Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring, inert radioactive gas that is the only gaseous element of the long, uranium-238 radioactive decay chain. Uranium is a common component of soil around the world.

Testing your home is the only way to know if radon levels are high. If radon levels in your home are high, you and your family could be at risk for lung cancer from radon.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause overall, with exposure leading to a higher risk of lung cancer.

The only way to learn of the presence of radon is to use an instrument or device that is designed to measure or detect it.

Contact your state radon office for specific information and resources in your area for testing. They can provide you with a list of qualified radon testers. You can either hire a radon tester or purchase a radon test kit from a hardware store and do it yourself. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends hiring a qualified tester if you are buying or selling your home.

It is recommended that residents test like the professionals do. Place two detectors in each lowest structural area suitable for occupancy. For instance, if your house includes a basement, an area over a slab, and an area over a crawlspace, TEST in at least one room in each area. The HIGHEST radon level in your home may not be in your basement.

Sealing is any or all of the following activities: caulking the foundation wall joint, cracks and openings between the house and soil, covering and caulking the sump pit, and covering the crawlspace with membrane and adhering it to the walls and pillars therein.

The mitigation contractor's warranty guarantees that the system will reduce radon levels to less than 4.0 pCi/L, when tested in accordance with the Measurement Protocol, 32 Illinois Administrative Code 422.130. Diagnostic testing, conducted by the mitigator may suggest that the radon level has been successfully lowered, but the only way to know that the system achieves the sought reduction is to perform a post-mitigation test in accordance with regulations. Relying on diagnostic testing that is neither standardized nor in accordance with regulatory requirements undermines the mitigation process. Further, it fails to document system performance and to activate your warranty in the event of system failure.