Do It Yourself

There are two main ways to test your home for radon; the most common are:

short-term tests
long-term tests

Because radon levels vary from day to day and season to season, long-term testing will more closely represent you your year-round average radon level. However, if you want results quickly a short-term test may be the best choice as you decide whether to fix the home.

Radon test kits are available on-line, at your local hardware store and sometimes through your county’s board of health department. Always check to make sure they are reliable, state certified test kits. Fees for home kits are around $40.00 each (including lab fees).

If you plan to do it yourself, the EPA recommends that homeowners always purchase two test kits. You can perform the tests side by side for confirmation or conduct two tests in consecutive order. Either way, your results will be validated by an offsite lab. The results are typically sent to you from the lab within a week.

The most common method for homeowners to test their home is through a short-term test. <link to methods>

Short-Term Testing

The quickest way to test your home for radon is with a short-term test. Short-term tests remain in your home from two days to 90 days, depending on the device. All short-term tests should be done twice to ensure accuracy (with the exception of during a real estate transaction.)

Long-Term Testing

Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. Alpha track, and electret ion chamber detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test. If time permits (more than 90 days) long-term tests can be used to confirm initial short-term results.

When using a short-term or long-term test, if the results are 4.0 pCi/L or higher, the EPA strongly encourages fixing the home. The EPA also recommends that every home should be tested for radon every 2-3 years.



	Hire the Professionals with At Home Radon Frequently Asked Questions Testing Methods Do It Yourself Facts and Myths About Radon Search Join our Mailing List	Do It Yourself There are two main ways to test your home for radon; the most common are: short-term tests long-term tests Because radon levels vary from day to day and season to season, long-term testing will more closely represent you your year-round average radon level. However, if you want results quickly a short-term test may be the best choice as you decide whether to fix the home. Radon test kits are available on-line, at your local hardware store and sometimes through your county’s board of health department. Always check to make sure they are reliable, state certified test kits. Fees for home kits are around $40.00 each (including lab fees). If you plan to do it yourself, the EPA recommends that homeowners always purchase two test kits. You can perform the tests side by side for confirmation or conduct two tests in consecutive order. Either way, your results will be validated by an offsite lab. The results are typically sent to you from the lab within a week. The most common method for homeowners to test their home is through a short-term test. <link to methods> Short-Term Testing The quickest way to test your home for radon is with a short-term test. Short-term tests remain in your home from two days to 90 days, depending on the device. All short-term tests should be done twice to ensure accuracy (with the exception of during a real estate transaction.) Long-Term Testing Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. Alpha track, and electret ion chamber detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test. If time permits (more than 90 days) long-term tests can be used to confirm initial short-term results. When using a short-term or long-term test, if the results are 4.0 pCi/L or higher, the EPA strongly encourages fixing the home. The EPA also recommends that every home should be tested for radon every 2-3 years.
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