I Have a Sump Pump Hole—Is It Causing Radon?

If you have a sump pump hole, is it causing a radon gas leak? If so, what does that mean for your health and safety? As it turns out, you’re going to want to seal up a sump pump hole to prevent radon gases from building up inside your home. Here’s everything you need to know about managing radon from a sump pump.

Does a Sump Pump Cause Radon?

A sump pump can cause radon gas to come into your home, especially if you have an open sump pump hole. Radon gas forms naturally in soil as uranium breaks down underground. When it rains and water rises into the sump pump pit, the radon can come into the pit as well. If the sump pit is uncovered, the radon can escape into the basement or crawl space.

Risks of Radon Gas

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking, and it is the leading cause of lung cancer for people who do not smoke cigarettes. 

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reported that natural radon levels in the environment, like radon occurring naturally underground, do not pose health risks. It's the higher levels and long-term exposure to radon that can become a problem.

There is no specified “safe” level of radon. However, the U.S. EPA recommends implementing radon mitigation, also called fixing your home for radon, when radon levels are between 2 and 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). This guidance is especially important if radon levels are over 4 pCi/L. The average radon concentration for indoor air is 1.3 pCi/L, and the average outdoor level for radon is 0.4 pCi/L.

How to Tell If Your Sump Pump Hole Is Causing Radon

There are a few ways to check if your sump pump hole is causing radon. First, check if your sump pump is working. If you have the wrong sump pump size or the sump pump isn’t pumping out the standing water, it could be allowing more radon into your home.

Testing for Radon

Next, you’ll want to test for radon with a testing kit. Because you can’t see, smell, or taste radon, you’ll need to order a kit online or buy one at a local hardware store. These kits cost less than $25. Check with your city or state’s health department as well because some governments offer free radon testing for residential use. Homeowners should test their homes for radon at least once every one to two years.

Follow the instructions on the testing kit. It’s best to keep doors and windows closed during the test, and aim to test in the winter when radon levels in the ground are higher. After testing for the time specified in the instructions, you can send the kit in for lab testing.

If you’re not confident in DIY radon testing, you can also hire a pro. Find a specialist with National Radon Safety Board or American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists certifications to ensure the testing is done properly.

How to Prevent Radon From a Sump Pump

Many states require radon mitigation to be completed by someone who is licensed or certified, so don’t attempt to DIY. However, there are plenty of things you can do on your own to minimize radon coming from a sump pump hole in addition to hiring a pro to install a radon mitigation system.

You don’t want a pedestal sump pump to run dry, but you also don’t want it to become entirely submerged if you’re trying to limit the amount of radon coming into the pit. So if the sump pump is constantly running after heavy rain or you notice it isn’t pumping out water properly, call in a pro ASAP for repairs and to test for radon.

The most important things you can do, though, are to add a cover to the sump pit, install a radon detector in your home to alert when radon levels get too high, and hire a pro to install a radon mitigation system. A radon mitigation system is a series of vents and fans that can pull radon from your home or even the soil and release it outdoors.

Cost to Install a Sump Pump With Radon Mitigation

Sump pump installation costs $1,200 to $2,500 on average, and a radon mitigation system costs an average of $800 to $1,300.

To install a sump pump, you’ll need to hire a professional sump pump installer near you to make sure the device will work properly and prevent flooding in your basement or crawl space. You’ll want to talk with the pro to make sure they add a sump pump cover and discuss your options for a radon mitigation system.