must often remember to turn the radon system off when the home starts to get wet and back on when it dries out. (If he can find the often unmarked switch) And if someone has told him to look out for mold and realizes that he needs to do it.

   • He must also remember to unplug the system or turn it off when he leaves the home for a few days or more.

   • He must also remember to turn the system back on when he returns

   • No filter at all or a homemade filter tucked into a reconverted clothes dryer exhaust hood that needs to manually disassembled and cleaned every 30 to 60 days. Wasps, mud daubers and hornets easily get past these filters to set up houskeeping and to raise their families inside the ducts.

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3. "Moisture Dumb" Christmas Tree Timer "Blast" Systems that get turned on and off several times a day by a Christmas Tree Timer. To turn it off, you must unplug the Christmas Tree Timer. You must then reset it to the correct time when you plug it back in.

   • To turn it off, you must unplug the Christmas Tree Timer (often hidden above the ceiling) or turn off an often unmarked switch.

   • The Christmas tree timer is located in the lower left of the photo and hidden above the ceiling with no markings at all.

   • This concealed radon system was completely hidden from view above the ceiling and ran all the time.

   • The owner of this condo never knew he had a concealed radon system until the mold cleanup of his mold-damaged condo began and he called RadonMan in as a consultant.

   •  No one knew they had to turn the radon system off when the home got too wet and the mold started to grow everywhere. They did not even know that the controls were hidden in the dropped ceiling space.

   • Who installed this Christmas Tree Timer radon system and hundreds more at the same location? The same radon mitigation firm most highly recommended by the owner of a  testing firm who calls himself a radon and mold expert and displays every logo and certificate available on his website.

   •   http://www.radonmoldhelp.com/id48.html

   • What About TRUST and Referrals?

   •  Years ago, this radon measurement business owner bragged to me that he makes over $20,000.00 per month. (That was even before he got into the mold testing business.) He also bragged that he controls radon installations in 47 condo complexes and that he would make sure that I never got a radon job in any of them. In over ten years, he has not referred a single radon project to me. Perhaps it is only a simple coincidence, but, for over fifteeen years, I have refused to pay kickbacks for referrals because I found that phony test results would come in with a wink and an expectation of an even more generous payment. The last kickback I paid was in 1996 for $5,000.00 by check to a radon testing firm. I can only recall six referrals that I have received in the past decade from a  a home inspector and not even one from a radon testing firm.

   • The following different model blower (with no Christmas Tree Timer at all) was used in some units in this same complex. This complex is known to have serious and recurring mold problems. Despite the claim on the label, the system was not installed EPA protocol and did not meet any EPA protocol. The name of the business that installed this blower is correct but the phone number has been changed to 407-349-3931. A person who has a system like this installed in his condo and has mold problems certainly knows who he should call to pay for mold cleanup and property damage and for his children's reaction to mold exposure. Both the installer and his radon and  mold expert testing partner who refers radon and mold cleanup business to him claim he has at least a one million dollar liability insurance policy. click also click.

   • *  This fan system was removed from the dropped ceiling space of another condominium at the same complex that was uninhabitable because of mold. At the time, of removal, it was still running. If you contact ARL (Applied Research Laboratories, Miami, FL) you will learn that this blower is not listed by them. If you contact the USEPA patent office you will learn that these are phoney patent numbers that were "lifted" from a completely different device developed and owned by a completely different person without his knowledge or consent.

   • * This is a condo in a different complex with a concealed radon system that was running all the time without anyone knowing it. The owner has left this unit in this gutted condition for over a year. Bad mold problems require that a condo be completely gutted like this one. Unless the concealed radon system is turned off, this may be the ultimate result. The owner/landlord may have been warned by his attorney that a tenant may sue him for mold exposure that resulted in serious illness. RadonMan believes that there are approximately 300 similar mold-prone installations by the same mitigator at this complex alone.

   • * This condo (in the same complex as the one above) has been completely gutted and rebuilt with all new materials. The concealed radon system is still intact and running. All of the new materials will experience the same moisture problems from continued radon system operation and the mold will likely return before long. The owner did not believe me when I told her the concealed radon system caused the mold problem. She refused to believe that the condo even had a concealed radon system because there were no markings. The mold remediators had no idea that the condo had a concealed radon system, but they were happy to  have the mold remediation work.

