# New Construction Radon Systems Des Moines | 5-Yr Warranty

> Radon-resistant new construction for Central Iowa builders and homeowners: aggregate, soil-gas retarder, sealed vent stack and fan-ready wiring. 5-year warranty.

URL: https://radonmitigationdesmoines.com/new-construction-radon-systems/

Builders & New Homeowners

# New Construction Radon Systems Built for Central Iowa Homes

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Built-in radon protection costs less and works better than a retrofit. We work to your builder's schedule: gas-permeable aggregate, sealed polyethylene soil-gas retarder, sealed vent stack and attic electrical for a future fan. Passive stacks that still test at or above 4.0 pCi/L get an inline fan and manometer.

-   5-Year Warranty
-   24/7 Support
-   Iowa HHS Credentialed
-   10 Years in Central Iowa

Get a Radon Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

See How It Works

[#how-it-works →](#how-it-works)

Or call 

(515) 218-7447

[tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447)

, 24/7.

![New Central Iowa home foundation with gravel and polyethylene soil-gas retarder before the slab pour](/images/misc/new-home-under-construction-in-waukee-iowa-with-gr.webp)

-   5-Star Rated on Google, Angi & Facebook
-   5-Year Warranty
-   24/7 Customer Support
-   Iowa HHS Credentialed

## What Is a New Construction Radon System?

A new construction radon system is radon protection built into a home while it’s going up. The approach is called **radon-resistant new construction (RRNC)**. Instead of fixing radon after you move in, the house is built to block soil gas and vent it safely outside from day one.

In Iowa, this matters. Every county in the state is in EPA Radon Zone 1, and the glacial soils across Central Iowa release radon into basements and slabs. Building radon control into the foundation is the simplest and most cost-effective time to deal with it.

We work with builders and custom-home owners across Central Iowa. We plan the layout with your builder, show up at the right stages, and leave a system that’s ready to become fully active the moment a test says it should.

## What’s in a Radon-Resistant Foundation?

A good build-time system has four main parts:

-   **Gas-permeable aggregate layer.** A layer of clean gravel under the slab lets soil gas move freely to a single collection point. Some builds use **perforated drain tile** in the gravel to help gas flow.
-   **Soil-gas retarder.** A **6-mil or 10-mil polyethylene** sheet goes over the gravel, with seams overlapped and taped. It slows radon from rising into the slab.
-   **Sealed slab openings.** Plumbing penetrations, sump pits and control joints are sealed so gas can’t take a shortcut into the house.
-   **Passive radon vent stack.** A sealed Schedule 40 PVC pipe runs from the gravel layer up through the house to above the roof, with proper **roof flashing penetration** to keep weather out.

We also install an **attic junction box** next to the vent stack. That electrical rough-in makes it easy to add an inline fan later.

## Passive vs. Active: Why Fan-Ready Matters

A passive stack relies on warm air rising to pull soil gas up the pipe. It can lower radon, but in Iowa many passive systems still test at or above the EPA’s 4.0 pCi/L action level.

An active system adds an inline fan in the attic or garage and a U-tube manometer so you can see it working. Turning a passive system into an active one is called **passive-to-active activation**. Because the pipe and electrical are already in place, activation is usually done in one afternoon. You can read more in our guide on 

passive vs. active radon systems

[/guide/passive-vs-active-radon-system/ →](/guide/passive-vs-active-radon-system/)

.

## Standards We Build To

Our layouts follow the radon-resistant construction approach in **IRC Appendix F** and the **ANSI/AARST CCAH** standard for new homes. Pipes are labeled, penetrations are sealed and every system is documented so future owners know what they have.

## Common Problems We Solve

### “Our builder put in a passive pipe, but we tested at 6.1.”

A passive stack alone often isn’t enough in Iowa. We add the fan and manometer, check the suction, and retest. Most homes drop well below the action level.

### “We’re building a custom home and want radon handled right.”

Call us before the slab is poured. We’ll review the plan with you and your builder and lay out a system that fits the house.

