Is my house's radon level dangerous?

What's happening

Radon is a radioactive gas produced naturally from decaying uranium in soil and rock. It has no smell, color, or taste, so testing is the only way to know a home's radon level -- there's no sensory cue at any concentration.

Why it matters

The U.S. EPA states that homes should be fixed if a test result reaches 4 pCi/L or higher, and that homeowners should consider fixing at results between 2 and 4 pCi/L, because -- in the agency's own words -- there is no known safe level of radon exposure. The EPA's stated national average for indoor radon is approximately 1.3 pCi/L. See Interpreting a Radon Test Result for the full EPA guidance and what these numbers do and don't mean.

What kind of solution

A short-term test (typically a charcoal canister exposed for about 48 hours, then mailed to a lab) is the standard first step for a household that has never tested, is buying or selling a home, or just wants a baseline reading. It gives a single-point-in-time result rather than an ongoing reading -- see Short-Term Radon Testing vs. Continuous Radon Monitoring if you're deciding between that and a continuous monitor.

Next step

Compare the radon detectors and tests covered by this site, or go directly to the First Alert RD1 review if you already know you want a short-term test kit.