   • *This is a pressure gage on a closet wall of a serious mold issue condo with a concealed radon system. It is a very powerful clue that the condo has a radon system hidden in the dropped ceiling. The high pressure reading indicates that the very short life filter that has been installed on the outside of the home is totally blocked with dirt and that the radon system is not reducing radon at all. Ironically, had the filter been maintained every 30-60 days to keep the radon system operating, the unit would have exerienced more severe mold problems much earler. The entire radon system was concealed above a plastic panel in the ceiling of the guest bedroom closet. It was impossible to reach the Christmas tree timer to turn off or to unplug the radon system. It ran 24/7 for years. The condo had a mold problem for years.

   • This is the type of air intake for the concealed radon systems in both of the condos above. Unfortunately, home inspectors very rarely look for concealed radon systems in their normal inspections. It is likely that they will begin doing so in the near future. Failure to identify a concealed radon system and warn a buyer/client could be a serious liability issue, especially because of the severe cost of mold remediation and risk of adverse health reactions to mold exposure. This is the exact air intake for the mold remediated condo two paragraphs above. If you have an air intake that looks like this, it is likely that you have a radon mitigation system that has the capability of creating serious moisture/mold issues and causing respiratory, asthma and allergy reactions.

   • Note the radon system air intake immediately above the clothes dryer exhausts. Radon rules and regs require that air intakes be separated from clothes dryer exhausts by ten feet or more. An arrogant, clear and deliberate violation of common sense and the rules. "No one ever inspects radon work at all, so we have been getting away with it for years."

4. RadonMan believes that owners of these properties have suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars mold damage losses, and some residents and tenants have suffered serious mold-related illnesses as well as property losses as a result of the mold caused by these radon mitigation system installations. The proof is very easy. The mitigators who installed these systems and the "Expert" radon and mold testing firms who arrogantly recommend them exclusively, constantly brag about all the insurance that they have. Lawyers and logic suggest that it may not be long before their insurance is cancelled.

News Flash 10/11/10: Concealed Radon Mitigation System Nightmare causes mold, destroys property, makes occupant seriously sick

Before you hire a Florida radon mitigation firm who wants to install a mechanical ventilation system, read this by Joe Lstiburek, PhD, a world renowned building scientist and moisture expert, one of RadonMan's mentors. CLICK HERE AND especially check out slides 13, 14, and 15. P.S., you will need to click on Download.pdf 1.5 MB  in the upper right corner of Joe's web.

In Collier County, FL many radon systems add enough air and water vapor to create new and serious mold problems. It is not air conditioner failure. It is too much moisture added to the home by the radon system.

Radon System Hornet Hotel: Radon Air Intake System Hornet Hospitality; a Rotting Hog's Hair Filter provides concealment. See third image.

A Rotting Hog's Hair Filter grows bacteria and mold as it decays.

Hornet Hotel: Radon System Hospitality Suite for hornets and mud daubers

The Hog's Hair Filter was an "Open Door" to this Radon System Deluxe Suite for Hornets. (Very, Very Common)

A "Cookie Cutter" radon mitigation firm installed thousands of these defective, concealed radon systems in Florida. This installation was one of hundreds at this one location in Fort Myers, Florida.

These "Dryer Hood"  radon intakes are fragile. The following photo is of a damaged clothes dryer intake on the opposite side of the same building as above. "But hey, who cares? We made our money. Let's go install a few hundred more."

A radon business without a conscience can make lots of money, fast, installing thousands of what have turned out to be defective radon systems. And nobody seems to have paid attention ...Until Now... "The salesman was such a smooth talking fellow that he quickly gained my trust. And his installations seemed so attractive and neat when he did them. But now I have mold and odor problems."

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Notice: This Site is undergoing Major Revisions

Please CLICK HERE to go to www.radon1.info for new, useful information

But feel free to come back for detailed information

RadonMan, Inc.
Prevents Mold in Florida
239 272-7375

RadonMan Generation IV radon mitigation technology is now available: For details on the remarkable advantages of Gen IV systems, contact the Building Science Expert at 239 272-7375 (hint...better performance, lower cost, improved mold prevention, 2-3 year life HEPA filters keep your lungs, ducts and home clean and allergen-free.)

Radonman does not recommend or install ERVs, Energy Recovery Ventilators for Radon Mitigation in Hot, Humid Climates WHY? CLICK  for 13 good reasons...

