Radon test...self or hire out?

[tmarie]

Has anyone done one of tests you pick up at Home Depot? From the initial research I've done, the home inspection companies around here charge $100-150. Doing it yourself is about $12.

I just found out our neighbor has high radon. We are in a new development and haven't had ours tested yet....ugh, I'm kicking myself for not having done this sooner. I know better!

tmarie

[TwinFoxes]

I don't have any experience with the self-tests (I didn't even know they existed) but we did have a radon test done for the home we're moving into. The equipment they used was a big meter thing, kind of hard to describe. I can't imagine a $12 test would be as accurate as this thing. I don't know if this helps you or not...

FWIW, apparently it doesn't cost very much to eradicate high radon levels. Our sellers had to do it, and we got the receipt, I think it was less than a $1000 (easy for me to say, since THEY had to pay!) But it's not like getting asbestos removed, or heaven forbid mold.

[infomama]

I would pay someone to do this test. I would want it checked with a Geiger counter. Here are a few threads this year about radon.

http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=313487&highlight=radon (see gatorsmom's post on this regarding using a Geiger counter)

http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=321153&highlight=radon

[tmarie]

Hmmmm. I just called two inpsection companies and they use the canisters (similar to what you buy at Lowes) to conduct their short term radon tests. I guess I will have to make some more calls. We are looking to test a vast space, not just a counter top, so I don't think they use the same meter....?

Thanks! I'll keep researching.

[infomama]

Here is info from the EPA on radon testing http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#howtotest
Based on this I may start with a store bought short term test and if needed, follow up with a professional and a long term test.

[brittone2]

When we were buying our first home we had it professionally tested. It came back high and we needed a mitigation system (which the sellers then paid to have done).

[DrSally]

Consumer reports has a good article on at home vs. professional radon testing. They have one short-term test that is nearly as accurate as the long-term tests they used. It's from Radon Testing Corp of America (RTCA). I ordered one, but haven't put it up yet. They say to retest periodically.

Our last house we tested before refinishing the basement. It came out at an 11! We did a mitigation for $1300 and it was down to 1. There was a stipulation in our contract that the builder wouldn't pay for any Radon mitigation. This house tested borderline at a 4.4 when we did it professionally before moving in. We sealed up the subpump and I'm going to do a home retest.

[TwinFoxes]

After poking around a little bit, apparently you send the test off to a lab, for which there's an additional charge. So they're probably more effective than I thought (I was envisioning some sort of EPT type device, but for radon!) but they're probably not all that much cheaper than a pro, given that a pro gives you the results in couple of days. You should find out how much the lab work costs, to see if the savings are enough for you. Good luck, I hope you don't have high levels. :)

[belovedgandp]

The longer term tests will tend to be more accurate, whether by a professional or the canister "set it out for a number of days" type. The levels will vary greatly in an area such as a basement depending on how much the house has been opened, a/c running, amount of rain, etc.

I'd start with a cheaper method to give you a feel for where you stand. A high number is a high number and you should probably respond the same no matter what; a borderline number might call for re-testing or less costly preventive measures (sealing sump pumps etc) before getting a full system.

We had a borderline number when we bought our house in 1999. Had the seller and ourselves do some passive stuff and retested. It was actually sky high. Our test at inspection time was in the spring with an open house and lots of rain. We rarely open our home up because of allergies. We then went ahead and at the time spent $900 on an active system. As more houses in our neighborhood have turned over, more and more systems are appearing.

[billysmommy]

When we sold our last home, the buyers did a radon test. The home inspector set up the canister and came back to pick it up. The radon was high (I don't remember the exact numbers). We put in a mitigation system and when re-tested it was down to 1. Total cost to us was ~$1600.
It was more expensive because it was an old house (1875) in a historic district so they had to do things a little differently. There are companies that specialize in older homes if you happen to have one of those.

[trales]

You may be able to pick up the kit and have it tested from the state at reduced charge.

We do this in NH periodically.

[justlearning]

Our local college offers a service where they give you a test that you do in your home and then send in to their lab to be analyzed (probaly like the tests you're saying are at Home Depot). They do charge for it but not much.

We used that test twice--at first our radon was somewhat high (but still in the "OK" zone) but at a later testing (about a year later) it had gotten higher and we had to have a mitigation system installed.

[MommyAllison]

We used a test from Lowes, mainly because there is no additional lab charge like the Home Depot test. Our number came back low, thankfully. We are going to re-test every few years.

[tmarie]

Thanks so much for all the input....I'll start with a cheap one and then hire a professional if there is any concern....crossing my fingers we'll be fine. :)

tmarie

[ett]

We used a test from Lowes, mainly because there is no additional lab charge like the Home Depot test. Our number came back low, thankfully. We are going to re-test every few years.

That's the one we used too.