Your radon test came back high. Here's what to do next.
What the number means, when Pennsylvania's DEP says to test again, and how to get it fixed.
Read the number
Radon results are reported in picocuries per liter, written pCi/L. EPA's action level is 4.0 pCi/L, and EPA suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Put your number in the checker below to see where it falls.
Check your result
Results are in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). EPA's action level is 4.0, and EPA suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4.
Confirm a high result with a second test
PA DEP's guidance for a result above 4 pCi/L is to confirm it with a second test before fixing:
- 4 to 8 pCi/L: do either a long-term test (365 days) or another short-term test (2 to 7 days).
- Above 8 pCi/L: DEP still advises a second test to confirm the result before fixing.
- Still 4.0 or higher: take corrective action, which means a mitigation system installed by a certified mitigator.
- Above 100 pCi/L on a screening test: DEP offers a free short-term confirmation kit. Call the DEP Radon Hotline at 1-800-237-2366.
If you're in the middle of a home sale, the inspection deadline may not leave room for a long-term test. Talk it through with your agent and the mitigator.
How to test so the result means something
- Test in the basement, where levels are often highest, or on the lowest level you use. DEP notes the ground floor is also a good place, since homes without basements can have high radon too.
- Home test kits cost about $20 to $30 at hardware and home improvement stores. You can also hire a DEP-certified testing company.
- Follow the kit's directions exactly, and have it analyzed by a Pennsylvania-certified lab.
Fixing it
Hire a mitigator certified by PA DEP. They'll look at your basement, give you an estimate and install a system, usually a fan connected to PVC piping that pulls radon from under the slab. DEP says the installation should take less than a day, and the installer should retest after the system has run for at least 24 hours.
The system has a U-tube gauge on the pipe. Uneven fluid levels mean the fan is running. Even levels mean it may not be working, and it's time to call the installer.
After the fix
PA DEP suggests retesting every two years, preferably during the heating season. EPA also recommends retesting at least every two years to make sure levels stay low.