Why should you be suspicious of a Radon or Mold Testing Firm that recommends and sings the praises of only ONE radon mitigation firm?  CLICK coming soon (especially in Hot, Humid Climates) more coming soon on "home cookin" and "wild west" ethics

HOMEBUYERS in South Florida: Find out if the condo you are considering has a CONCEALED RADON SYSTEM. RadonMan believes that there are thousands of them. Ask your home inspector if he knows how to identify and to evaluate these condos. Few home inspectors even look to see if a home has a concealed radon system that can create mold nightmares and sicken occupants. CLICK for short video

 

Insider's Facts for those who want the real facts:

News FLASH... but don't forget to come back... WOW! Check out this Florida Radon Mitigator's work. MOLD PROJECT by "expert" radon mitigator CLICK HERE. He is now an "expert" mold remediator too. The building he is working on reveals what happens when a radon system (especially concealed radon systems) or something else adds moisture every day over many months. NOTE: he does not reveal why these units have serious mold problems. WHY? Because likely he has no idea why the mold is a problem in this building. secret: It is not the bathroom fans. AND unless he finds and corrects the TRUE cause of the mold problem, the building will remain wet or become wet again and MOLD WILL CERTAINLY RETURN. Unwittingly, he has revealed his lack of knowledge regarding mold causation and building science as well as exactly why mold prevention is extremely important in radon mitigation. SHHHHH And it appears he hasn't a clue. He and  his radon/mold measurement and "consultant" partners (all three with every certification that they can buy)  have been making false statements about  me and my technology  for years...and I am not going to take it any more. Check out the phony patent claims on their equipment removed from a concealed radon system installation with major mold damage and sick occupants CLICK ..If you check out the patent numbers you will find that they belong to Jon Traudt of Omaha Nebraska, and the patents have absolutely nothing to do with the labeled device. This mold-producing device was developed by William Levy of Associated Radon Services. It was originally called "Pulse Technology" when it was operated by a $7 table lamp timer.  I think he, as an engineer, should have and did know better. Levy is the person who applied for and obtained the permits for the installation of hundreds of concealed radon systems at this location/condo complex.

• Radon mitigation in Florida is an almost totally unregulated "Cowboy/Wild West" industry.

• No government entity or anyone else inspects radon system installations before, during or after completion.

• Radon mitigators can do anything they want without worry that anyone will check their work ...so they rarely care about design or mold prevention so long as the installation looks pretty and workmanlike. Besides, mold and moldy odors will not show up for months or sometimes even years. 

• Florida Certified Radon Mitigators have no one checking their work for anything except radon reduction (usually by one of their pals, whom they pay to do the test). And it is usually the same guy who steered the client to them in the first place.

• In Florida there is no continuing education requirement to ensure that certified "experts" are kept up to date on anything. (Unlike every other profession with annual mandatory continuing education required for certification renewal.)

• The mold that results from radon mitigation by mechanical ventilation does not show up for months and sometimes for as long as seven years. It is extremely rare that anyone recognizes that the true cause of the mold is the steady, daily dose of moisture (water vapor) that the home gets each day from radon system operation.

• At least one radon mitigation "expert" has installed many concealed radon systems in condos that have destroyed property and made adults and children sick AND made mold-smelling properties nearly impossible to sell without very deep price discounts. The mold problems and sick children's allergies and asthma have been blamed on air conditioners because the mold-causing radon systems are unmarked and so well-concealed. (see video below, scroll down or click) Identification and proof are very easy once you know what to look for. Very few home inspectors look for concealed radon systems.

• When these cases will go to trial, juries may award substantial punitive damages for reason that the "experts" or "consultants" knew or should have known of the foreseeable personal injury consequences of their installations in reckless disregard of building science principles and especially considering the health consequences to children and adults.

• Especially in a hot,  humid climate, if radon mitigation by mechanical ventilation results in radon levels of 1.2 to 2.5, it is a RED FLAG that mold will be coming soon due to over ventilation with hot, humid air unless expensive, energy hog dehumidifiers are installed. Every radon mitigator should know this and make sure that it does not happen. Foolishly, some "experts" even brag about how low they got radon reduced. What they do not know or just don't tell you is that mold is coming.

• Joining a bunch of organizations and getting (purchasing) lots of certifications to place logos on a web site reveals that a person is trying to cloak himself with respectability and "soften up" a prospective customer for his sales spiel. Boldly, some radon "experts" with the most logos on their sites have not bothered to actually join or perhaps pay their dues to such organizations. The most qualified and true experts I know never do it, ever. Check out John Tooley, Jim Cummings, Jim White, Joe Lstiburek, Neil Moyer, Ron Bailey, Subrato Chandra, Max Sherman, anyone at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, any member of the National Institute of Building Science or the Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council, or anyone at the Florida Solar Energy Center.

