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hole_in_basement_concrete [2025.06.28 15:43] – Steve Isenberghole_in_basement_concrete [2025.06.28 16:41] (current) – [Sealing a Plumber’s Box Hole Using Nashua 324A Tape] Steve Isenberg
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 === Interpreting Your Readings === === Interpreting Your Readings ===
- • One-Day Average +  * One-Day Average 
- • Good for quick checks (e.g., after rain, testing HVAC effects). +    * Good for quick checks (e.g., after rain, testing HVAC effects). 
- • Can fluctuate due to weather, barometric pressure, HVAC use, etc. +    * Can fluctuate due to weather, barometric pressure, HVAC use, etc. 
- • Do not make decisions based solely on one-day averages. +    * Do not make decisions based solely on one-day averages. 
- • Seven-Day Average +  * Seven-Day Average 
- • More reliable for assessing your home’s typical radon level. +    * More reliable for assessing your home’s typical radon level. 
- • Use this as your main guide for decisions.+    * Use this as your main guide for decisions.
  
 === Recommended Actions Based on Levels === === Recommended Actions Based on Levels ===
  
 ==== < 2.0 pCi/L ==== ==== < 2.0 pCi/L ====
- • No action needed. +  * No action needed. 
- • Retest every few years or after major home changes.+  * Retest every few years or after major home changes.
  
 ==== 2.0 – 3.9 pCi/L ==== ==== 2.0 – 3.9 pCi/L ====
- • Retest periodically. +  * Retest periodically. 
- • Consider: +  * Consider: 
- • Sealing cracks in foundation and basement. +    * Sealing cracks in foundation and basement. 
- • Improving ventilation. +    * Improving ventilation. 
- • Using fans to increase air exchange. +    * Using fans to increase air exchange. 
- • Avoid prolonged closed-window conditions. +    * Avoid prolonged closed-window conditions. 
- • Proactive action is beneficial but not urgent.+  * Proactive action is beneficial but not urgent.
  
 ==== 4.0+ pCi/L ==== ==== 4.0+ pCi/L ====
- • Professional radon mitigation strongly recommended. +  * Professional radon mitigation strongly recommended. 
- • Mitigation methods: +  * Mitigation methods: 
- • Sub-slab depressurization (most common). +    * Sub-slab depressurization (most common). 
- • Sealing entry points. +    * Sealing entry points. 
- • Crawlspace ventilation (if applicable). +    * Crawlspace ventilation (if applicable). 
- • Typical cost: $800–$2,500 depending on house.+  * Typical cost: $800–$2,500 depending on house.
  
 ==== 8.0+ pCi/L ==== ==== 8.0+ pCi/L ====
- • High priority. +  * High priority. 
- • Immediate mitigation recommended using methods above.+  * Immediate mitigation recommended using methods above.
  
 === Special Situations === === Special Situations ===
- • Selling/Buying a Home: Even borderline levels may be a concern for buyers. +  * Selling/Buying a Home: Even borderline levels may be a concern for buyers. 
- • Young Children or Respiratory Issues: Be more cautious; consider mitigation at moderate levels.+  * Young Children or Respiratory Issues: Be more cautious; consider mitigation at moderate levels.
  
 === Ongoing Monitoring === === Ongoing Monitoring ===
- • After mitigation, consider continuous monitoring to ensure levels remain low.+  * After mitigation, consider continuous monitoring to ensure levels remain low.
  
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 A plumber’s box is a rectangular hole in the basement concrete slab, commonly found in older homes (e.g., built in the 1950s). It allows access to sewer pipes beneath the floor. These openings can act as direct radon entry points. A plumber’s box is a rectangular hole in the basement concrete slab, commonly found in older homes (e.g., built in the 1950s). It allows access to sewer pipes beneath the floor. These openings can act as direct radon entry points.
  
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 === Do You Need to Keep It Accessible? === === Do You Need to Keep It Accessible? ===
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   * You’ve had sewer line issues in the past.   * You’ve had sewer line issues in the past.
  
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 === Risks of Sealing It Permanently === === Risks of Sealing It Permanently ===
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 | Continued radon entry if not sealed properly | Moderate | Use proper sealing materials | | Continued radon entry if not sealed properly | Moderate | Use proper sealing materials |
  
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 === Recommended Permanent Sealing Steps === === Recommended Permanent Sealing Steps ===
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   - Optionally embed a capped pipe or box for future access.   - Optionally embed a capped pipe or box for future access.
  
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 === Temporary Covering Option (Short Term) === === Temporary Covering Option (Short Term) ===
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 **Note:** This is only a temporary measure. It is not airtight and should not be considered a permanent radon mitigation solution. **Note:** This is only a temporary measure. It is not airtight and should not be considered a permanent radon mitigation solution.
  
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 === Summary === === Summary ===
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 ====== Sealing a Plumber’s Box Hole Using Nashua 324A Tape ====== ====== Sealing a Plumber’s Box Hole Using Nashua 324A Tape ======
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 === Purpose === === Purpose ===
 Temporarily or semi-permanently seal an open plumber’s box hole in the basement floor to reduce radon entry and soil gas infiltration. Temporarily or semi-permanently seal an open plumber’s box hole in the basement floor to reduce radon entry and soil gas infiltration.
- 
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 === Materials Needed === === Materials Needed ===
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   * Wooden board (to cover and protect the plastic sheeting)   * Wooden board (to cover and protect the plastic sheeting)
   * Weights (e.g., concrete block or heavy object)   * Weights (e.g., concrete block or heavy object)
- 
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 === Preparation === === Preparation ===
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     * Allow surface to dry fully for better tape adhesion.     * Allow surface to dry fully for better tape adhesion.
   - Cut plastic sheeting large enough to cover the hole and extend at least 6–12 inches beyond the hole edges onto clean concrete.   - Cut plastic sheeting large enough to cover the hole and extend at least 6–12 inches beyond the hole edges onto clean concrete.
- 
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 === Sealing Steps === === Sealing Steps ===
  
-  1. Lay the plastic sheeting flat over the plumber’s box hole. +  - Lay the plastic sheeting flat over the plumber’s box hole. 
-  2. Smooth out any wrinkles to ensure full contact with the floor. +  - Smooth out any wrinkles to ensure full contact with the floor. 
-  3. Apply Nashua 324A tape along the edges of the plastic: +  - Apply Nashua 324A tape along the edges of the plastic: 
-      * Press tape firmly onto both the plastic and the concrete. +     * Press tape firmly onto both the plastic and the concrete. 
-      * Overlap tape strips by about 1 inch for better sealing. +     * Overlap tape strips by about 1 inch for better sealing. 
-      * Use a roller or your hand to press down along the full width of the tape for maximum adhesion. +     * Use a roller or your hand to press down along the full width of the tape for maximum adhesion. 
-  4. Place the wooden board on top of the sealed plastic for extra protection. +  - Place the wooden board on top of the sealed plastic for extra protection. 
-  5. Set weights on top of the board to prevent accidental shifting. +  - Set weights on top of the board to prevent accidental shifting.
- +
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 === Notes === === Notes ===
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   * Nashua 324A is suitable for this application due to its high adhesion, vapor barrier properties, and UL certification.   * Nashua 324A is suitable for this application due to its high adhesion, vapor barrier properties, and UL certification.
   * This setup allows for later permanent sealing if necessary.   * This setup allows for later permanent sealing if necessary.
- 
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 === Long-Term Options === === Long-Term Options ===
hole_in_basement_concrete.1751150600.txt.gz · Last modified: by Steve Isenberg