Check Radon Levels
Why It Matters
Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It seeps from the ground into your home undetected without testing.
Quick Guide
- 1
Gather your tools and materials
You'll need: Radon test kit. Materials required: necessary materials.
- 2
Perform the check radon levels
Use a radon test kit or continuous monitor to check radon levels in your lowest livable floor.
- 3
Verify and clean up
Check that the work was completed correctly and clean up your workspace. If if levels are above 4 pci/l, contact a radon mitigation specialist, consider calling a professional.
Tools & Materials
Tools
- Radon test kit
Community Tips
Radon enters homes primarily through foundation cracks, basement floors, and sump pump openings—test the lowest lived-in level of the home for the most accurate results, as radon concentration increases closer to the ground. The EPA recommends a minimum 48-hour test window, though longer tests (7-90 days) provide more reliable data for homes with fluctuating radon levels.
The First Alert RD1 Radon Detector ($25-40) combines ease of use with professional-grade accuracy, displaying real-time radon levels and offering optional lab analysis to confirm results—eliminating guesswork about whether a spike is temporary or indicates a chronic problem. This device removes the barrier of interpreting passive test strips and provides actionable data within days rather than weeks.
Radon levels naturally spike during winter months when homes are sealed tight and barometric pressure drops, so testing in fall or winter yields the highest readings and represents worst-case exposure scenarios. Failing to test during these seasons risks underestimating a home's radon risk and delaying necessary mitigation systems that could take 1-2 months to install. ---