How often should you get your home tested for Radon?
Below we will discuss how often and when should you get a radon inspection.
You should get your home tested for radon as soon as possible if…
You have never had your home tested for radon before
If you have done any major renovations to your home since your last test
e.g. finished your basement, added on to your home, knocked down a wall
Lung Radon recommends including a radon test as part of the inspection period when you are going through the real estate process. That way, if high radon levels are detected before you close on the house you can factor in the price of the installation of a radon mitigation system into your negotiations.
Other than that, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing your home every two years.
Why would you need to conduct a test more than once?
A short-term radon test (any test conducted for a period of less than 90 days) is only a snapshot of your radon levels over a small period of time.
The concentrations of radon within your home can fluctuate over time based off many factors like seasons, weather systems, and even your HVAC system.
All of these factors can affect the pressure systems in and around your home which affects the radon levels that are detected by the equipment.
The shorter the duration of the radon test the more impact these variables can have on the readings from the radon test.
If you test your home every two years, it will help provide an accurate picture of the radon levels in your home over the entire year.
What if you already have an active radon mitigation system installed in your home?
If you just recently got it installed, you should make sure you have your home tested within 30 days of the system installed to confirm it is effectively reducing the radon levels. If you did not get your home tested after it was installed, then you should schedule a test as soon as possible
Afterwards, it is recommended two test your home every 2 years to confirm that system is still working properly and effectively reducing the radon levels.
If you determine that the system is not working properly, please contact a radon professional immediately to inspect and/or replace your current mitigation system.