The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages all homeowners to test their residences for radon gas concentrations. The National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University (K-state) has radon test kits available for purchase by homeowners for personal use.
"Why are short-and long-term test kits used?"
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Testing for radon is simple and takes only a few minutes of your time. Radon test kits are placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home and left for a specified period of time. After that time, the kit is sent to the laboratory for analysis.
If you decide to hire a qualified company to do a radon test or a qualified contractor to fix your home, you can find a list with the following organizations:
Alternatively, you can contact your state radon office or public health official.
To make sure you are getting a fair price:
- Get multiple estimates from at least two contractors.
- Compare the things they promise to do, as well as the prices.
- Call their past customers to see if they were satisfied with the work.
After work is completed, either buy another do-it-yourself test kit or have a different company test the home to see if radon levels are below 4 pCi/L.
See also the EPA's Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction for further guidance, including checklists of questions to ask your contractor and what to include in your contract.
