Removing Radon in Well water

[Cue]

Anyone have any experience with this? In my county it was on the local news about a month ago that there were high levels and suggested anyone with a well getting their water tested. I had mine tested at a few labs and it averaged 8000-10000 pCi/L which is in the moderate level and should be removed. The only 2 options I see are Carbon filters and aeration treatment. I dont really have the room for a aeration tank and it seems the carbon filters have to be replaced/changed every year or 2 depending on how bad the water is and they hold the radioactive radon in them, so if they get too bad they need to be disposed somewhere that takes radioactive waste??
I contacted one company and they quoted a $4000 Carbon filter system, and I found the same system online for $800, when I questioned what the extra cost was for they basically said good luck and would not answer any more questions, so they know they are overpriced.

Anyone have any experience with removing it in water or does the majority just not worry about it?

 

[ford33]

I'd run that test again to see if the results vary. If you borderline you may not need it.

 

[Cue]

I have tested it 4 times and from what I have read 10000 pCi/L is too high.

 

[Plastikosmd]

We have a carbon system. Works well. Company comes out yearly to change it for a few hundred $. I cannot remember install cost but likely less than that

 

[SGKent]

I'd look at other companies. It was like back when cotton was king and a cotton gin mill could command any price if they were the only one around for 100 miles. There has to be someone you can work with to make it happen for $1500 - $1800 if the price is only $800. Recently we replaced the compressor on my AC unit. The company that originally installed it wanted close to $4000. Another very reputable company did it for $2200. The parts were only about $1000.

 

[Cue]

I am looking into other places but it seems there are only a few in this area.

 

[66cj225]

Depending on your and yours ages, and any kids involved, present or future, the cost of mitigation may be insignificant compared to doing nothing. If there's family in the area, that's one thing, bottled is another and the USA is large.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think carbon filters and aeration are pretty much your choices for mitigation. I don't have any experience with home treatment systems, but there has to be other manufacturers out there - check around for availability and pricing.

The $800 online price for that filter system versus the $4000 from your local dealer is I assume the difference between do it yourself and installed costs. I can't say whether their price is too high, but don't forget they aren't going to install it for free...take a closer look at what all is required to install it and get it running, and then be able to make some money for doing so. There's probably also a warranty that's not included in the DIY price.

 

[Cue]

Yes, I dont expect to not pay for labor but I already have a Acid Neutralizer and a water Softener in my system so installing a couple of carbon filters would be easy, just cut the pex and route it to them as all the water lines are in outside shed on the side of the house.
Might take 20 minutes or so at most. When I asked why the price was so much higher than just the unit price, he emailed and said Good luck, and that was it, so they know they are overpriced

 

[peterl]

I would look at buying the 800 dollar system and paying a handyman a couple of bucks to install.

Peter

 

[scottydosnntkno]

I think carbon filters and aeration are pretty much your choices for mitigation. I don't have any experience with home treatment systems, but there has to be other manufacturers out there - check around for availability and pricing.

The $800 online price for that filter system versus the $4000 from your local dealer is I assume the difference between do it yourself and installed costs. I can't say whether their price is too high, but don't forget they aren't going to install it for free...take a closer look at what all is required to install it and get it running, and then be able to make some money for doing so. There's probably also a warranty that's not included in the DIY price.

Especially on this site, I imagine a large portion of the posters could handle installing a softener or carbon filter.

On our new house (first ever on a well) I had Culligan come out and they gave a price of like $3500 for a two tank softener system. I ended up buying my own online with a digital fleck head and also a whole house carbon filter with digital fleck head for around $800 for all of it. I was already doing all the plumbing, but even still it took a couple ball valves for service, a couple 90s and some pex expansion fittings and a few feet of 1” pex to tie them in

Then plug in the digital heads and that’s it.

Sure a 10yr warranty may be worth something but there’s barely any moving parts. And when you can replace the entire thing four times over for the same price, then it’s really not worth it.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Yes, I dont expect to not pay for labor but I already have a Acid Neutralizer and a water Softener in my system so installing a couple of carbon filters would be easy, just cut the pex and route it to them as all the water lines are in outside shed on the side of the house.
Might take 20 minutes or so at most. When I asked why the price was so much higher than just the unit price, he emailed and said Good luck, and that was it, so they know they are overpriced

Order the one on-line, install it in 20 minutes and most likely it will work out OK for you. Why whine about the price you were quoted?

 

[LB-1911]

I have tested it 4 times and from what I have read 10000 pCi/L is too high.

You may already be aware of this -

Activated carbon should only be used if the radon water levels are below 5000 pCi/L. This low level is recommended by the EPA because of the concern over the buildup of radioactivity.

