The two main components of a radon mitigation system are the duct piping and the exhaust fan. Most of the system is PVC pipe that has a life expectancy of 50 to 70 years or more, which is essentially the lifespan of the house.

    Radon mitigation fans have a 5 year manufacturer warranty, although they can run for 20 years or more—as long as the fan is not turned on and off frequently.  Electric motor lifespans are rated by the number of on/off cycles, so a fan that is turned off often will have a shorter life.

     Most radon mitigation fan are mounted in an enclosed space, such as an attic or under-floor crawl space. Mounting the fan on the exterior is another factor that shortens the life expectancy somewhat, due to the impact of the sun’s UV rays and weather exposure. 

    Fan life is also shortened by excessive heat in an attic and running the fan at full rated capacity. “Never allow a fan to run at full capacity,” according to Tony Davenport, of Radon Professionals, a radon mitigation contractor in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. “It will shorten the life expectancy by creating excessive heat, because not enough air is passing through the fan. We address that situation by placing a weep hole in the piping just below the fan and that reduces the amount of suction and allows cooling air to pass through the fan.”

    The list of variables that affect the life expectancy of a radon mitigation fan make pinning down how soon one will fail difficult. “We just did a service call on a system that we installed 22 years ago,” says Tony. “The fan was still running and the radon levels were still below 4.0 pCi/L. But we also replaced the same fan model that was 9 years old the next day at another house because the bearings had failed.”

     Go to our blog posts What is the operating cost of a radon mitigation system? and Do radon mitigation systems require maintenance? to learn more.

    Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components.  

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about “RADON":

• What radon level is dangerous?

• Is a radon mitigation fan required to be on a dedicated circuit breaker/fuse in the electric panel?

• What happens to a radon test result if the windows were opened, the test device moved, or there was any other evidence of tampering during the test? 

• Where do I find the Florida laws regarding radon?

• Can I test vacant land for radon before building a house? 

• Is radon mitigation possible for a condominium?  

• How long does it take to get the results of a radon test? 

• Will opening the windows reduce the radon level in a house?

• How was it determined that between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year are caused by radon?

• Can a homebuyer do their own radon test for a real estate transaction with a self-test kit?

• What is the danger of radon in well water?

• What are the symptoms of radon poisoning? 

• Does Florida have radon?

• Where does radon come from? 

• For how many years does an old radon test result remain valid?

• Should homeowners get a pre-listing radon test before selling their home?

• What are a homebuyer's options when the radon test comes back high (4.0 pico-curies/liter or more)? 

• Do granite countertops emit radon?

• How can I tell if a house has a radon mitigation system? 

• Can a mobile/manufactured home have a high radon problem?

• Do I need to test for radon when buying a condominium? 

• What does a radon mitigation contractor do to lower the radon level in a home?

• How can not testing for radon be an expensive mistake for homebuyers? 

• Will the radon test come back sky-high in a house that has been empty and closed-up for months? 

• What is radon? Should I be concerned about it?

• Should I buy a house with a high radon level? 

• What is the average radon level of indoor and outdoor air in America?

• What is the operating cost of a radon mitigation system? 

• Should I buy a house with a radon mitigation system?

• Does the buyer or seller of a home pay for radon mitigation when the radon test comes back high? 

• What is the probability of having high radon in a Florida house?

• How quickly do I need to reduce a high radon level in my house? 

• Does a home inspector check for radon?

• What are the problems with underground return air ducts? 

• What is the probability of having high radon in a Florida house?

• What factors can change radon test levels up or down?

    Visit our RADON and LIFE EXPECTANCY pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.