Radon U-Tube Manometer

The RadonAway 50017 Easy Read is a U-tube manometer that mounts on the suction pipe of an active radon mitigation system and shows, at a glance, whether the fan is pulling a vacuum beneath the slab. It is for homeowners with an existing system who want a working pressure indicator, and for installers finishing a new one. What sets it apart is the complete system-labeling package in the box: tubing, screws, component labels, an information brochure and a bag for hanging paperwork beside the pipe. It does not measure radon itself.

Specifications

RadonAway 50017 Easy Read — 0–4.5 in. WC U-tube, adjustable zero, pipe-curved scale, labels and brochure included

How It Compares

Only Three Direct Rivals Among 19 Similar Listings

We read 19 similar listings. Only three are other standalone manometers designed to mount on radon piping: the 50017’s red-fluid twin, the RadonAway 50018, plus the XYF Air Easy Read and the AprilAire ARN05M. Another four listings bundle a manometer inside a fan or coupling kit, and the rest are fans, vent caps, a replacement hood, a condensate bypass or gauges built for other jobs, such as a Dwyer lab-style U-tube, an LP gas pressure tester, a digital HVAC manometer and a student lab gauge. Those general-purpose gauges measure pressure but are not designed to live permanently on a radon riser.

Among these radon-specific gauges, the differences are small. The XYF lists the same 0 to 4.5 inch range and adjustable zero and adds a stated five-year replacement warranty, which the 50017 listing does not mention. The AprilAire reads to 5 inches and includes stickers, a manual, tubing and two screws. The 50017 stands out mainly for its labeling and documentation package, which helps the next owner or inspector understand the system.

The RadonAway 50018 listing states plainly that the gauge is not for testing radon levels. The same applies to the 50017: a healthy reading confirms suction, not low radon.

Who It’s For — and Who Should Skip It

This gauge suits owners of a mitigation system whose original manometer is cracked, faded or missing, sellers preparing a home for inspection, and installers completing a system. Its documentation pieces are useful where a system was never labeled.

Skip it if the goal is to learn the home’s radon level; that requires a test kit or continuous monitor. Homes without an active mitigation system have no use for it.

Using It at Home

A U-tube manometer is the system’s pressure indicator. One side connects through a small hole in the suction pipe; when the fan runs, it pulls the fluid on that side up, so the two columns sit at different heights. A certified mitigator drills and seals that connection and records the starting reading on the system label. The EPA explains how to find a certified radon mitigation professional.

• Uneven columns: the fan is drawing suction. This is the normal state.
• Columns level with each other: the fan may be off, failed, or the pipe blocked. In Colorado winters, ice at the roof discharge is one cause worth having checked.
• A big change from the recorded reading: suction has shifted, possibly from a failing fan, new cracks or a disconnected pipe.

Check it monthly and retest radon every couple of years regardless of what the gauge shows. If the columns read level or the reading drifts far from the label, contact us for a retest or referral.

Related Guides

• How a U-tube manometer works
• Radon fans explained
• Radon pipe and vent routing
• Best radon detectors for home
• Shop radon mitigation fans and parts

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