### “We didn’t plan for radon and the slab is already in.”

That’s fine. We can still route a vent stack and design an active system. It’s a 

radon mitigation retrofit

[/ →](/)

, but planning it before drywall makes it cleaner.

### “We don’t know if our new home even has a radon pipe.”

Look for a labeled PVC pipe in the basement or utility room, often near the sump. If you can’t find one, we can check during a quick visit and test the home.

## Already Moved In?

Test your home once it’s finished and the HVAC is running. Book a 

professional radon test

[/radon-testing/ →](/radon-testing/)

 and we’ll tell you if your passive system is doing enough. If it isn’t, we’ll make it active and back it with our 5-year warranty.

Pricing

## What Does a New Construction Radon System Cost?

Build-time pricing is quoted per plan. Installing radon protection during construction usually costs less than adding a full system after you move in.

01

### Foundation and footprint

A full basement, a slab-on-grade or a crawl space each need a different layout. Larger footprints may need more pipe under the slab.

02

### Stage of construction

Work done before the slab pour is the simplest. If the slab is already in, we plan around it.

03

### Vent stack route

The path from the basement to the roof, through interior chases or the garage, sets how much pipe and how many fittings we use.

04

### Passive or active from day one

Adding the fan and manometer at build time costs more up front but saves a second visit later.

Why Choose Us

## Why Choose Us for New Construction?

### We Work to Your Builder's Schedule

Pre-pour and rough-in visits are planned around your build so radon work never holds up the slab crew or framers.

### Fan-Ready From Day One

We add attic electrical during the build, so if your home tests high, activation is quick and clean.

### Credentialed Installers

Our technicians hold Iowa HHS radon credentials and national training from NRPP, NRSB, CERTI or ICA School.

### 5-Year Warranty

Every system and installation we complete carries a 5-year warranty.

### Fixes for Passive Pipes That Test High

Already moved in and still testing high? We turn your passive stack into an active system and retest to confirm.

### Support 24/7

Builders and homeowners can reach a real person any time, day or night.

The Process

## How Does Our New Construction Work?

Simple steps, clear communication and no surprises.

1.  01
    
    ### Plan Review
    
    We look at your foundation plan and build schedule with you or your builder, then lay out the aggregate, retarder and vent stack route.
    
2.  02
    
    ### Pre-Pour Work
    
    Before the slab goes in, we set the suction point in the gas-permeable aggregate and make sure the soil-gas retarder is sealed at seams and edges.
    
3.  03
    
    ### Rough-In
    
    We run the sealed vent stack up through the house to the roof, seal slab penetrations and install an attic junction box so a fan can be added fast.
    
4.  04
    
    ### Test & Activate
    
    After you move in, test the home. If radon is at or above 4.0 pCi/L, we add an inline fan and U-tube manometer to make the system active.
    

Activation of an existing passive stack is usually done in one afternoon.

## Talk to a Credentialed Radon Technician Today

Real people answer 24/7. If you need a system, it's backed by our 5-year warranty and a clearance test.

(515) 218-7447

[tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447)

 

Request a Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

Our Work

## New Construction in Central Iowa Homes

Click any photo to enlarge.

 

## How Radon Mitigation Des Moines Compares

| Feature | Typical Provider | Radon Mitigation Des Moines |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Install timing | After move-in, as a retrofit | Built in during construction |
| Fan readiness | No attic power planned | Attic junction box installed |
| Passive stack that tests high | Start over with a new system | Add fan and manometer to existing stack |
| Post-occupancy test | Up to the homeowner | Recommended and offered |
| Warranty | Varies | 5 years on system and install |

Reviews

## What Customers Say About Our New Construction

Rated 5 stars on Google, Angi & Facebook.

> “Our new build had a passive pipe but still tested high. They added the fan and manometer in one afternoon and the retest came back well under 2.”

Jordan P.

Waukee, Iowa

> “Our inspection came back at 9.2 pCi/L two weeks before closing. They tested, installed the system and had the clearance test done in time. The follow-up reading was 0.8.”