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Radon Mitigators in Florida should know and practice Good Building  Science CLICK (Or else their customers will likely suffer serious, delayed mold problems) This article was written by mentor and personal friend of mine, Joe Lstiburek, PhD, Professional Engineer of the Building Science Corporation.

1. When these radon mitigation and measuring "experts" tell you about their insurance, do they tell you that their insurance does not cover resulting mold problems? That it does not cover serious resulting mold health issues, that it does not cover property damage or reduction in fair market value due to mold and moldy odors?

2. In most cases, it does not. Ask them to show you their mold insurance policy and look for EXCLUSIONS, Mold.

3. Ask them to provide you with a certificate of insurance that covers resulting mold problems that includes you as a named insured. It is simple: Insurance companies are accustomed to providing certificates of insurance for named homeowners. Ask for and get a certificate of insurance to make sure you are getting the truth in writing.

4. They will not let you see their insurance policy or deliver a certificate of insurance to you. (including the radon testing firm that steered you to this radon mitigator)

5. Mold  insurance is extremely expensive and for good reason.

6. Ask them to provide you with a written guarantee that their radon system installation will not cause mold problems, and if it does that they will restore  your property at no cost to  you.  They will refuse to put it  in writing.

7. And if the radon mitigator claims he gets a permit, ask him to give you a copy of the permit. Lying about permit requirements is very common in this cowboy industry.

"SOMEONE" HAS BEEN TRYING TO SILENCE RADONMAN, INC.

OUR SITE WAS HACKED AND THE VOLUME TURNED DOWN ON OUR VIDEOS IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT YOU FROM HEARING THE TRUTH.  Another "Someone" does not want you to know or to hear about the risks of mold and sick children that their "best buddy's" radon systems can cause. SEE FOR YOURSELF just how low they will stoop: http://www.radonmoldhelp.com/id48.html and click on the URL immediately following : The Radonman is my hero:"     ON THE SAME PAGE, YOU WILL SEE THE ONLY RADON MITIGATOR THAT THEY WILL REFER FOLKS TO. Not three, just one. Why just one?

 Notice  how the "special buddy" tries to conceal that his radon systems have no mold protection features and to conceal that he does not know how to prevent mold. SEE: http://www.radonfix.com/index1.htm His panic is made obvious by the fact that he has obtained the first mold remediation license issued by the state of Florida in an attempt to make himself look like a mold expert. It is just a matter of time before owners of mold  infested properties realize that the mold in their home or condo was caused by a MECHANICAL VENTILATION radon mitigation system. Soon many owners will begin filing claims against multimillion dollar insurance policies of radon mitigation as well as radon and mold testing firms who made referrals to a single radon mitigator who installed radon systems that created serious mold problems and made children, adults and pets sick from mold exposure. And that is not to mention tens of thousands of dollars property damage and fair market value reductions resulting from mold infestations. Trial Lawyers love million dollar insurance policies, especially personal injury attorneys.

BEWARE: In a hot, humid climate, Mold is often an issue even before even more moisture is added by a "radon system."

Basic Fact #1: A mechanical ventilation, system, including ERVs (Energy Recovery Ventilators), add water as water vapor to your home every day.  This water vapor condenses and soaks into your home and causes mold. Undisputed Fact! And the ERV Installation King now admits poor moisture control on his web in paragraph 6 at CLICK Moisture and mold problems with ERVs in hot, humid climates are common, and he knows it. And he does not know how to prevent it. RadonMan can retrofit ERV installations to prevent mold problems...but it must be done before it becomes too late. If you have an ERV and mold problems, RadonMan can fix it as long as you have not waited too long.

Basic Fact #2: Since your home probably started out like a dry sponge, it may take months or even several years of soaking up moisture before it gets saturated enough to grow mold. Dry sponges do not grow mold and sour. Wet sponges do. Undisputed Fact!

Basic Fact #3: Just because your air conditioner cools the air down not mean that it dries the air. In order for dehumidification to occur, the air coming out of the air conditioner must be about 56 degrees F or less. Many air conditioners cannot cool the air to 56 degrees F which is a critical dehumidification temperature. Undisputed Fact!

Basic Fact #4: In south Florida, a hot, humid climate, mechanical ventilation systems deliver about one pound of water each day for each cubic foot per minute of air that is blown into a home in 24 hours. Undisputed Fact!

