Top Signs You Need a Radon Test in Your Home

The "You Have No Choice" Signs

✓ You're Buying a House

Period. End of story. I don't care if it's brand new, I don't care if the seller swears they tested it last year. Test it yourself or walk away.

My sister almost skipped radon testing because the seller said "the whole neighborhood is fine." Good thing her realtor insisted. House tested at 8.7. Seller had to install a mitigation system before closing.

✓ You're Selling Your House

Get ahead of this. Test your place before you list it. If there's a problem, fix it now instead of dealing with buyer negotiations later.

My coworker didn't test before selling. Buyer's inspector found high levels, buyers wanted $5,000 off the price. Could've fixed it for $2,000 if he'd known ahead of time.

✓ Someone in Your House Has Lung Problems

Especially if they don't smoke. Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer after cigarettes. If you or your family is having breathing issues and doctors can't figure out why, radon could be the culprit.

Dave's mom kept getting bronchitis. Doctor thought it was allergies, tried different medications, nothing worked. Finally someone suggested radon testing. Her bedroom was directly over a basement with levels of 13.4. She'd been sleeping over a radiation source for 15 years.

✓ Your Neighbor Found High Levels

Doesn't mean you definitely have a problem, but it means you're in an area where radon is possible. Geology doesn't follow property lines.

When Mrs. Peterson next door got her house tested and found dangerous levels, half the neighborhood decided to test. Three other houses on the same block had problems. Better to know than guess.

The "Red Flag" House Characteristics

✓ Your House Has a Basement

Especially if you spend time down there. Radon comes from the ground, basements are closest to the ground. Math is pretty simple.

My friend converted his basement into a man cave. Big screen TV, bar, the works. Spent hours down there every weekend. When he finally tested, his basement was at 9.1. All that time relaxing, he was slowly poisoning himself.

✓ You Have a Sump Pump

These things basically create a direct pathway from the ground to your house. If there's radon in the soil, the sump pump area is where it's most likely to get in.

My neighbor's sump pump runs constantly because we live in a wet area. When he tested, the highest readings were right around the sump pit. Makes sense when you think about it.

✓ You Have Well Water

Some areas have radon in groundwater. Every time you shower, wash dishes, or run water, you're releasing radon gas into your house.

This happened to my cousin in New Hampshire. Her air test came back fine, but her well water was loaded with radon. Every time she took a shower, she was breathing radon gas. Had to install a special water treatment system.

✓ Cracks in Your Foundation

Any opening between your house and the ground is a potential entry point for radon. Even tiny cracks you can barely see.

Jake's house looked perfect from the outside, but the inspector found hairline cracks in the basement wall. Guess where the radon was getting in?

✓ Your House Is Tight and Energy Efficient

Sounds backwards, right? But newer, more efficient houses trap air inside better. If that air contains radon, you're stuck breathing it.

My brother's house was built in 2018 with all the latest energy-saving features. Super tight construction, minimal air leaks. Unfortunately, that also means minimal radon leaks. His levels were higher than his neighbor's older, draftier house.

The Geographic Reality Check

✓ You Live in a High-Radon Area

Some parts of the country just have more radon. But don't assume you're safe if you're not in a "high-risk" zone. I've seen dangerous levels in supposedly "safe" areas.

Check the EPA radon map, but don't let it be the final word. Test your house regardless.

✓ You Live Where There's Granite or Shale

These rock types naturally contain more uranium, which breaks down into radon. If your area has a lot of granite counter tops for sale, that might be a clue about local geology.

My friend in New England lives in granite country. Beautiful stone walls everywhere, gorgeous scenery. Also some of the highest radon levels in the country.

✓ You Live in an Area With Uranium Mining History

Past or present. If they ever pulled uranium out of the ground near you, there's probably more where that came from.

Parts of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico - these areas have higher radon because of all the uranium deposits. But uranium exists everywhere, just in different concentrations.

The Time-Based Signs

✓ You Haven't Tested in 2+ Years

Radon levels change over time. Houses settle, new cracks form, weather patterns shift. A test from three years ago might not mean much today.

