What is Radon?

What is Radon?

Many homeowners don’t realize radon is present in their home.

  • Radon is a colorless, odorless gas.
  • Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
  • The EPA recommends action when levels reach 4.0 pCi/L or higher.
  • The only way to know your home’s radon level is to test 

FAQ

Short answer: Not necessarily—but it can make radon exposure more concerning.

Radon enters a home from the soil beneath the foundation through small cracks, expansion joints, plumbing penetrations, and other openings. Whether your basement is finished or unfinished doesn’t significantly change how much radon enters the home.

However, if your basement is finished and used as living space—such as a family room, bedroom, home office, or playroom—you and your family may spend many more hours there. Since radon is a long-term health risk, the amount of time spent in elevated radon levels matters.

The only way to know your home’s radon level is to perform a radon test. If elevated levels are found, a professionally installed mitigation system can typically reduce radon levels by up to 99%.

Absolutely. Even if the home was tested during the purchase process, it’s a good idea to perform your own test after moving in.

Radon levels can change over time due to seasonal weather, soil moisture, foundation settling, renovations, or changes to your HVAC system. A test performed months—or even years—ago may no longer reflect your home’s current radon level.

The EPA recommends testing every home below the third floor, regardless of age or location. If you’re moving into an older home, recently finished a basement, or completed major renovations, retesting is especially important.

Testing is inexpensive, takes only a few days, and provides peace of mind that your family’s indoor air is safe.

In most cases, the increase is very small.

A typical radon mitigation system uses an energy-efficient fan that runs continuously to safely vent radon gas above your roofline. Most fans consume about the same amount of electricity as a standard light bulb, resulting in only a few dollars per month in additional energy costs.

A properly installed mitigation system should also maintain your home’s energy efficiency. During installation, foundation openings are sealed where appropriate, helping prevent unnecessary air leakage.

Considering that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, the small operating cost is a worthwhile investment in your family’s health.

The EPA recommends testing your home every two years, even if you’ve tested before.

You should also test any time significant changes are made to your home, including finishing a basement, adding an addition, replacing HVAC equipment, or making major foundation repairs.

If your home already has a radon mitigation system, periodic testing confirms that it’s continuing to perform properly. While mitigation systems are very reliable, fan failures can occur over time.

Regular testing is the easiest way to ensure your home continues to maintain safe radon levels year after year.

Yes. On average 1 in 5 homes in Idaho have elevated radon levels.

Unfortunately, no.

Radon levels can vary significantly from one home to the next—even homes built by the same builder, at the same time, on the same street.

Every home interacts differently with the soil beneath it. Small differences in foundation cracks, drainage, construction methods, and air pressure can cause one home to have very low radon levels while another nearby has elevated concentrations.

Your neighbor’s test result is interesting, but it shouldn’t be used to predict your own home’s radon level. The only reliable way to know is to test your home.

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EPA WARNING

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommend that ALL homebuyers have an indoor radon test performed prior to purchase or taking occupancy, and recommend having the radon levels mitigated if elevated radon concentrations are found. Elevated radon concentrations can easily be reduced by a radon mitigator. All homes should be tested regardless of geographic location or foundation type. Radon, a Class-A human carcinogen is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause overall.

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