Radon Testing/Measurement Services

Radon Basics

Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas and exposure to ranks as the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in the United States per the EPA (https://www.epa.gov/radon). Nebraska has a very high Radon incidence rate. Over half of the tests in the state have results above the EPA action level guideline (http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/radon_index.aspx).

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks. Thus, the gas gets into the soil and water and eventually into the air. The most common problematic Radon exposure is the indoor air we breathe. Note that Radon gas is invisible, tasteless, and odorless. Indoor levels are consistently higher than outdoor levels because of the depressurization of indoor air caused by home heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. There are many factors that affect entry of Radon into a home. Some of these include soil condition, foundation types, and entry points such as service penetrations, joints, and cracks that are in contact with the soil. Because of these many factors, results from other local houses are poor indicators of the Radon level in a specific home. Thus, the recommendation is that a controlled measurement test be completed for each home.

"When to Test" Recommendations

Initial Screening - Understand the Radon level in a home and the associated health risks.
Real Estate Transaction - Know the Radon level before selling or buying a home. We are licensed by the State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to conduct Radon measurements for real estate transactions. Determining the Radon level of indoor air using a short-term test (48 hours minimum) is recommended for real estate transactions.
Routine Testing - Homeowners are encouraged to have testing completed regularly, approximately every two years, due to potential geological or home condition changes and to check operation of existing radon reduction system(s).
Changes in the Home - Testing is recommended when a lower level of a home begins to be used more extensively or after renovation.

Pricing for Radon in Air Measurement Testing

With a home inspection $100
Without a home inspection $125

Radon Measurement Testing Procedures

A Radon Measurement Agreement is required to be signed by the customer prior to performing the testing. This provides customers with important information about test conditions that must be met to insure accurate readings and acts as the contract of work to be performed. A Radon Test Non-Interference Agreement is requested to be signed by the seller(s), and occupant(s) if applicable, when testing is done as part of a real estate transaction. This provides them with important information about test conditions that must be met to insure accurate readings and their responsibilities to maintain those conditions. These two items help to protect customers, owners, occupants, and inspectors, which helps keep measurement costs low.

Radon Post-Measurement Recommendations

All radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer but the lower the level, the lower the risk. The amount of radon in air is measured in pico Curies per liter (pCi/L). The EPA currently recommends fixing the home through mitigation actions if the indoor air level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher.

Using current mitigation technologies, the indoor air level in most homes can economically be reduced to 2.0 pCi/L or lower. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor air radon levels should be no higher than outdoor levels (which is about 0.4 pCi/L).

We do not provide radon mitigation services. However, we are familiar with mitigation methods and can provide general information about this topic.

EPA Radon Publications

Customers are encouraged to learn more about the EPA guidelines at http://www.epa.gov/radon and read their publications "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon", "A Citizen's Guide to Radon", and "A Consumer's Guide to Radon".

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