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Radon in the home
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Radon Gas: What Is It and How to Test for It at Home

By Rise,
Last Updated: Feb 26, 2025

Radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that's present in soil. It forms naturally from the decaying process of uranium in soil and rocks. The last time you may have heard about radon is in science class, where you studied the periodic table of the elements. Well, it's everywhere, and it's a pretty nasty carcinogen that is a leading environmental cause of lung cancer.

Table of Contents

  1. Is Radon Bad For Me and My Family's Health?
  2. How Does Radon Get Into My Home?
  3. What Level of Radon Requires Mitigation?
  4. Radon Detectors and Testing
  5. What Are Recommended Radon Testing Products?
  6. Hiring a Radon Expert
  7. How Can Radon Be Removed From Your Home?
Radon Periodic Table

Is Radon Bad For Me and My Family's Health?

When this gas is inhaled into your lungs, the radioactive particles attach to lung tissue, damaging the cells as the particles release energy. When the cells become damaged, your body naturally attempts to repair itself, increasing cancer risk. According to Canada's Government, the lifetime lung cancer risk when exposed to radon's high levels is one in twenty. For active tobacco smokers, the risk increases to one in three compared to those who are only lifelong smokers and not exposed to radon, which is one in ten. Since the severity of exposure impacts cancer risk, homes and other enclosed spaces could present a radon risk to you and your family if not addressed.

RADON Home Graphic NB Lung Association
Radon Home Entry Graphic. Photo Credit: NB Lung Association

How Does Radon Get Into My Home?

Radon can enter a home through cracks in a home's foundation, openings in concrete slabs, stone or brick, floor-wall joins, drainage or service pipes, window casements, wall joints, sump pumps, and well water. In these cases, gases will enter your home because the air pressure inside is lower than that of the surrounding soil.

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Radon Detectors and Testing

There are many products available on the market today to ensure your home is safe from radon-related health concerns. To test, you will want to ensure that all doors, windows, and vents are closed for 12-24 hours before testing (you may still come and go from your home as you please during this period). Most testing kits are designed to measure exposure between 24 and 168 hours (1 to 7 days) and require a relative indoor humidity of 50% or less. It is important to read your product's manual in its entirety to ensure you are correctly using your testing device. You may also come across several low-priced testing kits around $20. However, they often require you to mail the test results, pay a lab fee and have very mixed reviews.

What Are Recommended Radon Testing Products?

There are many options for radon testing at home. Below we will explore three different options to help you make a decision based on your home's specific needs. They are:

  • The Airthings Wave Plus smart indoor air quality monitor
  • The Safety Siren Pro Series 4 Radon Gas Detector, and
  • The AccuStar Alpha Track Long Term Radon Test
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Article By

Rise

At Rise, we strive to make sustainable home improvement easy and accessible for everyone. Whether you're building or renovating, our thoroughly vetted building products will help you reduce your carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and create a more sustainable living or working environment.

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