Radon Mitigation & Testing
Radon mitigation is the installation of a system that vents radon gas from beneath a building before it enters the living space. The standard method is sub-slab depressurization: a sealed pipe run from below the foundation to above the roofline, with an inline fan that keeps the area under the slab at lower pressure than the house. Blaine County is the only county in Idaho with radon requirements written into its building code, and the EPA places it in Zone 1, the highest-risk designation.
Radon forms from uranium and radium breaking down in soil, and it enters buildings through foundation cracks, crawl space floors, sump openings and utility penetrations. It is colorless and odorless, and the EPA identifies it as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind smoking.
Idaho has higher radon levels than most of the country, and Blaine County sits at the top of the state. It is the only Idaho jurisdiction that addresses radon in its building code, which means local buyers, sellers and inspectors treat it as a standard transaction item here in a way they do not in most of Idaho.
Testing is the only way to know. There is no smell and no symptom, and two identical houses on the same street can read very differently depending on what is under them.
Short-term tests run two to seven days and are what most real estate transactions use. Long-term tests run more than ninety days and give a truer annual average, because radon levels swing with season and weather.
Levels are highest in winter, when houses are closed up tight — which makes the Wood River Valley's long heating season the most accurate time to test and the most important time to have a working system. The EPA recommends acting at 4.0 pCi/L or higher. The Idaho Radon Program also offers low-cost test kits to Idaho residents.
Radon comes up constantly in Blaine County sales, and usually on a deadline. A buyer's inspection flags a level, and suddenly there is a number everyone is negotiating over with two weeks until closing.
We work those timelines. Test, mitigate, re-test, and produce written documentation of the installed system and the post-mitigation result that goes in the file. If you are an agent or an inspector and need a straight answer about a reading, call us before it becomes a crisis.
Hayden does quality work, with any water damage, smoke damage & fire damage. He helped us kill all the mold and smoke smell in the house we renovated. Highly recommend using Wood River Maintenance for all of your emergency needs.
Amanda W. · 2 months ago
Wood River Maintenance was very helpful when we had some water damage in our bathroom. They were prompt and courteous.
Diane Strolberg · 2 months ago
We can't recommend Wood River Maintenance enough! Hayden was always quick to respond, Kevin did quality work, and everyone was thoughtful, caring, and professional throughout the entire project. It's clear that they truly care about both their work and their customers. We're so grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend them!
Theresa Grant-Narasimhan · a month ago
I couldn't be happier with the work Wood River Maintenance did on my office. As a first-time homeowner tackling my first real project, I wasn't sure what to expect — but Hayden and his team made the entire experience seamless from start to finish. From the beginning, Hayden was thorough, communicative, and walked me through every step of the process. When an unexpected PVC pipe was uncovered from the previous owner mid-project, he problem-solved on the spot and kept me informed and confident the entire way through. That kind of transparency and professionalism is hard to find. The finished work speaks for itself — the wall and baseboard were patched and blended so perfectly with the original texture that you would never know anything had been touched. The attention to detail was impressive. Wood River Maintenance will absolutely be my first call for every project and facelift going forward, and I would recommend them to anyone without hesitation. Thank you Hayden and team — you exceeded every expectation!
Sarah Weidner · a month ago
It was a pleasure to work with Hayden and all his crew. His work was extremely timely and thorough. Communication re the daily expectations was good! I recommend him and his team for any of your needs.
Cathie Royston · 3 weeks ago
We had a great experience. The service was excellent from start to finish. A big thank you Hayden and the team for being so helpful. I highly recommend them. They went above and beyond.
mary grant · a month ago
Hayden and his crew are amazing. Great communication! Helpful with trouble shooting projects and the jobs were completed in a timely manner. Highly recommend.
Cathy Nikolaisons · a month ago
Wood River Maintenance did an excellent job resolving my issues. I would not hesitate to call them again for any job that may arise in the future. Very pleased and pleasant people!
Dawn Whitfield · a month ago
Although there were some bumps in the road ( delay of shipment of materials, which was beyond his control) Hayden was a very good communicator throughout my repairs as was he true to his word. He also made sure that everything was quality work and was to my satisfaction. In addition, he was personable yet professional.
Pamela Grant · a month ago
Blaine County is the only jurisdiction in Idaho that addresses radon in its building code. Requirements vary by construction type and permit scope, so confirm specifics with the county building department for your project. What is consistent is that radon is treated as a standard item here, and the EPA places the county in Zone 1, its highest-risk designation.
It depends on the foundation. A straightforward slab system is very different from a house with a crawl space, an addition and two foundation types. We look at the building and give you a written price before any work. Testing is inexpensive and comes first.
Yes. Financing is available on request. Restoration work is almost always unplanned, so if the timing of the cost is the obstacle rather than the work itself, say so at the assessment and we will go through the options and current terms with you before you commit to anything.
Most residential systems install in a day. Post-mitigation testing follows after the system has run, typically starting about 24 hours later.
A properly designed sub-slab system usually brings levels well below the EPA action threshold, and we verify with a post-mitigation test rather than assuming. If the first configuration does not get there, we adjust it.
Yes. New construction can have elevated radon, and a house built with passive piping still needs testing to know whether the passive system is enough or whether a fan is required.
Continuously. It is a small inline fan with power draw comparable to a light bulb, and it should not be switched off, because levels return when it stops.
Yes. Hardware store kits and the Idaho Radon Program's low-cost kits both work for a first look. For a transaction or a post-mitigation verification, a professional test is the one that will be accepted.
Radon often comes up alongside crawl space moisture. If you have both, see mold remediation.
