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If testing your home for radon has been on your backburner for months or even years, now’s the time to prioritize it. While it might not seem as thrilling as other home improvement tasks—like painting walls or installing curtains—the peace of mind it brings is invaluable. Ensuring your home is radon-free allows you to fully enjoy those aesthetic upgrades. Learn how to detect, remove, and prevent radon from becoming a threat in your home.
What exactly is radon?
Radon is a silent intruder. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes it as a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium in soil, rock, and water decays. It’s invisible, odorless, and can seep into the air we breathe, infiltrating homes, workplaces, and schools without detection.
Since we spend a significant portion of our time indoors, undetected radon in our homes is a growing concern. Elevated radon levels aren’t limited to specific areas; this gas can be present in any location.
The health risks of radon are serious. The EPA estimates that radon could be responsible for thousands of deaths annually, and the Surgeon General identifies it as the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., surpassed only by smoking.
Steps to test your home for radon
Testing your home for radon is straightforward and doesn’t take much time. You can purchase a short-term or long-term Accu-Star-certified radon test online, at a nearby home improvement store, or through the company’s official website.
Short-term testing kits assess radon levels over two to seven days. If this is your first radon test, begin with a short-term test to quickly determine if radon is an issue. For more comprehensive results, consider a long-term kit, which monitors radon levels for 90 days or more.
On the Accu-Star website, short-term radon test kits start at $26, while long-term kits are priced at $35. Discounted options are available through the National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University, where short-term kits cost $17 and long-term kits are $27.
Recommended products:
Portable radon home detector ($94.99 discounted)
Short-term Accu-Star radon test ($26)
Long-term Accu-Star radon test ($35)
Steps to eliminate radon from your home
If your radon test reveals levels exceeding 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCI/L), it’s crucial to seek professional help. Radon mitigation is not a DIY task, so reach out to your state EPA office for a list of certified contractors in your area.
A professional radon mitigation contractor will evaluate your home to identify the necessary steps to address the issue, which depend on your home’s foundation and geographic location. They can also provide advice on future prevention, such as sealing foundation cracks.
After professional mitigation, re-test your home to ensure radon levels are safe. Continuous monitoring with a portable radon detector is also recommended. For instance, the Airthing Corentium detector, available on Amazon, offers both short- and long-term readings and can last up to 10 years.
Preventing radon from becoming a threat
You can take proactive steps to safeguard your home and its occupants from radon by installing a passive radon control system. According to the EPA, here are some measures you can implement:
Seal any cracks in your basement and foundation to minimize radon infiltration
Use a fan system, depending on your home’s design, to increase basement air pressure and prevent radon entry
Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) to improve ventilation by continuously circulating fresh outdoor air throughout your home
