January is Radon Awareness Month. Approximately 1,200 Illinoisans are diagnosed with radon-related lung cancer each year, so make sure your home is radon-free! Radon can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted so the only way to detect its presence is through a licensed professional or at-home test kit.

You can find a local, licensed professional here.

OR, you can order an at-home radon testing kit here.

How should I prepare my home to test for radon?

12 hours before you begin your test…

• Keep all doors and windows shut.
• Do not operate fans or other machines which bring air in from outside (unless from a radon reduction system).

Where do I place my radon tester?

• 3 feet from exterior doors and windows.
• 20 inches to 6 feet above the floor.
• 4 inches from any other object.
• Never place the radon detector in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, or in a crawl space.

What to do next?

• Be sure you accurately record the start and stop dates of your test.
• Mail your tester and paperwork to the lab it was ordered from.
• Expect results in about 10 business days.

What do my results mean?

• If your results are less than 4 pCi/L no action is necessary.
• If your results are more than 4 pCi/L you will need to contact a licensed radon mitigation contractor.
  • You can find a local, licensed professional here.