3 section of PVC into a suction pit that has been thoroughly excavated and installs the ECM fan and couplers . A flexible duct is recommended to safely exhaust radon and dust from the working environment during the diagnostic process .
Several small test holes are drilled in the slab ( as far away from the suction pit as possible ) for evaluating the pressure field extension . The installer will use the manometer and pressure tubes to measure the pressure differential across the fan at maximum fan RPM , making note of this first reading . To ensure good communication between the suction point and other test holes , the installer will go to each slab test location using a micromanometer to make sure the full footprint of the slab is under sufficient negative pressure to overcome any house pressure that may be generated by stack effect pressures , exhaust fans or operation of the HVAC system . The installer gradually lowers the RPM of the fan , systematically rechecking the test holes to make sure a sufficient pressure differential is maintained at all test points . The installer then checks the number on the digital display on the fan electric box . This value , which will be between 0 and 10 , is the voltage that controls the ECM fan RPM and represents fan speed .
At this point all the required data has been collected . The installer accesses the online application and enters the data collected from the PFE Diagnostic Kit .
The app calculates the total system resistance and selects the best fan and displays all suitable pipe diameters for the job . Alternatively , the installer can cross reference the data with sizing graphs which are included with the kit to aid in fan selection ; however , the app makes this step unnecessary .
Chad Robinson was introduced to the PFE Diagnostic Kit at a professional symposium and started using it when the app became available .
“ At that point it became so simple to use . For a lot of people this tool will pave the way to a level of diagnostics that they haven ’ t practiced before . That ’ s good news for homeowners across the country .”
Simplifying Life for Mitigators
For Robinson and other mitigators who already adhere to recommended diagnostic protocols , the PFE Diagnostic Kit can be a major time saver . It also improves accuracy and helps mitigators differentiate themselves in the eyes of homeowners .
Tod Boss and his mitigation team at RadonProz services residential and commercial properties throughout northwest Ontario , Manitoba and Saskatchewan and currently uses the PFE Diagnostic Kit for all their diagnostics .
Like most mitigators , Boss and his team find that determining sub slab pressures and characteristics to be the most challenging part of the job , especially in areas of Manitoba where sub-soil conditions can be especially tricky to deal with . Since incorporating the PFE Diagnostic Kit into their mitigation procedures the job has become a lot easier .
“ We saw the value in this product immediately . The kit and the app have made it easy for our team to determine exact negative pressures and for our installers to size equipment appropriately the first time and avoiding costly return trips .”
In addition to providing faster , more exact diagnostics , Boss has also found that the system provides helpful data sharing and has
improved their record keeping .
How Homeowners Benefit
In Canada , where radon mitigation is consumer driven , a professionally packaged diagnostic kit not only inspires a level of confidence from homeowners , it also helps demystify the mitigation process . The kit itself provides a visual aid as the mitigator explains how the systematic lowering of fan speed and checking of manometers serve two purposes :
1 . Ensures that the fan is powerful enough to reverse the flow of radon away from the slab by creating a vacuum under the house .
2 . Enables the installer to choose a properly sized fan that is the least costly to operate .
These conversations resonate with Canadian homeowners who voluntarily opt to have their homes tested and mitigated . They also help build trust between a contractor and savvy homeowners who have probably done some degree of research into radon mitigation on their own and may have higher expectations in terms of lowering radon levels .
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