Protecting a Home from Water and Radon in Campbellsville, KY

Thursday, November 14th, 2024 by Jack Purdon

Challenge

This homeowner had an existing radon system that was effectively keeping harmful gas away from their living space. However, built-up hydrostatic pressure under and around their foundation put their radon system at risk as tiny cracks began to form, allowing radon gas to seep into the home. The homeowner noticed this and attempted to seal the cracks as they appeared, but as we all know, sealing cracks is only a temporary solution. Concerned about harmful gas slipping through, they called us for help.

Our inspector, Joey, reassured them that this wasn’t the first time we had waterproofed a foundation with an existing radon system, so there was no need to worry. He devised a plan to waterproof the foundation while ensuring the harmful gas had no chance of escaping into the home.

If you already know what a radon system is, you can skip this section:

Radon is a harmful, odorless, and invisible gas that comes from the soil, with levels varying by geographical region. The only way to detect radon exposure in a home is through testing.

A typical radon system consists of a large fan that extracts gas from beneath the house and vents it outside through a PVC pipe. Gravel beneath the foundation helps channel the gas toward the system. However, if a high water table saturates the gravel, it can reduce the effectiveness of the depressurization system.

Prolonged radon exposure can lead to respiratory issues, so it was crucial to install the right waterproofing system to keep their radon system functioning properly.

Solution

With his experience and training, Joey knew exactly what this homeowner needed and devised the perfect plan. We planned to install our full interior perimeter waterproofing system with a few key modifications.

Typically, our subfloor drainage system includes a wall flange with holes to catch leaks running down from the walls. However, in this case, we needed to ensure the wall flange was sealed to prevent radon from seeping through our drains. To further protect the system, we recommended installing our BrightWall wall panels. These panels would help seal the WaterGuard system, cover the stained walls, and direct wall leaks into the drain.

This home had a block foundation, which is particularly susceptible to cracks forming in the mortar joints, leading to potential wall leaks. Our BrightWall wall panels will help the WaterGuard catch the wall leaks, as the panels tuck into the drains, and they will keep moisture and gas out. We also recommended installing our TrenchLock trench drain near the stairwell door. The TrenchLock features a specialized sealing system, which you can see in the images below.

For maximum protection, we installed our TripleSafe sump pump system. This system includes three separate pumps, one of which is battery-powered to ensure operation even during a power outage. Finally, we installed our SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier to keep the basement completely dry, even during the humid months.

Thanks to the hard work of Daniel, Collin, and Tyler, this complete system will keep the basement dry and free of harmful gas. With every seam sealed and all wall cracks covered, this waterproofing system will prevent radon gas from escaping into the home. Additionally, by keeping the water table low around the foundation, it will help maintain the efficiency of the radon system.

Be sure to check out the pictures below to see how the system works!

The radon system discharge line is the big pvc pipe to the right of the door.

Weeping holes will keep this foundation's water table low by allowing water to flow into our subfloor drains and out through the sump pump.

This existing wall was due for a makeover for sure!

We made sure to seal all our subfloor drains with our high-duty CleanSpace tape, which is moisture proof.

Here you can see the crack in the floor that was giving the radon system trouble. Now that the hydrostatic pressure is relieved, these cracks will stop forming and the customer can finally seal them for good.

Our BrightWall panels look great, are moisture sealed, are well insulated, and were the perfect choice for this job.

The thick concrete layer we layed over the drains will keep the radon and moisture out. We make sure to completely bond the concrete to the wall so it is sealed correctly.

This TrenchLock trench drain adjacent to the door is sealed thanks to a floating ball mechanism. Look at the next picture to see how it works behind the scenes.

This close up of the TrenchLock reveals how it keeps air out and lets water in. When water comes into the drain, the ball will float and allow the water to drain while keeping the gas out at the same time. We also use this nifty system for our sump pump lids, which allows water from the floor to fall into the sump pit.

Our high duty TripleSafe will keep this radon system safe. The dehumidifier will help keep this basement dry as a bone. All of our sump lids are moisture proof and are flush with the floor.