Radon results check
Radon Test Results Explained
Got a number back? Enter it below to see what the EPA recommends, what a fix would cost, and how your result compares with York County homes.
Enter your result to see what it means
The EPA recommends fixing a home at 4.0 pCi/L or higher and suggests considering a fix between 2.0 and 4.0. Below 2.0 is low.
Send my result to a certified contractorPlanning guidance based on EPA advice and PA DEP test records. It is not a professional assessment of your home.
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air, written pCi/L. The EPA sets two lines that matter. At 4.0 pCi/L or higher it recommends fixing the home, and between 2.0 and 4.0 it recommends considering a fix. There is no level known to be completely safe, so lower is always better.
What each range means
| Your result | What the EPA says | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Below 2.0 pCi/L | Low | Test again in about two years, or sooner if you finish the basement or renovate. |
| 2.0 to 3.9 pCi/L | Consider fixing | A long term test gives the clearest answer. A fix is worth it if someone sleeps or spends a lot of time on the lowest level. |
| 4.0 to 9.9 pCi/L | Fix the home | Confirm a short term result, then get an estimate from a certified radon contractor. |
| 10 and higher pCi/L | Fix the home | Same advice, and a good reason not to wait. The risk grows with both the level and the time you are exposed. |
What the risk looks like
The EPA estimates how many people out of 1,000 who never smoked could get lung cancer from a lifetime of exposure at each level. The risk is much higher for people who smoke.
| Radon level | Could get lung cancer, out of 1,000 people who never smoked |
|---|---|
| 20 pCi/L | About 36 |
| 10 pCi/L | About 18 |
| 8 pCi/L | About 15 |
| 4 pCi/L | About 7 |
| 2 pCi/L | About 4 |
| 1.3 pCi/L, the average indoor level in the United States | About 2 |
Source is the EPA's A Citizen's Guide to Radon.
Is 7 pCi/L high?
Yes. A result of 7 pCi/L is almost twice the EPA action level, and the EPA recommends fixing the home. It is also above the typical York County result, where the middle basement test reported to the Pennsylvania DEP was 4.9 pCi/L. The good news is that mitigation works well here. Since 2016, the middle York County follow up test after a system was installed was 1.0 pCi/L.
Is 4 pCi/L dangerous?
At 4.0 pCi/L the EPA recommends fixing the home. It is the level the EPA chose as the point to act, not a line where the gas suddenly turns dangerous. Results just below 4.0 still carry risk, which is why the EPA suggests considering a fix from 2.0 up.
What to do after a high radon test
Buying or selling a home? See radon testing for home sales. Ready for a fix? Start with radon mitigation in York, PA or see the radon mitigation cost for your foundation.
Why your number can change
Radon levels rise and fall with the weather, the season and how the house is used. Levels are often higher in winter, when the house is closed up and warm air rising inside pulls more soil gas in from below. That is why a single short term test is a snapshot and a long term test of 90 days or more gives a truer average. See how radon testing works.
How York County compares
More than half of the basement radon tests reported to the Pennsylvania DEP from York County, 56%, came in at or above 4.0 pCi/L, and 29% were 10 or higher. The middle result was 4.9 pCi/L. See York County radon levels by ZIP code.
Result at 4.0 or higher? Your request goes to a Pennsylvania certified radon contractor who serves your town.
Common questions about radon results
What is a normal radon level in a house?
The average indoor level in the United States is about 1.3 pCi/L, according to the EPA. In York County, the middle basement result reported to the state is 4.9 pCi/L, which is why testing matters so much here.
Should I retest before I fix?
If your first result came from a short term test, the EPA suggests a second test to confirm. A long term result, or the average of two short term tests at 4.0 or higher, is enough to act on.
My system is installed but my result is still high. What now?
A working system should keep your home below 4.0. A high result usually means the fan has stopped or the system needs an adjustment. See radon fan replacement and repair.
Find out what's beneath your home.
Request a no-pressure estimate from a local York radon professional.