Hey everyone! I live in east-central Ohio, and we just had an intense downpour the other night, with more rain on the way. I noticed that my radon pump started making a loud chugging noise, which seems unusual. It almost sounds like a toilet flushing, but everyone in the house was asleep when I heard it, so it wasn't that. I'm a bit concerned and would like to know if I should take any action to prevent flooding in my basement or if this kind of noise is common after such heavy rains. Here's some extra info:
- The loud chugging sound is coming from where the radon pipe connects to the slab.
- Occasionally, I hear water rushing through the pipes, though I can't pinpoint where it's coming from.
- The slab viewport looks a bit full and isn't flush with the ground. There seems to be some sediment as well, but I'm not sure if that's normal.
- I have an external fan for the radon system.
- The U-shaped pressure meter looks a bit weird; the left side stays around 1, while the right side reads about negative 1.5.
Any quick advice would be much appreciated since another wet weekend is ahead!
2 Answers
It sounds like you might have a sump pump combined with your radon system. Radon mitigation systems typically don’t have pumps themselves; the fan is the key component. If you have a large PVC pipe for radon and a smaller pipe that might be for a sump pump, you may want to check both. Try listening for water sounds when the pump activates to see if it's working correctly. As for the pressure meter, it's pretty normal for one side to stay higher, as that means the fan is actively pulling air. Just keep an eye on it!
Do you have a French drain or sump pump in your basement? From what you’re describing, it sounds like you might have a setup where one pit serves both purposes. It's common to have some water noises after heavy rain since the systems might be working harder. Following the other pipe you mentioned could help clarify if it connects to a sump pump. And as RainyDayFixer said, a U-shape meter showing uneven sides is typically okay. Sounds like your system is just reacting to the rain!
No, I don't think I have a sump pump. Just this radon setup. I'll check out that other pipe and see where it leads!
That makes sense! I didn't realize the fan does all that work. I'll definitely listen for any water noises in the pit. Thanks for the reassurance!