Basic Fact #5: Many mechanical ventilation radon systems in south Florida deliver approximately 100 cubic feet of outdoor air per minute. How many pounds of water is added to  your  home each day by the radon system? How much of the time is your air conditioner actually running? How much moisture is removed from your home when the air conditioner is not running? What happens to the moisture if the air conditioner does not remove it?

Basic Fact #6 Despite claims to the contrary, ERVs add about 40 pounds of water to a  home each day they operate. They only remove part of the moisture from the air that is coming in. But even more importantly, when indoor relative humidity gets high, ERVs start to work less well in drying the air that they bring into the home. RESULT? ERVs work worst when dehumidification is needed most. ERVS work very well in cool, heating climates for which they were designed. In hot, humid climates, ERVs have a frequent history of creating moisture and mold problems. ERV salesmen claim that this is not true, despite clear and convincing evidence that it is true, and they know it. And besides , the mold probably won't show up for 18-24 months, and when it does, just blame it on the air conditioner. The homeowner will not catch on, and the air conditioner guy will be happy to install a new air conditioner for $5,000.00 to $7,000.00. And when the mold doesn't go away, the air conditioner guy will just sell a dehumidifier, too. Everybody wins except the  homeowner. And the homeowner's insurance will not pay for the mold cleanup since it is excluded by the requirement of a sudden catastrophe, not a slow molding-up process. And running the dehumidifier will increase his electric bill considerably more than he is told. And the home or condo owner doesn't have a clue of the "quicksand" he is going to step in unless he reads this web... because the sales scheme system works perfectly if the owner does not know the facts. And as a final insult, when he goes to sell, his  FMV may be reduced. The word about Mold, ERVs and mechanical ventilation is spreading. ERVs are becoming Home Buyer Repellant!

RadonMan achieves radon reduction goals without creating any moisture, mold or odor problems 98.3% of the time.

Why Choose RadonMan, Inc in a hot, humid climate?

Because RadonMan is the only radon mitigator in the USA who will guarantee that RadonMan's Advanced NO-MOLD Protection Technology will prevent radon system-caused mold problems in hot, humid climates.

No other radon mitigator in hot, humid climates will make such a bold statement and back it up with a three year limited warranty in writing.

Mold In Alligator Alley:

Great article on mold, moisture and Florida Foolishness in home construction by Joe Lstiburek, PhD., Building Science Corporation:

 Concealed Radon System

New Video 2/15/10:

(as it makes your home wet, moldy, and foul-smelling)

 

RadonMan can and will deliver a no-mold limited warranty from radon system operation. No one else can or will guarantee it in hot, humid climates! Ask 'em...

RadonMan doesn't "buy" membership in every radon organization that exists. RadonMan does not try to "dress up" in a cloak of respectability by "buying"  a bunch of logos to put on his web. What kind of a business would try to fool you like that anyway?

Call me and talk to me, You will quickly understand that I am a naturally curious, straight-talking building scientist who learns something new nearly every day. 239 272-7375 right now!

As a result of my long term R&D (since 1988) I have designed and currently manufacture hardware and electronics that get the job done reliably in hot, humid climates, first time and every time (98.3% of the time.) Nobody else has it.

You would be amazed to see entire condo complexes (even extremely expensive ones) that have badly designed and installed concealed  and revealed radon systems that have caused serious mold, odor, property destruction and serious occupant health problems from mold exposure. Come to Naples, and I will give you a personal tour. Such installations are all over south Florida. There may be tens of thousands of them,

 Victims (as well as some radon mitigators) have been wrongly laying the blame on air conditioning failures when it is really the radon systems that create the moisture, odor, mold and  health problems. (asthma, allergy, rash, headache, upper and lower respiratory, brain function impairment.) If you recall the 70's, you likely remember LSD, which was derived from mold growing on rye. It took only the tiniest speck to have a profound effect on brain function.

The dirty little secret is finally being exposed.

December 29, 2009 News Flash: Joe Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, of the Building Science Corporation releases a detailed explanation of why mechanical ventilation can create moisture and mold problems  Click Here WEB: http://www.buildingscience.com

Mentor Dennis Dietz, PhD, of American Aldes in Sarasota, FL. SEE: Humidity Link to Human Health Examined WEB: http://www.americanaldes.com

Mentor Jim Cummings is an active ASHRAE member and program director at the Florida Solar Energy Center who has kindly shared his knowledge with me for many years. For an example of the quality of his work, SEE:  http://www.ashrae.org/docLib/20090715_cummings.pdf

The ASHRAE bookstore has many publications that have helped me to find answers to moisture and mold problems SEE: http://tc112.ashraetcs.org/content.html

 

 wayne@radonman.net     239 272-7375 you can reach me right now

Video on Concealed Radon Systems
Visits  

 Video 2: Radon System Benefits. Mechanical Ventilation Benefits

Video 3: Radon System-Created Mold and Moisture Problems in hot, humid climates. What your radon mitigator doesn't want you to know and hopes you don't find out until it is too late. Coming Soon.

