The World's Most Reliable Radon Gas Test Kit

Short term radon test kits capture an accurate but brief snapshot of the presence of radon gas in your home. Long term radon tests offer a higher accuracy by gathering a larger sample, often 90 days to a full year.

Starting with a short-term radon test kit tells you if you’re at risk right now for quick response and remediation. For the most accurate results, radon gas test kits should be purchased and deployed as soon as you are ready to test. Starting both a short term and a long term test at the same time will give you the best combination of fast and accurate results to catch both immediate and ongoing risks.

Each radon gas test kit includes clear instructions telling you how to set up the test and where to place it. These tests don’t require any mixing or attention, just a basic setup process that takes a minute or two and correct handling as you send the sample off for testing.

Most of our test kits are as easy as opening the package, setting the test device in a specific part of the home, and waiting for the designated period of time. Follow the instructions that come with the kit since different testing methods may require certain procedures.

Most of our test kits are as easy as opening the package, setting the test device in a specific part of the home, and waiting for the designated period of time. Follow the instructions that come with the kit since different testing methods may require certain procedures.

Even if you have pets or children in the home, it’s easy to set up the testing devices in places they can’t reach. There’s no need for special training or prior experience just to test for radon in your home.

There are multiple types of home radon tests that vary in design and material, but they all absorb gases floating in your home. You then ship off the device full of those absorbed materials and our labs test what’s captured for signs of radon.

Since radon doesn’t have an odor or color, there’s no other way to detect it other than with reliable home tests or sensitive professional equipment. Some of the materials used in accurate home radon test kits include activated charcoal and CR-39, a plastic film that absorbs alpha particles. You don’t have to measure or add these materials because they’re already packaged in the test kits and ready to use.

All of our home radon gas test kits are highly accurate, but our Radtrak2 is our most accurate option. For an accurate test with a shorter test time frame, try our 10 days Rapidos test. For the fastest results our QuickScreen only takes 2 to 4 days to capture a gas profile.

The shortest options need a minimum of 48 hours of exposure to your home’s air to capture an accurate reading of radon levels. Other short-term radon gas test kits for your home can take from 10 to 90 days.

If your home previously tested low for radon, environmental and structural changes like the following can impact future radon levels:

• Dropping or rising temperatures
• Damage to your home’s foundation
• A new water source underground
• After any major structural home improvements

If you previously installed a radon mitigation to mitigate high radon levels, continuing to test is the only way to verify that your system is keeping radon levels below the recommended guidelines.

There’s no risk to you from the radon home test itself. The materials used for absorbing gas samples are all inert and contained safely within the test containers. You won’t expose yourself to any radon in the home in any greater amount just by setting up the test either. If there is a radon present, you’ll want to know so you can start remediation as soon as possible. With¹ 1 in every 15 homes in the U.S. experiencing unsafe radon levels at any given time, you don’t want to simply assume your home’s air is safe.

As a general rule you should test at least every two years if you complete a test and your level is below the EPA action level. However, if you previously tested high and made efforts to lower your radon level, you will want to test yearly to make sure your level remains low. Testing is the only way to guarantee your mitigation efforts are continuing to lower your home’s radon level

In addition to some general rules, there are a few instances that warrant performing a radon test:

• Test a home before buying or selling it
• If there’s been damage to the foundation or soil surrounding the home
• If you want to use previously unused lower levels of your home like basements
• Any alterations to the home, especially on the ground floor or basement, should also trigger a new radon test

Most radon home testing kits have a shelf life even when stored properly away from moisture and heat. You should purchase tests when you are ready to perform the test and not plan on holding on to them. Tests are clearly marked with their expiration date so you always know when to use up your tests before they expire.

Some tests vary in ideal placement. Each kit you purchase comes with detailed instructions on the best placement for the test you are performing.

Generally, if you’ve finished your basement into living space, you should definitely include it in your testing zones. Any other living areas above crawl spaces or any rooms that make separate ground contact should also be taken into consideration. Be sure to place the tests away from any source of drafts like windows, wall cracks, doors, and sump pumps/drains.

See Resource: Where should a radon test be placed?

The home radon gas test kits we sell are all easy to use and accurate, but they vary mostly by the length of the test period required. Long term tests and short term tests need anywhere from 10 days to 1 year to give you an accurate reading of radon levels. A short term screening can run in as little as 2 days.

Long term tests are the most accurate due to the extended time frames. They collect more does from radon over the course of the test and also take into account daily fluctuations, weather changes and even living conditions to provide a result. However, short term screenings are still more than accurate enough to pick up the current radon levels and allow you to make an educated decision about how to proceed. This can include either more testing or, if extremely high levels are detected, you may be able to begin mitigation efforts immediately.

You’ll likely need a mitigation system and some home repairs, such as foundation patching and sealing, in addition to increased ventilation in the lower floors of the house. There are two accreditations that certify radon professionals, the² NRSB and³ NRPP, in addition to some states having independent certifications. If you have a high result you can look for professionals close to your property and consult them on the next steps. Sometimes they will want to do additional testing to determine ideal placement for a mitigation system and some homes may even have passive systems already installed.

Businesses and government buildings also need routine testing and are generally performed by certified professionals. Commercial tests are designed for the volume of the building, so make sure to order the right kind of radon testing kit rather than trying to use a home test in an office or warehouse.