Radon Questions & Answers

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in soil and rock. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. When radon gas enters your home and accumulates indoors, long-term exposure increases the risk of lung cancer. The EPA estimates radon causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States — making it the second leading cause after smoking.

Radon enters homes through the soil beneath the foundation. It seeps through cracks in basement floors and walls, gaps around pipes and utility penetrations, open sump pits, construction joints, and even through the natural porosity of concrete. The pressure difference between your heated home and the cooler soil beneath it creates a slight vacuum that draws radon gas upward.

Yes. Twinsburg is in Summit County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 1 — the highest radon risk category. The predicted average indoor radon level for Zone 1 counties exceeds 4.0 pCi/L, which is the EPA's action level. The glacial till soil beneath Twinsburg, dense clay layered over limestone, is particularly effective at trapping radon gas and channeling it into homes.

There is no known safe level of radon. However, the EPA has established 4.0 pCi/L as the action level — the point at which they recommend installing a radon mitigation system. The World Health Organization recommends a lower action level of 2.7 pCi/L. Our mitigation systems typically reduce radon levels to 1.0-2.0 pCi/L.

Yes. New homes can have high radon levels. While some builders install passive radon systems during construction, these are not always effective and are not required in all jurisdictions. We test new and old homes alike across Twinsburg and the surrounding area.

Short-term radon tests run for 48 to 96 hours. Long-term tests run for 90 days or more. For real estate transactions, we use short-term continuous radon monitors that provide fast, certified results. For homeowners who want the most accurate annual average, we recommend long-term testing.

We place the test in the lowest livable area of your home, typically the basement. The device goes at least 20 inches above the floor and at least 3 feet from exterior walls, doors, and windows. We follow all Ohio Department of Health placement guidelines to ensure valid, defensible results.

DIY radon test kits are available at hardware stores, but their results are not accepted for real estate transactions in Ohio. For a legally valid test with documented chain-of-custody, you need a certified professional. Our tests use continuous radon monitors that log hourly readings for maximum accuracy and reliability.

The EPA recommends retesting every two years, and any time you make structural changes to your home such as finishing a basement, adding a room, or renovating the foundation. If you have a radon mitigation system, you should retest every two years to verify the system is still performing.

During a short-term test, maintain closed-building conditions: keep windows and exterior doors closed except for normal entry and exit. Normal HVAC operation is fine. Do not run whole-house fans or operate fireplaces during the test period. These conditions ensure an accurate reading.

The most common system is sub-slab depressurization (SSD). We drill a small hole through your basement floor, insert a suction pipe, and connect it to a radon fan. The fan runs continuously, creating negative pressure beneath your slab that draws radon gas from the soil and vents it above your roofline where it dissipates harmlessly.

Most residential radon mitigation systems in the Twinsburg area run $800-$1,500 depending on foundation type, system complexity, and pipe routing. Crawl space systems typically run $1,000-$2,000. We provide flat-rate quotes before starting any work — the price we quote is the price you pay.

Most systems are installed in a single day, typically 4-6 hours. From your initial call to a completed, tested system, the typical timeline is 3-5 business days.

Modern radon fans are very quiet. The RP-series fans we install produce a low hum comparable to a bathroom exhaust fan. You may hear a faint sound near the fan unit, but it is rarely noticeable from living areas. If noise becomes an issue, we can install vibration isolators or upgrade to a quieter fan model.

Radon systems require minimal maintenance. Check the u-tube manometer on the pipe periodically to verify the fan is creating suction. The fan should be replaced every 8-12 years. We recommend an annual visual inspection and a radon retest every two years to confirm the system is still performing.

Every radon mitigation system we install comes with a written guarantee: your post-mitigation radon level will be below the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. If it is not, we come back and modify the system until it is — at no additional cost. We also include a post-installation radon test with every system.

Ohio does not legally require radon testing for home sales, but most buyers and lenders in Summit County request it during the inspection period. It is strongly recommended, and many real estate agents include it as a standard part of the home inspection process.

This is negotiable between buyer and seller. In most cases, the seller covers the cost of mitigation to keep the sale on track. Some transactions split the cost. We work with both parties to provide fast, documented service that keeps the deal moving.

We provide 48-hour turnaround on real estate radon tests. If mitigation is needed, we can install a system within the same week. Our goal is to keep your transaction within the typical 7-10 day inspection contingency period.