You can buy DIY radon test kits from a home improvement store and conduct radon testing, but these tests are often inaccurate. No matter the result, you should supplement DIY testing with professional radon detection and analysis. DIYers only have access to passive radon tests, which aren’t as reliable as active tests that professionals use. Plus, it’s very easy for DIYers to make mistakes during testing, leading to inaccurate results. If you’re moving into a new home, have concerns about radon, or are due for an updated test, hire a professional.
Radon testing costs depend on whether you hire a professional radon inspector or DIY test. You can expect to pay $150 to $800 to hire a local radon inspector, and home-testing kits range in price from $15 to $250 from home improvement stores. However, it’s best to trust a professional inspector with this task to ensure accurate results. Plus, if you have radon in your home, your testing company can develop a mitigation protocol to keep you and your family safe from the dangerous gas, so it’s well worth the money to hire a professional.
If radon is present in your home, you can expect to pay around $1,000 for a radon mitigation system or between $780 and $1,250 in most cases. The exact price will depend on the severity of the radon leak, home size, and the protocol the radon specialist develops to remove radon from your home and keep it out. Your foundation type will also affect your radon mitigation system cost, as unfinished basements will cost about $4,600 to seal and ventilate, while crawl spaces without a foundation slab may need extra encapsulation, costing $1,500 to $15,000.
Yes, radon testing is absolutely necessary if you suspect the presence of this hazardous gas, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing for all homes in the country. Radon is a pervasive natural gas that can leak through your home’s foundation and seep into the living areas. Unfortunately, the gas is highly carcinogenic and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon testing is crucial for keeping you and your family safe from harm, so hire a radon mitigation specialist to test your home if you suspect its presence in your home.
In most states, radon testing companies don’t need to be licensed or certified by the state, but the companies that analyze the test results and develop radon mitigation protocols do. You should choose a radon testing company that suits your needs, but before hiring a mitigation specialist, check our state licensing tool to make sure the company is properly certified.