Radon Learning Center
19 detailed guides written for homeowners, buyers, sellers, and property managers who want to understand radon rather than just react to a number on a report.
Basics
What Is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed by decaying uranium in soil and rock. Here is what it is, where it comes from, and why it collects indoors.
8 min readHow Radon Enters a Home
Radon enters through cracks, joints, and penetrations because homes are slightly negative in pressure relative to the soil. Here are the pathways and the physics.
8 min readNew Homes and Radon
Why new construction is not automatically radon-safe, what radon-resistant construction includes, and how to activate a passive system in a newer home.
7 min readRadon Myths
The most common radon myths and what is actually true: basements, new homes, neighbors' results, air purifiers, opening windows, and regional risk.
8 min readHealth
Health Risks of Radon
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Here is how exposure causes harm, who is most at risk, and how risk accumulates over time.
9 min readIndoor Air Quality
How radon fits into overall indoor air quality alongside humidity, particulates, ventilation, and combustion safety, and why the causes often overlap.
9 min readLocal & Regulations
California Radon Information
How California approaches radon: state guidance, disclosure practice, regional variation, and why San Diego County homeowners should test despite modest averages.
8 min readEPA Radon Guidelines
What the EPA recommends about radon: the 4.0 pCi/L action level, the 2.0 pCi/L consideration threshold, testing protocols, and how the guidance is applied.
8 min readTesting
Radon Testing Methods
Compare radon testing methods: charcoal canisters, alpha track detectors, liquid scintillation, and continuous radon monitors, with the strengths of each.
9 min readShort-Term vs Long-Term Testing
Short-term radon tests give fast answers; long-term tests give accurate annual averages. Here is when to use each and how to interpret conflicting results.
7 min readContinuous Radon Monitors
How continuous radon monitors work, what hourly data reveals, why tamper detection matters in transactions, and how to read a monitor report.
7 min readBuying & Selling
Radon During Home Sales
How radon fits into a real estate transaction: who tests, how the timeline works, how elevated results are negotiated, and what documentation to keep.
9 min readChoosing a Radon Professional
How to evaluate a radon contractor: what diagnostics to expect, what a complete proposal includes, and the questions that separate good work from guesswork.
8 min readMitigation
How Mitigation Systems Work
A clear explanation of active soil depressurization: suction points, pressure fields, fans, pipe routing, sealing, and how performance is verified.
10 min readRadon Fans Explained
How radon fans are chosen, why fan curves matter, what determines noise and energy use, and how long a radon fan typically lasts.
8 min readRadon Pipe Systems
How radon system piping is sized, routed, sloped, and terminated, and why those details determine noise, condensate behavior, and long-term performance.
7 min readRadon System Maintenance
How to maintain a radon mitigation system: reading the manometer, retesting intervals, seasonal checks, and what to do after a remodel or fan replacement.
7 min readCost of Radon Mitigation
What determines radon mitigation cost: suction point count, foundation type, pipe routing, fan selection, and ongoing operating expense.
8 min readHow Long Installation Takes
A realistic timeline for radon mitigation: diagnostics, install day hour by hour, what extends a project, and when the post-mitigation test happens.
6 min readNot sure where to start?
Testing is the first step. Send a note describing your home, its foundation type, and any test results you already have.