Should I test my home for radon?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Radon is invisible, odorless, and common, and the EPA ranks it the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause among never-smokers, at about 21,000 US deaths a year. Testing is the only way to know, and it is cheap: a short-term DIY kit on the lowest lived-in floor, then a confirmatory test if levels are high. Mitigation is typically a vent pipe and fan, a contractor job, not a rebuild. Test when buying a home, after foundation or ventilation changes, and especially if anyone smokes indoors, since radon and smoking multiply each other's risk.
What to do
- Buy a test kit and place it on the lowest lived-in level of your home.
- Retest or run a long-term test if the first result is at or above the action level.
- Hire a qualified contractor for mitigation; it is usually a vent pipe and fan.
- Prioritize it if anyone smokes indoors; the risks multiply.
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