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Radon Testing
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| Radon (Annual Average) Level |
Additional Lung Cancer Risk for People Who Never Smoked |
| 20 pCi/L | 36 out of 1,000 |
| 10 pCi/L | 18 out of 1,000 |
| 8 pCi/L | 15 out of 1,000 |
| 4 pCi/L | 7 out of 1,000 |
| 2 pCi/L | 4 out of 1,000 |
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Radon test kits may be sold at some hardware or home supply stores. Your local health department may also offer test kits at reduced prices. Contact the MDH Indoor Air Unit for more information on how to obtain low cost radon test kits.
A radon test kit should cost between $5 and $25, depending on they type of kit. Make sure the price includes analysis.
If you hire someone to test your home, it will be more expensive. Radon measurement professionals are often used when unbiased third party is needed, such as in a real estate transaction.
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It is important to follow the instructions that come with the radon test kit. There are two basic types of radon tests available to the public:
Short-term tests offer a quick and inexpensive way to "screen" for radon in your home. Short-term tests do not measure the annual average level of radon. They are typically left in place for 3 to 7 days.
Long-term tests should be left in place for a minimum of 90 days. Compared to short-term tests, long-term tests provide results that more accurately reflect the average amount of radon in the home during the year. The best way to estimate a year-round average is to test for a full year. If a year-long test can't be done, the test period should include both heating and cooling seasons.
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Test the lowest level of the home that is regularly used. For example, if you spend more than 8 to10 hours a week in the basement, MDH recommends testing the basement.
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Time of year: The amount of radon in homes is usually highest during the heating season. Long-term tests should span both heating and non-heating seasons.
Test location: Radon levels are usually highest on the lowest floor of a home, such as the basement.
Weather patterns: Weather patterns can influence how radon gets into your home. Short-term tests should not be conducted during severe weather or unusually high winds.Disturbances: Test kits that are disturbed or moved during a test may underestimate the amount of radon in your home.
Timeliness of analysis: Radon test results may not be accurate if you delay sending the test kit to the laboratory as soon as possible after completing the test.
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In Minnesota, it is up to the homeowner to decide what amount of radon is acceptable for their home. To help with this decision, the table below provides recommendations based on radon test results and the type of test used. These differ slightly from those of the EPA because they account for the weather extremes and the amount of radon typically found in this state. The advice also clarifies some common mistakes in how people interpret the EPA guidance.
These suggestions assume that the radon tests were conducted properly.
| Test Type | Result (pCi/L) | Recommended Action |
| Initial Short-term Test | Less than 2 | Consider performing a long-term test. |
| 2 to 10 | Perform long-term test. | |
| Greater than 10 | Perform a second short-term test. Contact MDH before buying second test kit. | |
| Second Short-term Test | Less than 8 | Perform long-term test. |
| 8 or greater | Mitigation strongly recommended if first test result was also 4 pCi/L or greater. | |
| Long-term Test | Less than 2 | Retest if major changes made to the home. Do I ever need to retest my home? |
| 2 to less than 4 | Consider performing mitigation. | |
| 4 or greater | Mitigation strongly recommended. |
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A number of steps can be taken to lower the amount of radon in a home. A quality radon reduction (mitigation) system is often able to reduce the annual average radon level to below 2 pCi/L. Experienced radon mitigation professionals are available and can install appropriate control systems. A list of certified mitigators is available on our website at: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air
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Yes. You should retest your home every 2-5 years or if you make any major changes to the home, such as building an addition, finishing a basement, buying a new heating system or adding central air conditioning.
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For questions about this page or indoor air quality, please contact the Indoor Air Unit at health.indoorair@state.mn.us, 651-201-4601 or 800-798-9050.
Factsheet: Radon Testing and Use of Test Results (PDF:28KB/2 pages)
To view the PDF files, you will need
Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download from Adobe's Web site).
