Radon is measured in picocuries per liter, and 4 is the EPA action level. DIY kits versus a certified 48-hour test in York County, what each costs, and the best months to test.
Chapters
Transcript
0:00 Every radon fix starts with a number. It is measured in picocuries per liter, and four is the EPA action level.
0:10 York County basements average well above the action level, far higher than the outdoor air, so a high reading here is normal.
0:20 A charcoal kit from the hardware store, fifteen to thirty dollars, works for a first look, although readings swing with the weather.
0:30 Buyers and agents accept a certified tester's continuous monitor, which runs forty-eight hours and costs one hundred fifty to three hundred dollars.
0:40 The surprise: test in January or February, when closed-house conditions give a near worst-case number, exactly what you want.
0:50 Keep the house closed twelve hours before and during testing. Find certified contractors at Radon Mitigation In York dot com.
Key points
- Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The EPA action level is 4 pCi/L.
- York County basements average well above the action level, so a high first reading here is common, not a sign the test went wrong.
- A charcoal kit from a hardware store costs about $15 to $30 and is fine for a first look, but readings swing with the weather.
- For a home sale, buyers and agents accept a 48-hour continuous monitor test by a DEP-certified tester, which costs about $150 to $300.
- Test in January or February. Closed-house conditions give a near worst-case number, which is the one you want to know.
Before the test
Keep windows and outside doors closed for 12 hours before and during the test, apart from normal coming and going.
Find a tester in York
Compare DEP-certified radon testing companies and contractors serving York, check radon levels by ZIP code, or read the full testing guide.
Read the full guide: Radon testing in York County: kits, monitors and what the number means
