Radon Mitigation in St. Paul, MN
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas you can’t see, smell, or taste, and breathing it over the years is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country. There’s no symptom to catch and nothing to feel, so a test is the only way to know your levels. When a St. Paul home tests above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 pCi/L, SafeBasements installs a radon mitigation system that draws the gas out from under the foundation and vents it safely above the roofline.
Why Radon Builds Up in St. Paul Homes
Radon forms naturally in the soil as uranium and radium break down, and St. Paul homes average 2.5 pCi/L, nearly double the national average of 1.3 pCi/L. The city’s older neighborhoods compound the exposure: homes built through the mid-twentieth century typically have full poured basements or block foundations with floor-wall joints, sump pits, and hairline cracks that give the gas a direct path inside. Minnesota’s heating season makes it worse. From October through April, furnaces and air handlers run continuously, depressurizing the lower level and pulling soil gas up through every opening in the slab. The house acts like a bellows, drawing radon in and holding it there.
There’s no smell, no visible sign, and no physical warning that levels are elevated. The EPA sets the action level at 4.0 pCi/L, and the Minnesota Department of Health recommends considering mitigation at 2.0 pCi/L. A short-term test kit placed in the lowest level of the home is the only way to get an actual number.
How SafeBasements Mitigates Radon in St. Paul
SafeBasements installs sub-slab depressurization systems, the most effective and widely used method for reducing radon in homes with basement foundations. The system works by creating a pressure difference between the soil beneath your slab and the air inside your home, routing the gas through PVC pipe and venting it above the roofline before it can enter your living space.
Every home is different. Foundation design, slab thickness, and soil composition all affect how a system needs to be configured, and SafeBasements sizes and positions each installation accordingly. Our waterproofing products are also built with radon in mind. SafeEdge Max systems and sump basket lids include a foam seal that reduces both moisture infiltration and radon entry at the sump opening, one of the most common pathways into a St. Paul basement.
After installation, we provide a 48-hour radon testing kit so you can confirm the system is performing. If levels aren’t where they need to be, we adjust until they are.
What to Expect on Installation Day
Most sub-slab depressurization installations are completed in a single visit. The crew will need access to the basement and a clear path to the planned pipe route, which typically runs through a utility space or up through a closet to exit above the roofline. Drilling through the slab is loud but brief, and the rest of the work is relatively low-disruption.
Plan for the fan to run continuously after installation. It draws a small amount of power and operates year-round. You won’t notice it, but it’s what keeps pressure below the slab negative and radon from accumulating inside the home. Before the crew leaves, they’ll walk you through the system, confirm the pipe discharge clears all windows and air intakes, and leave you with a 48-hour test kit to verify the results.
SafeBasements Radon Mitigation Warranty
Every radon mitigation system SafeBasements installs in St. Paul comes with a lifetime transferable warranty. If you sell the home, the warranty transfers to the new owner, which can be a straightforward point in a real estate transaction given how common radon testing is during home inspections in the Twin Cities.
The warranty covers the system we install. If a fan fails or a component needs attention, we come back and make it right. Call us for details on what’s covered.
Why St. Paul Homeowners Choose SafeBasements
SafeBasements has been installing radon mitigation systems across the Twin Cities since the early 1990s. Our radon specialists are certified and work to both EPA and AARST standards. Every job starts with a free inspection, where we verify your radon levels, assess your foundation, and recommend a system sized for your home. No work is scheduled until you have a clear picture of what’s needed and what it costs.
We also hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and carry 65+ engineered products across our waterproofing and foundation lines, several of which are designed to work in combination with radon mitigation systems.
Schedule Radon Mitigation in St. Paul
If your home hasn’t been tested, that’s the place to start. If you’ve already got a number above 2.0 pCi/L, it’s worth a conversation. SafeBasements offers free inspections across St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities area.
Call us today and schedule an appointment!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The cost depends on your home’s size, foundation type, and how the pipe needs to be routed. SafeBasements provides a detailed quote after a free in-home inspection, so you’ll have an exact number before any work is scheduled.
Yes. Every system comes with a lifetime transferable warranty. If you sell your home, the warranty transfers to the new owner.
A properly installed sub-slab depressurization system will bring radon levels below the EPA’s action level of 4.0 pCi/L. SafeBasements guarantees it, and the 48-hour test kit we leave after installation gives you a confirmed reading.
A fan runs continuously beneath the slab, maintaining negative pressure in the soil layer under your foundation. Radon that would otherwise migrate up through cracks and joints is pulled into the pipe system and vented above the roofline instead.
Most installations are completed in a single visit. The crew handles drilling, pipe routing, fan mounting, and sealing in one day.
