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Jan 24, 2008 12:00 pm US/Eastern
Angie's List: Radon Testing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
You can't see it or smell it, but it can pose a serious threat to your family's health. It's radon gas. The Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action month. In this week's Angie's List report, Jim Donovan tells us how you can check for radon with an easy test.
People who inhale high levels of radon are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer. Radon gas can seep into your home from underground and build up to a dangerous level if trapped indoors. Yet a recent Angie's List poll found that only 30% of homeowners have ever tested for it.
Checking your house for radon is very easy and inexpensive. There are tests you can pick up at a hardware store for about $20. If your house tests high once you run the test, you may want to test again just to see if it was an anomaly. If it reads high again, you probably want to contact a professional.
"If you find that you have high levels of radon in your house contact a professional about a mitigation system, which might run anywhere between $500 to $700 depending on the size of your house," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.
"When talking to contractors, pick one that supports continual testing after the system is installed," she added.
No area of the country is free from risk. Radon has been found in elevated levels in homes in every state.
You can find out if you have radon in your home with a test sold at your local hardware store. The testing is easy and inexpensive, usually less than $25.
• Check that the test meets EPA requirements and follow the directions carefully. Most tests take two days. After the test, you typically seal the detector back in the package and mail it to a lab.
• Run the test in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy.
• Because radon levels fluctuate, the EPA recommends a follow up test before fixing your home.
• If the second test confirms high levels of radon, (4 pCi/L or higher) choose a qualified radon contractor to fix your home. If you decide to do the work yourself, check first with the EPA on training courses and information.
If you are interested in finding a qualified radon service professional to test or fix your radon problem, here's what you need to know:
• Get more than one estimate in person because every house is different.
• Find someone who will stand by the work and service it. Find a contractor who promotes post-mitigation testing.
• Installing a radon control system normally takes one day. The cost vary from $700-$1,500.
• For more information on contractors, check Angie's List and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website at
www.epa.gov.• Many states certify or license radon contractors, so check before you hire someone.
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