I'm in a new house built in 2022, and I noticed a puddle of water around the radon pipe in my basement. The pipe feels wet, and with the current hot weather (90+ degrees Fahrenheit), I'm wondering if this is just condensation. I keep my thermostat set to 65 degrees, so I'm a bit confused. Is sealing the pipes a good idea to stop the water from coming out? Here's a link to a photo I took: https://imgur.com/a/MrjuoKo.
3 Answers
It looks like the water might be coming from the joint between your foundation and the slab. That taped-up area next to your pipe could be a sump pit. Check it to see if there's water in there. If you hear any gurgling from the pipe, it’s a good idea to consider installing a sump pump. Also, even if the sump pit is dry, sealing it will help prevent your radon system from sucking conditioned air out of your basement.
The temperature underground usually hangs around 50 to 60 degrees. This means that the radon pipe is cooled while the warm, moist air in your basement hits it, causing condensation. Insulating the pipe can definitely help with this issue!
If the outside of the radon pipe is wet all along its length, it’s likely due to condensation. The cooler air under your slab is causing moisture-laden warm air from the basement to condense on the pipe. You might notice your cold water pipes doing the same thing if they’re running regularly. Insulating the pipe could help reduce the condensation.