Radon Mitigation Complaint Michigan: 2026 Filing Steps

A bad radon mitigation job doesn't just waste money — it leaves a house with elevated radon and a false sense of safety. Here's the exact process for filing a radon mitigation complaint in Michigan in 2026, from documentation to escalation.

TL;DR

Michigan has no state license for radon contractors, so a radon mitigation complaint in Michigan routes through NRPP/NRSB certification boards, not a state agency.
Retest with a continuous monitor before you file anything — a post-mitigation reading above 4 pCi/L is your strongest evidence.
Send the contractor written notice first with a 14-day deadline; skipping this step slows every complaint that follows.
File the ethics complaint with the certifying body first, then escalate to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team if needed.

Why this matters

Radon mitigation systems fail quietly. A fan can be undersized, a suction point can be sealed in the wrong spot, or a system can be installed and never actually tested afterward — and none of it shows up until someone runs another test and finds the number hasn't moved. In 2026, most Michigan homeowners still don't know that radon contractors aren't state-licensed here, which means the complaint process looks different than it would for a plumber or electrician.

Getting the sequence right matters because certification boards and consumer protection offices both want documentation before they'll act. Filing without it means your complaint sits in a queue instead of getting resolved.

What you'll need

The original contract or invoice showing the contractor's name, license/NRPP number, and system type installed
Before-and-after radon test results (lab report or continuous monitor printout, with dates)
Photos of the system — vent pipe routing, fan location, manometer or U-tube gauge reading
Any warranty documentation issued at installation
A written timeline: install date, any follow-up visits, and when you noticed the problem
The technician's NRPP or NRSB certification number, if it was provided

If you're missing the certification number, verifying a radon mitigation contractor's NRPP certification walks through how to look it up using the company name and install address instead.

The steps

1. Retest before you file anything

A complaint without current data is a complaint that goes nowhere. Run a continuous radon monitor or a short-term lab test in the same location as the original post-mitigation test, under closed-house conditions, for at least 48 hours. If the reading is at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L after a system was supposedly installed and verified, that's your core evidence.

Common mistake: testing with windows open or during unusually windy weather, which skews results low and undercuts your case.

2. Pull your paperwork together

Line up the contract, invoice, warranty, and both sets of test results in one folder — physical or digital. Certification boards and consumer protection offices ask for this upfront, and having it ready cuts weeks off the process. If the work was tied to a home purchase or insurance claim, documenting radon mitigation work for insurance claims covers the exact format most claims adjusters expect.

3. Contact the contractor in writing first

Send a dated letter or email describing the problem, attaching your retest results, and giving a specific deadline — 14 days is standard. Keep a copy. Most certifying bodies and the Attorney General's office both ask whether you attempted to resolve the issue directly before escalating, so this step isn't optional if you want your complaint taken seriously.

Expected outcome: a response committing to a specific fix date, a refusal, or silence. All three move you to the next step.

4. File an ethics complaint with the certifying body

Michigan doesn't run its own state licensing program for radon mitigation contractors — oversight sits with the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB), whichever body certified the technician. Both organizations accept written ethics complaints against certified individuals and can investigate, require corrective action, or suspend certification. This is the step most homeowners skip, and it's the one with real teeth against a certified tech.

5. File with the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection team

If the contractor ignored your 14-day letter or the work clearly doesn't match the contract, a consumer complaint with the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection division creates an official record and can trigger mediation. This route works best for billing disputes, warranty refusals, and contracts that misrepresented what was installed.

6. Escalate with a Better Business Bureau complaint

A BBB complaint doesn't carry regulatory weight, but it's public, it's fast to file, and most contractors respond to protect their rating. Run this alongside, not instead of, the certification board complaint.

7. Get an independent second opinion

Before any repair or refund gets negotiated, have a different NRPP-certified company inspect the existing system and confirm what's actually wrong — undersized fan, bad suction point, missing sealant, or a system that was never balanced. Comparing radon mitigation quotes from Michigan contractors helps you evaluate the second opinion against what the fix should reasonably cost in 2026.

