Radon Contractors: Finding the best one

Finding a reliable and professional radon contractor in Minnesota doesn’t have to be a difficult task. All it takes is some research. Like any other contractor you work with, the professional you choose to hire for radon mitigation in Minneapolis or the surrounding twin cities area should meet a set of standards.

One of the best ways to see if a radon contractor is trustworthy is to research the company itself. How long has the company been around for? Have they won any awards? Do they have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List? It’s also beneficial to learn about the owner of the company and research what kind of experience the owner has in the field.

Specialists that performed radon mitigation and radon testing in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas most likely left an impression with the homeowners they served. Either they solved the homeowners’ problems, or they created more problems. Whether the contractor was good or not the homeowners will most likely be willing to refer (or not refer) them. Keep your eyes peeled for reviews on various websites, or talk to neighbors and friends that have used the contractor before.

Be wary of paying a contractor a large amount of money upfront. The only time you should do this is for a special or custom order, and there’s no reason not to use this method when dealing with a radon contractor. Tim Carter of Ask the Builder strongly suggests working out a fair, timely payment plan with your contractor. He also cautions against contractors that may be using your money to pay bills from jobs they finished months ago. Do your research and ask questions before hiring a contractor to ensure that he is knowledgeable and trustworthy. Don’t be afraid to give him an interview beforehand, as he is trying to get a job after all.

Any expert in building, construction, law or any business will tell you that a safe way to handle any agreement is to get everything in writing. Ask the Builder columnist Tim Carter stresses the importance of this and even recommends using email as an easy way to get a written record. Try using email to communicate important points with your radon mitigation specialist, and then save the emails to your hard drive and to a disk and print them out.

There are a number of different methods for radon mitigation in Minneapolis. A good way to see if the radon specialist is a good match for you is to see if the method he plans to use works for your house. The EPA usually recommends methods that keep radon from entering, including soil suction, which draw the radon from below the basement or crawl space floor and push it outside. Some other radon mitigation techniques include sealing, house/room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation, and natural ventilation.

Not all contractors live up to the negative stereotype of being unreliable and stealing money. If you do some research you will be able to find the right radon specialist to entrust your home to. It may take some time but it will be worth it!