M Megan T. Ankeny, Iowa

> “I called on a Sunday night with questions about our test results and actually got a person. They explained everything without any pressure.”

D Dave R. Urbandale, Iowa

See more reviews on Facebook

[https://www.facebook.com/radonmitigationdesmoines/ →](https://www.facebook.com/radonmitigationdesmoines/)

Got Questions?

## Questions About New Construction Radon Systems in Central Iowa

### My new home has a passive radon pipe but still tests high. Can you fix it?

Usually, yes. Adding an inline fan and a manometer to an existing passive stack turns it into an active system, which typically lowers levels a lot more than a passive stack can. We retest afterward to confirm.

### What is radon-resistant new construction?

Radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) is a set of building steps that make it hard for soil gas to enter and easy to vent it outside: a gas-permeable aggregate layer under the slab, a sealed plastic soil-gas retarder, sealed slab openings and a vent stack from below the slab to above the roof.

### Is it cheaper to add radon protection during construction?

Usually, yes. Laying aggregate, the retarder and the vent stack before the slab and walls are finished takes far less work than retrofitting a finished home. Build-time pricing is quoted per plan.

### Do passive radon systems work?

A passive stack relies on natural air pressure to draw soil gas up and out. It helps, but in Iowa, where every county is EPA Radon Zone 1, many passive systems still test above the 4.0 pCi/L action level. That's why we add attic electrical so a fan can be installed quickly.

### When should a new home be tested for radon?

Test after the home is finished and the HVAC system is running, ideally after you move in. If the result is at or above 4.0 pCi/L, activate the system with a fan and retest.

### Does a radon system affect my build schedule?

No. We plan pre-pour and rough-in visits around your builder's timeline. Most of the work happens at stages when the slab and framing crews are already on site.

### What codes or standards do you follow?

Our layouts follow the radon-resistant construction approach described in IRC Appendix F and the ANSI/AARST standards for new homes. Your local building department may have its own requirements, which we follow too.

### Do you offer a warranty on radon systems?

Yes. Every system and installation we complete is covered by a 5-year warranty.

### Do you serve builders outside Des Moines?

Yes. We work across 12 Central Iowa counties, including fast-growing areas like Waukee, Ankeny, Grimes and Altoona.

### Still have a question?

Real people answer our phone 24/7. Ask about a test result, a quote or your existing system.

(515) 218-7447

[tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447)

 

Send a Message

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

Learn More

## New Construction Guides

Answers to the questions we hear most, written by our credentialed team.

Decision Guide

### Passive vs. Active Radon Systems in New Homes

Passive vs active radon systems: typical reduction, build-time vs later cost, operating cost, noise and warranty for Iowa homes.

Read the guide

[Passive vs. Active Radon Systems in New Homes →](/guide/passive-vs-active-radon-system/)

All Radon Guides

[/guide/ →](/guide/)

More Services

## Related Radon Services

![Radon Mitigation](/images/cards/white-pvc-radon-mitigation-pipe-with-inline-fan-mo.webp)

### Radon Mitigation

Custom sub-slab depressurization systems that pull radon from under your foundation and vent it safely above the roofline.

Learn more

[Radon Mitigation →](/)

![Radon Testing & Inspections](/images/misc/credentialed-radon-technician-setting-a-continuous.webp)

### Radon Testing & Inspections

Certified continuous-monitor radon testing with hourly data and clear reports for homeowners and real estate transactions.

Learn more

[Radon Testing & Inspections →](/radon-testing/)

![](/images/hero/row-of-newly-built-two-story-homes-in-central-iowa.webp)

Support available 24/7

## Ready to Book New Construction Radon Systems in Central Iowa?

Iowa-credentialed technicians, a 5-year warranty on every system, and real people answering 24/7.

Get a Radon Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

Call (515) 218-7447

[tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447)

-   5-year warranty
-   Iowa HHS credentialed
-   Clearance test on every install