You may know we’ve been working to make our home greener—removing harmful chemicals and starting a compost bin—but one important step we nearly overlooked was testing our house for radon to protect indoor air quality.
Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that seeps up from the ground and can accumulate in homes built over areas with elevated levels. It’s a serious health concern: the EPA identifies radon as the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. You can check local radon risk maps to see if your county is in a higher-risk zone.
Shortly after we moved in, Sherry suggested we test for radon. At first I hesitated, thinking it might be unnecessary, but we decided to buy an inexpensive test kit. The kit was simple to use—placed discreetly for three days, then mailed back in the provided prepaid envelope. After a few weeks we expected a safe reading below the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L.
The results were alarming: our home tested at 10 pCi/L, more than twice the recommended threshold. We contacted a certified radon mitigation professional recommended by our local radon office. After confirming the elevated level, we moved forward with installing a radon reduction system.
In short, the mitigation involved covering exposed soil in our crawl space with an airtight plastic membrane to block radon emissions. A suction system was then installed: piping draws air from beneath the membrane and vents it through the house—running through a closet and the attic—and out a roof-mounted outlet so the radon discharges safely above the roofline.
The system cost about $2,100, which was a significant expense soon after closing, but it proved very effective. After allowing the system to run for a few months, we retested and measured 1.0 pCi/L—more than ten times lower than our initial reading and even below typical outdoor levels. To ensure continued protection, we test annually to confirm the mitigation system remains effective.
Testing for radon is inexpensive and straightforward—many short-term kits cost around $15—and it can make a life-saving difference. If you have pets or young children in the home, regular testing and prompt mitigation when levels are high are especially important steps for keeping everyone safe.