Radon 101
What is radon?
Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is responsible for approximately 500 lung cancer deaths annually in Colorado. It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil that can enter your home from the soil beneath it.
How does it impact my health?
When a person is exposed to radon over many years the exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, only smoking causes more lung cancer. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in people without a history of smoking.
Each year, about 21,000 deaths in the United States are related to radon-caused lung cancer. Risk of lung cancer from radon is almost 10 times higher for those with a history of smoking compared to those who have never smoked. Smoking and radon together create greater risk of lung cancer than either one alone.
How can I reduce my risk?
Radon testing
Testing your home for radon is an easy and important step to ensuring a healthy home. Everyone should test their homes for radon, regardless of whether you rent or own, live in a single family home, an apartment, or manufactured home.
How do I test for radon?
There are many ways to conduct a radon test.
You can hire a licensed radon measurement professional for around $150, which is a good idea if you are in a real estate transaction. This is the best way to make sure the test is conducted correctly and the results are valid.
You can purchase a do-it-yourself radon test kit or request a free one from a public health agency. It is very important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure your results are valid.
Short-term radon tests are a good way to get started. These are the least expensive test kits and can deliver results within a couple of weeks. Learn more about using a short-term radon test.
Long-term radon test kits measure radon over a long period of time under normal living conditions. This is the best way to understand the radon levels in your home.
Where can I get a free radon test kit?
CDPHE offers free radon test kits, one per household per year, while supplies last. Visit the free radon test kit order form to see if kits are available.
If you are not able to order a free radon test kit, contact your local public health agency to find out if there are free radon test kits available in your area. You can buy discounted test kits on our website.
What do my radon test results mean?
The type of radon test used and whether you have a radon mitigation system in your home can impact the next steps. The results below are for do-it-yourself short-term radon test kits.
There is no radon mitigation system in my home
GREEN - Results under 2 pCi/L
If your results are less than 2.0 pCi/L, retest in 5 years
YELLOW - Results 2-3.9 pCi/L -
If your results are between 2 pCi/L and 3.9 pCi/L, consider testing again with a long term test to understand your average radon levels over a longer period of time.
You can also consider mitigation if you or your family members are at a high risk for developing lung cancer.
Otherwise, retest in 5 years.
RED - Results at or above 4pCi/L
If your radon test result is at or above 4 pCi/L, your radon results are above the EPA action level. You should confirm your levels are elevated and reduce your radon levels by installing a radon mitigation system in your home.
It’s a good idea to conduct a second radon test to confirm your levels. If initial results are close to 4 pCi/L, you may want to conduct a long term radon test, which will give you the best data related to your average radon levels under normal living conditions.
If you own your home, read the section below to learn how to fix a radon problem. If you rent your home, notify your landlord in writing about the elevated radon levels.
There is a mitigation system in my home
GREEN - Results under 2 pCi.L
If your results are less than 2.0 pCi/L, retest in 2 years.
YELLOW - Results 2-3.9 pCi/L -
If your results are between 2 pCi/L and 3.9 pCi/L, consider testing again with a long term test to understand your average radon levels over a longer period of time.
Otherwise, retest in 2 years.
RED - Results at or above 4pCi/L
If your radon test result is at or above 4 pCi/L, your radon results are above the EPA action level. You should contact a licensed radon mitigation professional to inspect and service your system.
It’s a good idea to contact the original installer in case your system is under warranty.
Fixing a radon problem
My radon levels are elevated and I need to mitigate my home. What do I do now?
Find a licensed radon mitigation professional. You can find a list of licensed radon mitigation & measurement contractors on our licensed radon professional look up tool.
To learn more about radon mitigation systems, visit our radon mitigation information page.
Like any home repair, it’s a good idea to get at least three bids. Be sure to ask for:
1) a guarantee that radon levels are reduced below 4 pCi/L or lower.
2) a minimum five-year warranty on the radon fan and the workmanship of the system.
How much does a radon mitigation system cost?
Traditional radon mitigation systems installed on existing single-family homes are approximately $1,300-$3,000. However, each home is different and asking for multiple bids from licensed mitigation professionals is the best way to get a fair price.
If your home has a passive radon system (e.g. built in during construction), it should cost about $500 to add a fan to activate the system.
What if I can’t afford a radon mitigation system?
Colorado has a financial assistance program to help low-income homeowners with radon mitigation expenses. Learn more about the Low Income Radon Mitigation Assistance (LIRMA) Program in the section below.
What is the Low-Income Radon Mitigation Assistance Program and what are the eligibility requirements?
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a financial assistance program to help cover the cost of radon mitigation expenses for low-income homeowners.
Program eligibility criteria:
- The applicant must own the home and it must be the applicant’s primary residence.
- The applicant must be considered a low-income household and meet the low-income limits specified in the income table below.
LIRMA Program Low Income Limits - Based on Adjusted Gross Income
- A radon test result showing average radon levels are over 4 pCi/L within one year from the date of application, from a certified testing device.
Please review the LIRMA Policy and Procedure document for specific information. Visit the program website to apply for the program.
How does a radon mitigation system work?
A radon mitigation system works by preventing radon gas from entering the living space of your home. Most radon mitigation systems operate through “active soil depressurization”, which relies on a radon fan and a barrier to pull radon gas out from the ground underneath your house and exhaust it above the roofline. The barrier can be a concrete foundation or 6mil poly sheeting in a crawlspace.
Miscellaneous Information
Where can I find the Radon and Real Estate Brochure that is required for real estate transactions and rental agreements?
Access the brochure online and find other useful information on our Radon and Real Estate page.