Need a second opinion on a failed system?

Get an independent inspection before you finalize any complaint or refund request.

Request an inspection

Troubleshooting

System retested above 4 pCi/L after "completed" mitigation. Get a manometer reading first — a flat or reversed gauge often means the fan failed or a pipe joint is leaking, not that the whole system needs replacing. Reading a radon mitigation system's pressure gauge shows what a working reading looks like versus a failure.

Contractor stopped responding after the written notice. Move straight to the NRPP/NRSB ethics complaint and the Attorney General filing — don't wait past your stated deadline for a second round of outreach.

Warranty claim denied. Compare the denial reason against the original warranty terms line by line; a surprising number of denials cite exclusions that weren't disclosed at signing.

Can't find the technician's certification number. Check the original invoice, the permit if one was pulled, or the sticker often placed on the fan housing itself.

Complaint filed but no response after 30 days. Follow up in writing referencing your complaint or case number — both certification boards and the AG's office process complaints in batches, and a follow-up moves yours forward.

Dispute over whether the install met code. An independent inspection from a different certified company, combined with photos of the suction pit and pipe routing, settles most code arguments faster than a phone call.

Tools and resources

Original contract, invoice, and warranty paperwork
A continuous radon monitor or short-term lab test kit for your retest
Verify the contractor's NRPP certification before filing anything
Best radon mitigation contractors in Metro Detroit if you need a second opinion or a replacement installer
Verify your radon mitigation system is still working for a quick self-check before you escalate

What to do next

Once the complaint is filed and a fix or refund is on the table, don't sign off until a retest confirms the number is actually down. Comparing radon mitigation quotes from Michigan contractors is the right next stop if the original company can't be trusted with the repair.

FAQ

What’s the best way to file a radon mitigation complaint in Michigan?

Start with written notice to the contractor and a retest, then file an ethics complaint with NRPP or NRSB and, if unresolved, with the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team. Documentation — contract, test results, photos — determines how fast either body acts.

Is radon mitigation regulated by the state of Michigan?

No, Michigan does not license radon mitigation contractors at the state level. Oversight runs through national certification bodies (NRPP and NRSB), which is why complaints against certified techs go to those organizations first.

How long does a radon mitigation complaint take to resolve?

Most certification board and Attorney General complaints take several weeks once documentation is complete, though timelines vary by case volume. Following up in writing after 30 days with no response keeps your complaint from stalling.

What if my radon levels are still high after mitigation?

Retest under closed-house conditions for at least 48 hours before assuming the system failed. A reading at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L after mitigation is the core evidence for any complaint you file.

Can I get my money back from a bad radon mitigation job?

Refunds are possible through direct negotiation, warranty claims, or a Michigan Attorney General consumer complaint if the contractor won’t cooperate. A written contract and documented test results make the refund case far stronger.

Does the EPA handle individual radon mitigation complaints?

The EPA sets the national action level of 4 pCi/L and program guidelines but does not investigate individual contractor complaints in Michigan. Those go to NRPP, NRSB, or state consumer protection channels instead.

What information do I need before filing a complaint?

Gather the contract, invoice, before-and-after test results, photos of the system, and the technician’s certification number. Complaints filed without this documentation typically get pushed back for more information.

How do I verify a contractor’s NRPP certification before or after hiring?

Check the certification number listed on the invoice or fan housing against the technician’s name and company. A mismatch or an inactive certification status is itself grounds for a complaint.

One last thing

Most radon mitigation complaints in Michigan trace back to one of two things: an undersized fan for the home's foundation type, or a vent pipe terminated too close to a window or door. Both are cheap to diagnose with a pressure gauge check and expensive to ignore — a system that looks installed but was never actually verified with a post-mitigation test is functionally no system at all.