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How to test your home for radon

The EPA says testing is the only way to know your level of exposure to radon. It recommends fixing a home if the level is 4 pCi/L (150 Bq/m³) or higher, and says to consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L.

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How to test your home for radon

Checklist

  • Get a radon test kit or a qualified radon measurement professional (EPA lists where to find one)Once
  • Run the test and read the result in pCi/LOnce
  • If the result is 4 pCi/L or higher, plan to fix the home; consider fixing at 2 to 4 pCi/LIf needed
  • Retest if you start using a lower level of the home, such as a basementAs needed

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Why test

EPA's radon page says: testing is the only way to know your level of exposure. You cannot tell by looking at or smelling a home.

What the results mean

EPA's action level is 4 pCi/L (150 Bq/m³), and the agency recommends homes be fixed at that level. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also says to consider fixing homes between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA gives the average indoor level in U.S. homes as about 1.3 pCi/L.

When to test again

EPA sets no fixed retesting schedule. It says to retest on a level of the home you start using that was not tested before, such as a basement, and that after a result under 4 pCi/L you may want to test again sometime in the future. When selling, a buyer may ask for a new test if the last one is not recent (EPA gives within two years as an example) or if you have renovated since.

Questions

What radon level is too high?

EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L (150 Bq/m³) or higher, and says to consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L.

How often should I retest for radon?

EPA gives no fixed interval. Retest when you start using a lower level of the home, and consider testing again in the future after a low result.

Sources

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General guidance for typical homes. Follow your equipment manufacturer's instructions and local codes, and hire a pro for anything you're not comfortable doing.