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Wood stove for radon removal?

JohnT8 | Posted in General Discussion on October 20, 2005 05:34am

Just thinking out loud here….

From what I’ve seen of some radon abatement systems (for older houses), they consist of a pipe running from the basement through the roof with a fan to help push the air along.

That makes me wonder:  Why couldn’t you do the same thing via a wood stove’s feeder line (air inlet).  Instead of running the air-in pipe from outdoors, what if you ran it from the basement/crawlspace? 

My initial thought is that it would depressurize the space, thereby sucking in cold air from outside.  But that’s what a radon abatement system would do…All I can think of to worry about is a backdraft, and you can probably install a flapper to prevent that.

What are your thoughts?

jt8

“Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ”  –Theodore N. Vail

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  1. Piffin | Oct 20, 2005 05:44pm | #1

    interesting concept

     

     

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    1. JohnT8 | Oct 20, 2005 07:50pm | #4

      I get a weird idea about once or twice a week.  Last week's was to create a leaf press to turn the piles of leaves in the yard into fireplace logs  :)

       

       jt8

      "Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. "  --Theodore N. Vail

      1. TJK | Oct 20, 2005 07:55pm | #5

        Some years ago, a couple of guys in Georgia made their fortune by using peanut shells for the same thing. Go for it.

  2. TJK | Oct 20, 2005 06:35pm | #2

    You're only halfway there. Radon seeps in from under the slab and through foundation walls because the inside of a house is warmer and has lower pressure compared to the soil around it. Putting in a wood stove might actually increase the radon level instead of reducing it because the warmer air would only increase the pressure difference.

    The best way to get rid of radon is by sucking air from under the slab and exhausting it outside. That way you get rid of the pressure differential without pulling warm air out of the house.

    Edited 10/20/2005 11:36 am ET by TJK



    Edited 10/20/2005 11:38 am ET by TJK

    1. JohnT8 | Oct 20, 2005 07:48pm | #3

      I agree, the best way is to get under the slab to vent it outside the house, while blocking it from entering the house, but that typically isn't going to be easy to accomplish in a retrofit.

      Also, my wood stove venting method wouldn't do you much good in summer.

       jt8

      "Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. "  --Theodore N. Vail

  3. User avater
    BossHog | Oct 20, 2005 10:24pm | #6

    Not a bad idea. But I wonder if you could get enough airflow without choking off the fire?

    And - Like you said - It wouldn't do any good in the summer.

    I went to the museum where they had all the heads and arms from the statues that are in all the other museums.
  4. csnow | Oct 20, 2005 11:01pm | #7

    You would be creating negative pressure which would suck the radon in.

    The idea with radon abatement is that the negative pressure is created under the slab, not within the living space.

    You want the air intake for a woodstove to be outside anyways because it would otherwise be pumping warm air out of your house even when the stove is not running.

    Talk about 'stack affect".

    Also, if the house is otherwise sealed well, the stove may not be able to get enough combustion air to run well.  It could even back draft your gas appliances (if any).

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