Was this one of the sources you have already spoken with?

The Radon Specialist

Best of luck going forward.

 

[Cue]

I talked to Kinetico. I am not worried about the installation as I could do that easily. I am worried about the service it requires and disposing of the radioactive Carbon after it has been in place for a year or so and was looking for others that may do it themselves.

 

[SGKent]

That Radon Specialist has an office in Raleigh 25+/- miles from you according to Google maps. I know nothing about them - they look like a franchise operation, that or a very successful business to have so many offices. But I would check them out including BBB and Angie's list, HomeAdvisor, Yelp, Google ratings, etc..

As you know. Radon is the byproduct of decay of radium as thorium and uranium pass thru radium on the way to other heavy elements. While I am 69 now, at age 9 my mother died of lung cancer. She wasn't a heavy smoker but it wasn't until later in life that I realized they lived in a small house with well water in a part of the country with higher radon levels. One of her brothers died of the same. It only takes that one cell being damaged in the right way to get ya or a loved one. Get the best treatment available. That said, the fellow who said Good Luck isn't someone you want to deal with.

There are three qualities that make up really good super performing sales people. Those qualities are empathy for others, looking for ways to make the deal work and not giving up, and they believe in the product with a great deal of enthusiasm and knowledge. Someone who says good luck certainly has no empathy for others, they give up easily, and it sure doesn't appear they know their product well. Sounds more like the opposite in all three areas. If a sales person lacks any of those three traits they generally never reach that top tier in a sales environment. Price isn't the only thing people look at when buying a product. They look for someone who cares and listens from their heart with understanding, someone who looks for a workable, affordable, and reliable solution, and someone who has the enthusiasm and knowledge of the solutions and technology available.

 

[Cue]

I am going to go with a aeration system instead of the Carbon filters. Its more expensive at first but there is nothing to maintain or change out ever unless the pump goes bad.
I cannot believe there aren't more people interested in this, even in my neighborhood they dont even bother with testing. I guess as long as they dont see anything they just dont care about it?

 

[Squashfest81]

When we bought 3 years ago I would have never tested the well water for radon, except the house had a radon mitigation system installed in the basement when it was finished, so we tested. Huh, high radon in the water. Split the cost of an aeration system with the sellers and done.
I went aeration because of the simplicity. A nice perk of the system is you always have like 40 gallons of water ready to go in a tank in the basement.

 

[Cue]

When we bought 3 years ago I would have never tested the well water for radon, except the house had a radon mitigation system installed in the basement when it was finished, so we tested. Huh, high radon in the water. Split the cost of an aeration system with the sellers and done.
I went aeration because of the simplicity. A nice perk of the system is you always have like 40 gallons of water ready to go in a tank in the basement.

I have also heard it can increase the water pressure a little since it has its own pump.

Do you remember the cost of the system?

 

[juddspaintballs]

I don't know if this company does radon systems, but I researched water treatment for a while and came across Water Filters of America or Budget Water Filters (same company). I was quoted $4300 from a local company to filter out my iron and soften my water, and that was even before they tested the water! I read and read about WFoA and eventually gave them a call. I had my water tested, got the other results they wanted (pump flow, usage, etc.), and they recommended a chemical feeder, iron filter, and water softener for me. I think with shipping and everything I needed, it was around $1700. I plumbed it all myself. The chemical feeder feeds in soda ash to raise my pH and a little bit of chlorox to kill the iron bacteria so the iron filter can filter it out and backwash nightly. I had an issue recently and they answered my email at 10 PM and called me in the morning. I had a new head for the iron filter in two days.



I'd recommend calling them and seeing if they sell radon equipment. At the very least, I bet they can recommend somewhere to get one. They can't be that hard to install.

 

[Squashfest81]

I have also heard it can increase the water pressure a little since it has its own pump.

Do you remember the cost of the system?

Cost was just over 3k if I recall.
Water pressure is controlled by the pump. I was told that the pump in the tank is the same pump you would have for a well. Set the pressure where you like it.

 

[Showkey]

Question ? Aeration, does the water tank venting vent outside ?

 

[Cue]

Yes, it vents it to the outside above the roof.

 

[Showkey]

Yes, it vents it to the outside above the roof.

That makes sense........especially since I have a basement radon venting system.
Radon in the basement ( air) is very common here, radon in the water is not common here, so far.

Would suspect the tank is insulated to minimize sweating ��?

 

[MoonShiner]

Following. I'm in the same area. Haven't had mine tested yet. I have neighbors with low levels and some with extreme levels.