Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause lung cancer over long-term exposure to high levels. Every soil has the presence of radon, and they can seep through concrete and also small gaps in walls and floors.
Radon fans are successfully used to eliminate radon gas accumulations from houses and prevent further build-up. This is made possible by creating a negative pressure under the concrete floor, thus sucking the radon gas from there to the outside.
As you know, there are lots of radon fans available in the market, each claiming to be better than the other. But you also need to know what to look for before pulling your credit card out. You can contact a specialized company to advise you and assist you in the process of cleaning your home of radon, or you can do your own research. Both options are good to consider, but you should know the basics of the radon mitigating process either way.
This radon fan buying guide is an effort to help you choose a good radon fan with only the necessary features and nothing more.
Here is the list of the best radon fans which I selected after hours of research and testing;
- RadonAway RP145
- RadonAway GP301
- Fantech HP 2133
- Tjernlund PVC4
- Fantech HP 190SLQ
Radon Fans Comparison
Here is my comparison of the best radon fans.
  View Product |   View Product |   View Product |   View Product |   View Product | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suitable Duct Size | 4″ | 3″ | 4.5″ | 4″ | 4″ |
| CFM | 166 | 92 | 134 | 90 | 159 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 1 year | 5 years |
| Power rating (W) | 55 | 55 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
| Bottom Line | A powerful radon fan backed by decent warranty and quiet operation. Suitable for high flow situations. | Best low-flow fan for tight soil conditions. | Energy-efficient high performing radon fan. | A low-cost radon fan that gets the job done. | A good looking a powerful radon fan with low energy consumption. |
Best radon fans – Detailed Review
I hope you got everything you want to know from the above comparison table. If you are not still happy and want to know more about the radon fans I selected, please check my detailed radon fan review below;
1. RadonAway 23030-1 RP145 Radon Mitigation Fan
If you want a very quiet radon fan, this RadonAway product has to be on your list! It is not only affordable, but also it provides high quality in terms of radon mitigation that will change the quality of air in your house!
The RP 145 radon fan is perfectly adaptable to commercial and residential use and has a pleasant design. It provides zero leaking risk thanks to the seams sealed professionally.
And to increase the safety level while using it, the RadonAway fan comes with a thermally protected motor that will not bother you with any noise at all. The water-hardened motorized impeller is made of high-quality material and design, which only increases this product’s overall efficiency. The RP series of radon fans are perfect for most sub-slab radon mitigation systems. RadonAway RP145 comes with a manufacturer’s limited warranty of 5 years. This is also the most powerful fan in terms of CFM, and it can displace 166CFM of air. This is a quiet and powerful fan, which is why it is the first on my list of best radon fans.
2. RadonAway 23006-1 GP301
This radon fan’s name is very self-explanatory, and it is really what this fan does best: chases the radon away from your house!
It mounts easily on a duct pipe or with an integral flange, and you can set it up yourself. This product’s 3 inches diameter is perfect for attaching it to a 3″ or 4″ pipe.
The RadonAway fan is great for indoor and outdoor use, and it is known for being just as efficient in both situations.
It has seams sealed under negative pressure, and it can be very discreet once it is installed in the proper place. The GP series of radon fans is great for sub-slab radon mitigation systems and became very popular in a short period of time.
The product dimensions are 12.5 x 12.5 x 13 inches, and it weighs just 6 pounds. Like the previous model reviewed above, this also comes under a manufacturer warranty of 5 years. The main difference between the GP301 and its RP145 model is that this is suitable for low flow situations. It has the same power rating of 55W as the latter, but the CFM rating is only 92, which means that it is suitable for tight soil conditions.
3. Fantech HP 2133 Radon Fan
Another great option from Fantech is this HP 2133 radon fan that comes at an even more affordable price. If the radon levels in your space are not very high, this little fan is perfect for fixing the problem. By using this radon fan, you will avoid radon gas to intoxicate your home.
The fully sealed plastic housing of this fan is put together through a high-quality welding process. And thanks to its design, you won’t need screws or other tools to put it together to enjoy the benefits it offers!