My dad tested his house when he bought it 10 years ago. Levels were fine. Last year he retested just to be safe. Now he needs a mitigation system. Things change.

✓ It's Winter

Heating season is when radon levels are typically highest. Houses are sealed up tight, less ventilation, more suction drawing gas up from the ground.

If you're going to test once, do it in winter when levels are likely to be at their worst. Summer testing might give you false confidence.

✓ You Just Finished Renovations

Especially basement or foundation work. You might have disturbed soil around your house or changed how air flows through your home.

My neighbor finished his basement last year. New walls, new flooring, the works. Also accidentally created perfect conditions for radon buildup. His levels went from 2.1 to 6.8 after the renovation.

The "Better Safe Than Sorry" Signs

✓ You Have Kids

Kids are more susceptible to radiation damage because their lungs are still developing. If you've got little ones running around, especially if they play in the basement, get tested.

My sister has three young kids who love playing in their finished basement. When she found out about radon, testing became a priority. Good thing too - their playroom was at 5.4 pCi/L.

✓ You're Planning to Spend More Time at Home

Working from home, retiring, whatever. If you're going to be breathing your house air more hours per day, you want to make sure it's safe.

When COVID hit and everyone started working from home, a lot of people suddenly cared about their indoor air quality. Smart move.

✓ You Have Elderly Family Living With You

Older people often have compromised immune systems and are more vulnerable to environmental hazards. Protect the people you care about.

✓ You Just Want Peace of Mind

This is totally valid. If radon is keeping you up at night, test your house. Either you'll find out there's no problem and can stop worrying, or you'll find a problem and can fix it.

My wife was convinced our house was trying to kill us after she read some article about radon. I thought she was being paranoid, but I got tested just to shut her up. Turns out she was right - we needed mitigation. Sometimes paranoia pays off.

The "Oh Crap" Health Signs

✓ Persistent Cough With No Clear Cause

Especially a dry cough that doesn't respond to normal treatments. Could be allergies, could be something else, but radon exposure is a possibility worth ruling out.

✓ Chest Pain or Tightness

Again, could be lots of things. But if doctors can't find a cause and you haven't tested for radon, it's worth checking.

✓ Frequent Respiratory Infections

If you or your family keeps getting bronchitis, pneumonia, or other lung infections, and there's no obvious reason, consider environmental factors like radon.

Important note: I'm not saying radon causes these symptoms directly. But long-term radon exposure increases lung cancer risk, and damaged lungs are more susceptible to other problems.

The Checklist: How Many Apply to You?

Housing Situation:

• [ ] Buying or selling a house

• [ ] Haven't tested in 2+ years

• [ ] Have a basement you use regularly

• [ ] Have well water

• [ ] Have a sump pump

• [ ] Foundation cracks visible

• [ ] Energy-efficient/tight house construction

• [ ] Recently renovated basement/foundation

Location Factors:

• [ ] Live in known high-radon area

• [ ] Granite or shale geology in your area

• [ ] Near current or former uranium mining

• [ ] Neighbor found high radon levels

Health/Safety Concerns:

• [ ] Family member with unexplained lung problems

• [ ] Have young children

• [ ] Elderly family members in home

• [ ] Spending more time at home than before

• [ ] Just want peace of mind

If you checked even one box, you should test. If you checked multiple boxes, stop reading and go test your house today.

What Testing Actually Involves

Don't let the process intimidate you. Whether you go DIY or professional, it's pretty straightforward:

Professional testing: Guy comes over, sets up equipment, you wait 2-3 days, get results. Costs $200-300.

DIY testing: Buy kit at hardware store, follow instructions carefully, mail to lab, wait for results. Costs $15-30.

Either way, you'll know in less than a week whether your house is safe or needs attention.

The Bottom Line

You can't see radon, can't smell it, can't taste it. The only way to know if it's in your house is to test for it.

Every single item on this list is a good reason to test. You don't need to check every box - just one is enough.

Stop making excuses. Stop putting it off. Stop assuming your house is fine because your neighbor's house is fine.

Test your house. This week. Your family's health is worth more than the cost of a test.