How to Test for Radon at Radon Detector Store.com

I am concerned about radon, what should I do? If you are concerned about the possibility of having radon gas in your house, the only solution, is to test for radon. It is easy, inexpensive, and only takes a few minutes to set up. You should test during each season to find your average radon level. Radon usually peaks during different times of the year and at different seasons. If you just test once or twice during the year, you may miss the time when radon is the most abundant in the house. For some, this may be in the winter when the ground is frozen and it is more likely to be pulled into your house by negative pressure when all of your doors and windows are closed. The negative pressure may be due to air being vented out by dryers, fans, combustion furnaces, fire places, wood burning stoves, etc. Back

How Do I Use a Radon Test Kit? (as recommended by the EPA in the Citizens Guide to Radon Publication)

Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.

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 20 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 days.

EPA Recommends the Following 3 Testing Steps:

Step 1. Take a short-term test. If your radon test 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 levels, 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.

Step 3. 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. Back

What is a picoCurie? A Pico curie is a unit of measurement for radioactivity. It is equivalent to the radioactivity present in one trillionth of one gram of pure radium. Pico is the prefix used in the metric system and means 10-12 or 0.000000000001. One pCi/L means that in one liter of air there will be 2.2 radioactive disintegrations each minute. In one hour, at 4 pCi/L there will be approximately 528 radioactive disintegrations and in 24 hours,12,672 radioactive disintegrations in one liter of air.

What are some radon testing methods?If the concentration of radon is high in your home, it can be reduced to a safe level, below 4 piC/L. There are many things you can do to reduce the levels yourself. The very first thing you need to do is TEST for radon to make sure the radon levels actually average over 4 pCi/l?

A quick and easy tester to use is the Pro Series3 Digital Radon Detector (gives results in 48 hours). The Pro Series3 Digital Radon Detector can monitor your home continuously and be used for years. It is so simple, all you have to do is read the digital display for short term or long term results. Short term radon test kits are also quick and easy to use. Sometimes two or more testers are used at the same time. To do this, make sure all detectors are placed in the same area but at least 12 inches or more apart. They should also be placed at the same height. All directions should be followed on each tester used. You would then want to leave the testers in place for the same length of time. If you need results quickly, a short-term test followed by a second short-term test may be used to decide whether to fix your home. A couple of short term tests can and should be done during each season.

Depending on your radon test results, you may need to get a long term average. Radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season so short-term tests are less likely than long-term tests to tell you your annual average radon level. You can also use the Pro Series3 Digital Radon Detector test for the long term test. Some people prefer to use two or more testers at the same time. The Alpha Track Long Term Radon Test (used for one long-term test of 90 days or more) could be used along with other testers. The testers, however, need to be placed in the same location about 12 inches apart and should be maintained in those locations until the end of the test.

These tests can give you an indication of whether or not you need to fix your home. You should fix your home If your results are 4 picoCuries/liter or higher. You may feel comfortable doing it yourself or hiring a mitigator. Back to Radon Info Page or Back to FAQ'S