A home radon test kit involves a couple of steps and only takes a few minutes to set up. Here’s what you need to know.
Step 1: Read the radon test kit instructions first
Every radon test kit works a little differently, so read the package and check the run time. Short-term kits last from 2 to 90 days. Many mail-in kits fall at the short end of that range. Also note the lab address and any return deadlines.
Step 2: Pick your testing window
Test when you can keep the house closed for the full period. A cold week often works well, since windows stay shut anyway. CSU Extension says winter gives the most accurate picture of a home’s radon. Sealed windows and frozen ground push levels up indoors.
Step 3: Set up closed-house conditions
Close windows and exterior doors at least 12 hours before the test starts. Keep them shut as much as possible until it ends. Normal trips in and out are fine. Your heating and cooling can run if the system recirculates indoor air. Avoid fans that pull in outside air, such as window fans or whole-house fans.
Step 4: Choose the lowest room
Put the radon test kit on the lowest level you use regularly. That might be a finished basement, a first-floor living room, or a bedroom. Skip the kitchen and bathroom, because steam and drafts can throw off the reading. Radon enters from the soil, so the lowest level usually gives the highest reading. If you later start using a lower level, test there as well.
Step 5: Place the kit and start the test
Set the radon test kit at least 20 inches above the floor, as the EPA advises. A table or shelf works well. Keep it away from drafts, heat, humidity, and exterior walls.
Open the kit as the package directs, and write down the start date and time. Then leave it in place. Tell everyone in the house not to move it.
Step 6: End the test and mail it promptly
When the time is up, reseal the radon test kit and note the end date and time. Send it to the lab named on the package right away, since delays can invalidate the result. Results usually arrive within a few weeks, according to the EPA.
Step 7: Read your result and decide what to do next
The EPA action level is 2.0 pCi/L. If your result is below that, you are in good shape, though no level is completely risk-free. If it is 2.0 pCi/L or higher, take a second test. A second test confirms the number before you spend any money.
A high result is common here. About half of Colorado homes sit above the EPA action level, according to CSU Extension and Larimer County. It is also fixable.
If your second test confirms a high reading, get a quote from a certified pro. Axium Radon Mitigations offers free estimates and has installed more than 10,000 systems. Axium also covers post-install lab testing, with no out-of-pocket lab costs.