Video 4: Why Serious Mold problems caused by radon mitigation in hot humid climates are kept secret (especially from homebuyers) by almost everyone. Coming Soon

Video 5: Why is RadonMan the only radon mitigator who will talk about radon system-created moisture and mold problems in Hot, Humid Climates?

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Scientific Findings Resource Bank (IAQ-SFRB) The best, easiest  to read Indoor Air Quality Conclusions available

Radon Mitigation can create Mold City click here

WARNING! Things are different in Florida and other hot, humid areas.

THE FACTS...not wishful thinking:

1. When outdoor dewpoint is 65 degrees (very common in Florida and other hot, humid climates) a fresh air radon system will deliver an average of one pound of water a day for each cubic foot per minute of fresh air the radon system delivers into a  home.
   • Radon systems commonly use 100 cfm blower systems.
   • RESULT: a radon system can easily load a home down with an extra 100 pounds of extra water a day.
     
2. At an outdoor dewpoint of 74 degrees ( quite common in Florida and other hot, humid climates) a fresh air radon system will add about 234 pounds of water a day to a home's interior.
3. RESULT? It does not take long (but sometimes as long as four years) for a completely dry, mold-free home to get wetter and wetter until it experiences severe moisture, mold and moldy odor problems.
4. And ERVs (Energy Recovery Ventilators) only make the wetting process take a little longer.
5. Air conditioners can only very rarely handle the unexpected, extra moisture load.
6. Installing a new air conditioner will not solve the moisture, mold and odor problems
7. An air conditioner that is not actually cooling is not dehumidifying!

BUT there is a dirty little secret as to why such radon systems do not always create mold problems.

The dirty little secret involves a low capacity filter that quickly loads up with dirt and chokes radon system airflow to nearly nothing within a few weeks. Little ventilation air and little water vapor can pass through a clogged up filter that was installed. RESULT: No Mold...but radon levels skyrocket as airflow is choked off within a few weeks. So if a radon mitigator does not want his radon system to create mold and moisture problems, he will install a high maintenance, quick-clogging air filter that will shut off fresh air and keep out the water vapor.

If you have any doubt these facts are true, I encourage you to ask any Mechanical Engineer or any Air Conditioning expert.

Check the weather report to see daily dew point temperature in Naples, FL click here: Naples, Florida Dew Point Temperature You may be surprised.

Many homes in Hot, Humid Climates have suffered from new mold problems after a radon system was installed...And most  home inspectors will not tell you.
Homebuyer? Concealed radon systems are common in south Florida...most home inspectors will not tell you...Most lawyers don't know.  Why is semigloss or satin wall paint a red flag for mold? Especially fresh paint? What is the most powerful and reliable clue to a concealed radon system that you can recognize in seconds? How many  months does it take after some radon systems are installed before the mold problems start to appear?  Can a radon mitigated home with mold problems be fixed at reasonable cost? Why should you look for a home inspector who guarantees to tell you if a home has a concealed radon system? We know that Energy Recovery Ventilators are a good choice in heating climates, but are they a good radon mitigation choice in hot, humid climates? Why do most radon mitigators avoid any discussion of mold on their web sites? Do any radon mitigators put up stickers warning of mold problems after they install a radon system? Why do they do it? Why do they attempt to disclaim liability when mold problems result?  Are these stickers easily removed?   What do the stickers look like? Why don't they talk about it on their webs or in their proposals? Does their professional insurance cover any mold damage that may result from their radon system installations? Why can high efficiency air conditioners increase the likelihood that a home will  have a mold problem after a radon system is installed? How many pounds of water do some radon systems add to an air conditioner's dehumidification load each day? 10 pounds? 50 pounds? 100 pounds? 200 pounds of water each day? What is an air conditioner's delta t performance? Why is it extremely important? Why can delta t performance measurements be very deceptive and lead to severe mold and humidity problems? Can an existing air conditioner be retrofitted to improve its dehumidification performance at reasonable cost? Why should a radon mitigator always check for air conditioner duct leaks? Want to know more?
For Free Radon Problem Insider Secrets that some people do not want you to know until it is too late: