Radon Installation Contractors LLC P.O. Box 10023 Alexandria, Virginia 22310 703.971.0717 ric@radonone.net
How to Test Your Home
You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your
home. All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few
minutes of your time.
The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picoCuries per liter of air," or "pCi/L."
Sometimes test results are expressed in Working Levels (WL) rather than picoCuries
per liter (pCi/L) (4 pCi/L equals to 0.016 WL). There are many kinds of low-cost "do-
it-yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and
other retail outlets. If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire
a qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first contact your state radon
office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a private radon
proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals serving your
area.
There are Two General Ways to Test for Radon:
SHORT-TERM TESTING:
The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your
home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha
track," "electret ion chamber," "continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid
scintillation" detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because
radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is
less likely than a long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. If
you need results quickly, however, a short-term test followed by a second short-term
test may be used to decide whether to fix your home (see Home Sales).
LONG-TERM TESTING:
Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. "Alpha track" and
"electret" 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.
How To Use a Test Kit:
Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test, close your
windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating
and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or
other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or
small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are
doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors at
least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting just
2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually high winds. The test kit should
be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is frequently
used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is used regularly (like a living room,
playroom, den or bedroom) but not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 48 inches
above the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed — away from drafts, high heat, high
humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you've
finished the test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for
analysis. You should receive your test results within a few weeks.
EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
Step 1. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher take a follow-up test (Step
2) to be sure.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:
For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term
test.
If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a
short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is more than
twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately. If you
followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or
more. If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your short-term results,
the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the
average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. (see also Home Sales)
What Your Test Results Mean
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is
normally found in the outside air. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon
levels be no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all
cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.
Sometimes short-term tests are less definitive about whether or not your home is above 4 pCi/L.
This can happen when your results are close to 4 pCi/L. For example, if the average of your two
short-term test results is 4.1 pCi/L, there is about a 50% chance that your year-round average is
somewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk — no
level of radon is safe. Even radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your
risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level.
If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a
basement) you should retest your home on that level.
Even if your test result is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again sometime in the future.
www.RadonONE.net
Design and Installation of Radon Mitigation Systems
Back
Radon
Installation Contractors
Radon Installation Contractors LLC P.O. Box 10023 Alexandria, Virginia 22310 703.971.0717 ric@radonone.net
How to Test Your Home
You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your
home. All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few
minutes of your time.
The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picoCuries per liter of air," or "pCi/L."
Sometimes test results are expressed in Working Levels (WL) rather than picoCuries
per liter (pCi/L) (4 pCi/L equals to 0.016 WL). There are many kinds of low-cost "do-
it-yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and
other retail outlets. If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire
a qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first contact your state radon
office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a private radon
proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals serving your
area.
There are Two General Ways to Test for Radon:
SHORT-TERM TESTING:
The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your
home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha
track," "electret ion chamber," "continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid
scintillation" detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because
radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is
less likely than a long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. If
you need results quickly, however, a short-term test followed by a second short-term
test may be used to decide whether to fix your home (see Home Sales).
LONG-TERM TESTING:
Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. "Alpha track" and
"electret" 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.
How To Use a Test Kit:
Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test, close your
windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating
and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or
other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or
small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are
doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors at
least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting just
2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually high winds. The test kit should
be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is frequently
used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is used regularly (like a living room,
playroom, den or bedroom) but not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 48 inches
above the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed — away from drafts, high heat, high
humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you've
finished the test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for
analysis. You should receive your test results within a few weeks.
EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
Step 1. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher take a follow-up test (Step
2) to be sure.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:
For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term
test.
If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a
short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is more than
twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately. If you
followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or
more. If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your short-term results,
the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the
average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. (see also Home Sales)
What Your Test Results Mean
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is
normally found in the outside air. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon
levels be no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all
cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.
Sometimes short-term tests are less definitive about whether or not your home is above 4 pCi/L.
This can happen when your results are close to 4 pCi/L. For example, if the average of your two
short-term test results is 4.1 pCi/L, there is about a 50% chance that your year-round average is
somewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk — no
level of radon is safe. Even radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your
risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level.
If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a
basement) you should retest your home on that level.
Even if your test result is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again sometime in the future.
www.RadonONE.net
Design and Installation of Radon Mitigation Systems