There is no risk for unexpected leaks or contaminations, which takes multiple worries of the buyer’s shoulders! Another interesting aspect of this product is that it is a very versatile fan. It can be used successfully indoors, outdoors, or in wet environments. The motors’ quality makes this product a long-lasting radon fan that you can keep using for many years. The large electrical wiring enclosure is made to ease the installation process, so you won’t have to get a specialist to do this job. Fantech HP 2133 Radon fan also comes with an automatic reset thermal overload protection which increases your safety while using it.
4. Tjernlund PVC4 Radon Mitigation Fan
If you are looking for a more affordable radon fan option, the Tjernlund is a great product to consider. The system comes with a plug-in fan, exterior hood, and installer-purchased PVC pipe. Since this system is appreciated for evacuating through the basement wall, you can avoid having an external pipe attached to your house walls toward the roof.
The radon fan is created to adapt to a multitude of soils such as dirt or gravel ones and reduce radon just as effectively.
Also, the motor of this product is not exposed to the air stream moisture. The sealed housing and PSC permanently lubricated make the Tjerland radon fan quiet and very efficient. The main feature of the Tjernlund system is the 16 watts 4″ PVC radon booster fan, which is connected to the 4’’ PVC directly, and it comes with a 6 foot grounded power cord. All you will find in this package is meant to ease the installation process significantly!
5. Fantech HP 190SLQ Slimline Radon Fan
The Fantech HP 190 SLQ Slimline is one of the best-looking radon fans.
This product is made to ease the installation process and it comes with connectors that will help you attach it to the pipe.
By using this fan you will not need a pipe elbow in your radon system. The design of the Fantech is modern and discreet so that you don’t need to worry about hiding it because it will not ruin the design of your home.
As a matter of fact, this is a radon fan that can blend in any type of design without disturbing the background harmony! Another great advantage of this fan is that it will be as silent as you expect it to. Thanks to its connectors, the vibration that is naturally produced by this fan is isolated and the system is not in straight connection to the house. This eliminates all “structure-borne” noises and increases your comfort. The fan weighs approximately 12.0 pounds and comes under a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Quietest Radon Fans
Which are the quietest radon fans? In my short research I found three;
- RadonAway 23030-1 RP145 Radon Mitigation Fan
- RadonAway 23006-1 GP301
- Tjernlund PVC4 Radon Mitigation Fan
As you can see they are already reviewed above so I think it’s unnecessary to write about them again.
What size radon fan should I buy?
Unfortunately, there is no clear guideline for selecting the size of a radon fan. Every manufacturer has a fan size chart that connects the CFM of the fan to static pressure in the pipes but they only help to select a fan after trying different ones.
Generally, the right size of a radon fan for a house less than 1600 sq.ft is 50CFM at 0.5″ WC. This is true for both 3″ and 4″ pipe sizes. If the house is above 1600 sq.ft but below 2500 sq.ft then you need a 75 CFM fan at 1.0″ WC if the pipe size is 3 inches. If the pipe size is 4 inches in this case you only need a fan with 50 CFM at 0.5″ WC.
Important Parts of a radon mitigation system
Radon fan
The radon fan is the most important part of the radon mitigating system. Most often, this part is attached to the exterior walls of your building but this can also be connected in the attic if you prefer an internal system. As you can see from my selection of top 5 radon fans they come in different power and CFM ratings.
PVC Duct System
The PVC duct system is through where the radon fan exhausts the harmful radon gas from your basement. One end of this PVC duct is connected directly into a hole drilled in your basement’s concrete floor or it can be connected to your sump pump pit. This duct is, in most cases, 4″ in diameter.
Manometer
A manometer may be tiny but it is an important part of this system. Why?, because it indicates the pressure difference between the atmosphere and the inside of the pipe and seeing that difference is the only way of knowing whether your radon system is working properly or not.
Safety Siren
A safety siren is part of the mitigation system and raises an alarm if the radon levels go up. This siren works independently of the mitigation system though it is considered a part of. Radon gas is often considered to be the silent killer in many homes because it gives away no clues of its presence. This is why testing the radon levels in your environment is essential for the health of yourself and your family members. To put it shortly, this cancer-causing radioactive gas is not only dangerous but it can be deadly in high concentrations. The risk of seriously damaging your health due to radon gas is 1 in 100 when the radon level is at 4 pCi/L. But such dramatic consequences can be avoided by getting a radon fan and installing it properly in your home! So, take your pick from the list above and don’t wait any longer because every moment is important if you want to make a difference for your lifestyle!