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There is no known safe level of radon so you should always aim to have the lowest radon levels to reduce the risk of lung cancer. Testing your home for radon is an extremely easy and inexpensive thing for homeowners to do that can drastically reduce the future potential for lung cancer in you and your family. Knowledge of what is in the air in your home, even if you can’t see it, can give you the tools you need to make decisions regarding mitigation of radon gas if it is present.
However, sometimes, the seller will pay for this mitigation, although you may have to split the costs in other instances or pay for it entirely on your own. This is a common assumption since radon is most commonly found in basements. Radon gas can be found anywhere in any home, not just in the basement. If the levels come back at or above 4.0 pCi/L, you should run a secondary test to follow-up.
STEP 3: Continuously test for radon with a monitor.
Most kits are very affordable and can be found for under $20. Some kits include the lab fee and others charge a separate fee. The most important thing to consider when choosing a kit is to make sure that the kit meets EPA standards.
Since radon has no odor, taste, or smell it is impossible to detect whether or not it is even in your home, let alone if it's at a dangerous level or not. Search Frequent Questions for immediate answers to the most common questions or send a question to our customer care team. These are great for primary and exploratory testing, or for cases where results are needed quickly. Short-Term samplers are left out for testing for several days.
Conditions that Affect a Radon Test
Though radon testing isn’t part of the standard inspection checklist, many inspectors have additional training in radon testing to meet all of their client’s needs. This provides one-stop shopping for real estate agents and clients looking for a complete picture of a property’s pros and cons. Though a hardware store kit is convenient, it’s not the most accurate or complete measure of radon in your home. These kits tend to be small, and their placement can determine what type of reading you get. Hiring a professional will help ensure that you get accurate results.
After occupancy, all homes should be tested for radon, even those built with radon-resistant features. An active radon testing device is a meter that remains plugged in to provide continuous monitoring of your home’s radon levels. These need to be professionally installed and are useful for understanding how your radon levels change over time. They can be used for short-term or long-term testing, allowing your inspector to tailor the tests to your needs.
Q. Should I hire a professional to conduct a radon test in my home?
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that’s produced by decaying uranium. It’s present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon are found in the air we breathe every day, according to the American Cancer Society. Testing your home is the only way to know if radon levels are high. You and your family could be at risk for lung cancer from radon. Radon is a gas that occurs naturally outdoors in harmless amounts.
Because of this difference in air pressure, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. In most cases, radon entering the home through water is a small risk compared with radon entering your home from the soil. When you get your radon test results, the measurement will be in picocuries (pCi/L). According to the EPA, any home with more than four picocuries of radon per liter of air should have radon mitigation performed to reduce dangerous gas levels. The World Health Organization recommends taking action at 2.7 picocuries.
These levels have been deemed to be unsafe by the EPA, and prolonged exposure could pose serious health consequences, such as a higher chance of developing lung cancer. Even if your results are less than this limit, you may want to consider a radon mitigation system anyway to reduce any levels of radon which are showing up in your home. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. Measuring indoor radon levels will give you insight into an important aspect of a home’s air quality and let you know if your dream house has a radon problem.
According to the EPA, the levels of indoor air pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. So, this is another great reason to test for radon—you’ll learn what is the highest level of radon that can be affecting you and your family. This system, known as a soil depressurization system, does not require major changes to your home. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind of system more effective and cost-efficient.
Testing is the only way to find out your home's radon levels. Use your home like you normally would while you are testing for radon. Let your HVAC system heat or cool your house and continue to operate any radon mitigation systems that you already have installed. Make sure that you leave your windows and doors shut during the testing period so that the house doesn’t air out and show less radon than there actually is. It is fine to come and go from your house through the door, just don’t leave it open all day.
If you suspect serious radon levels in your home, don’t worry about passing the test. The easiest way to avoid radon trapping itself in your home is to bolster your home’s ventilation. Better airflow means that you have a better chance of having radon leave your home.
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