How to Test For Radon In Your Home

What is radon and why should you test for it?

Nobody wants to live in a home with poor indoor air quality, but some pollutants are easier to overlook than others. Radon is one of them — it's a silent, naturally occurring gas that can be deadly, making it crucial to stay informed and vigilant about its presence.

Radon and its health risks

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil, rock, and water breaks down. People are exposed to it primarily through breathing in radon in the air, especially when it sneaks in through cracks in buildings and homes.

Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., right behind smoking. According to the EPA, radon is responsible for about 21,000 deaths each year. Long-term exposure can also lead to other respiratory issues and has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's and lung diseases.

How radon enters your home

Radon comes from the ground, and it doesn’t care what kind of house you live in — it can sneak in through even the tiniest cracks. Common entry points include:

• Cracks in your foundation or basement floors
• Gaps around pipes and cables
• Wall or floor joints, especially in homes built over soil with high uranium content

If you live in an area prone to higher radon levels, you’re at an even greater risk. The EPA Radon Zone Map is a helpful tool to see if your region has elevated levels of radon. But no matter where you live, radon can be present, so it’s worth testing your home regularly.

Choosing the right radon test

If you’re curious about how to test for radon, the first step is deciding which test is better for your circumstances. Here’s how you make the call: 

Short-term radon tests

If you want a quick snapshot of your home’s radon levels, short-term radon testing is your best bet. These tests typically last between 2 and 7 days.

• How it works: Short-term radon tests use devices like activated charcoal or electret ion detectors. These materials absorb radon gas from the air in order to measure the amount of radon in your home.
• When to use: This type of test is perfect if you want fast results or if you’re testing during a real estate transaction and need a quick answer. Just remember, short-term tests aren’t as accurate as long-term ones.
• Cost: Typically between $10-$30, depending on the test kit.

Long-term radon tests

For a more comprehensive view of your radon levels, long-term radon testing is the way to go. These tests measure radon levels over a period of 90 days or more, giving you a more accurate picture, especially if you live in an area where levels fluctuate throughout the year.

• How it works: Long-term tests use alpha track detectors or continuous radon monitors to collect data over several months. Because radon levels can vary day to day, long-term radon testing will give you a better understanding of your home's year-round average radon exposure.
• When to use: If you’ve done a short-term test and your results were close to the EPA action level (4 pCi/L), a long-term test can confirm whether action is needed.
• Cost: Expect to pay between $25-$100 for a long-term test, depending on the type.

How to test for radon

Luckily, detecting radon using an at-home kit is not difficult to DIY. These are our tips for approaching the process.

When and where to test

Radon levels can fluctuate based on factors like the time of year, weather conditions, and how well-sealed your home is. The best time to test your home for radon is during the colder months. During winter, we tend to keep our windows and doors tightly shut, trapping radon inside. This creates the perfect environment to get an accurate reading of how much radon is circulating in your home under normal living conditions.

To get the most accurate results, you’ll want to test the lowest livable areas of your home. If you have a basement or crawl space, these are prime locations since radon enters your home from the ground. Even if you don’t spend much time in these areas, they can still affect the air quality throughout your house. Place your test kit in a spot where it won’t be disturbed, avoiding drafts, high heat, or humid areas like bathrooms or kitchens.

Steps for using the kit

1. Choose which type of test: Decide whether short- or long-term fits your needs better.
2. Set it up: Follow the instructions provided with your radon kit. For short-term radon testing, this usually means placing the test device in the lowest level of your home for 2 to 7 days. Make sure the area remains undisturbed, and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
3. Send it off: Once the testing period is over, seal the device according to the kit’s instructions and send it to the lab for analysis. Many test kits include pre-paid shipping, so all you have to do is drop it in the mail.
4. Wait for results: Lab processing times vary, but most results are available within a week or two. You’ll receive a detailed report indicating your home’s radon level and whether it falls within a safe range.

Interpreting your radon testing results

Once you’ve received your test results, the next step is understanding what those numbers mean. Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which indicates the concentration of radon in the air. Here’s what to look for:

• Less than 2 pCi/L: Great news — your radon levels are considered safe. No immediate action is needed, though it’s still a good idea to retest every couple of years, especially if you live in a high-risk area.
• Between 2 and 4 pCi/L: Your levels are below the EPA’s action threshold, but they’re still higher than what’s ideal. Consider retesting or thinking about minor fixes to further reduce radon in your home.
• 4 pCi/L or higher: This is the EPA’s recommended action level. If your radon levels reach or exceed this point, it’s important to take steps to reduce radon exposure in your home.

What to do if your radon levels are high

If your test results show 4 pCi/L or higher, don’t panic. While these levels warrant action, there are effective ways to reduce radon in your home. Here’s what you can do:

1. Retest: If your short-term test results were high, consider performing a long-term test to confirm the results. This will give you a better idea of your home’s year-round radon exposure.
2. Contact a professional: If confirmed high radon levels are present, the next step is to contact a licensed radon mitigation specialist. They can assess your home and recommend a mitigation system, which usually involves installing a vent pipe system and fan to safely expel radon gas from your home. These systems can typically reduce radon levels by up to 99%.
3. Keep testing: After a mitigation system is installed, you should retest your home to make sure that radon levels have dropped and remain at a safe level.

Breathe easy with American Home Shield®

Now that you know how to detect radon, you’ve taken a crucial step toward safeguarding your home and family. But it’s difficult to safeguard against everything, alone. That’s where American Home Shield® comes in.

With an American Home Shield home warranty plan, you can rest easy knowing that AHS will help make sure your home’s major systems and appliances are covered. From HVAC systems to water heaters and electrical issues, we’ve got your back when the unexpected happens. While you do your part to keep your home safe from radon, we’ll be there to help with the rest — helping keep your home functional and comfortable year-round.

Check out our Home Matters blog for more tips on keeping homes safe, from how to check your smoke detector to our recommended home maintenance projects for new homeowners.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.