Johnson County · EPA Radon Zone 1
Radon Mitigation and Testing in Iowa City, IA
Johnson County is EPA Radon Zone 1, and Johnson County Public Health sells both short-term and long-term test kits at prices published on its own page. We connect Iowa City homeowners with credentialed specialists for a free, no-obligation quote.
Radon mitigation in Iowa City is normally an active sub-slab depressurization system, installed in about one day by a specialist credentialed by Iowa HHS. Johnson County is EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest-risk category, and Johnson County Public Health states that "Iowa has the largest percentage (71.6%) of homes above the US Environmental Protection Agency action level of 4pCi/L, in the US" (read 2026-08-17). Levels vary house to house, so testing is the only way to know yours.
Testing here starts at the county. Johnson County Public Health sells short-term kits for $12 in office or $15 mailed, and long-term kits for $30 in person or $33 mailed, ordered by calling (319) 356-6040. That is a genuinely low bar to a first answer, and stocking the long-term kit is not something every county program does. If the result comes back at or above 4 pCi/L, the next step is a credentialed specialist, and the price to plan for is in our radon mitigation cost in Iowa guide.
Iowa Radon Professionals does not test or install systems. We connect Iowa City homeowners with NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed radon mitigation specialists who do, and the quote is free and no-obligation. If a test has already come back elevated, start with what to do when a radon test comes back high in Iowa.
Why Radon Levels in Iowa City and Johnson County Run High
The short answer is that every county in Iowa, Johnson County included, sits in EPA Radon Zone 1, the category the EPA uses for counties predicted to average above the 4 pCi/L action level. Johnson County Public Health puts the statewide picture in one line on its radon page: Iowa has the largest percentage of homes above that action level of any state in the country, at 71.6 percent.
What that page does not do is publish a Johnson County average, and we have not found a sourced one elsewhere. So the honest position is this: 71.6 percent is a statement about Iowa, not about your street. Radon comes out of the ground and the ground changes over short distances, so two houses on the same block can measure differently. We do not publish an Iowa City average, because we have no sourced figure to publish. A short-term test kit from the county costs $12.
The county radon page tells you what radon is, what the action level is, and how to buy a kit. It does not go on to explain what happens when a result comes back high, or how to check the credential of the person you hire to fix it. Those are the questions a homeowner actually has at that moment, and they are answered on this site: see what to do when a radon test comes back high in Iowa and how to verify Iowa radon mitigation contractors.
- Iowa HHS Radon Program,
- Iowa HHS, Iowa Credentialed Radon Mitigation Specialists (list generated July 16, 2026),
- US EPA Radon,
- Johnson County Public Health, Radon,
- Iowa City Community School District, Radon Information,
- Iowa Department of Revenue, Tax Credits and Exemptions.
What Radon Mitigation Costs in Iowa City, and Who Pays
A typical Iowa mitigation job runs near $2,000, with most falling in an $800 to $2,500 range depending on foundation type, the number of suction points needed, and how the system is routed. Iowa City is not a separate pricing market from the rest of the state. Our radon mitigation cost in Iowa guide breaks down what moves that number up or down, and a quote from a credentialed specialist is free.
Iowa has no statewide radon tax credit, rebate, or deduction. The Iowa Department of Revenue list of tax credits and exemptions carries nothing for radon testing or radon mitigation (read 2026-08-05), so treat any page that tells you otherwise with suspicion. The one city-run program this site has verified, in West Des Moines, is limited to households inside West Des Moines city limits and does not reach Iowa City. Ask Johnson County Public Health at (319) 356-6040 what local help exists here.
Whether a homeowners insurance policy contributes anything toward mitigation depends entirely on the policy and the carrier, so ask yours directly rather than assuming either way. This site does not give insurance advice. What it can tell you is what the work costs and who is credentialed to do it.
- Iowa HHS Radon Program,
- Iowa HHS, Iowa Credentialed Radon Mitigation Specialists (list generated July 16, 2026),
- US EPA Radon,
- Johnson County Public Health, Radon,
- Iowa City Community School District, Radon Information,
- Iowa Department of Revenue, Tax Credits and Exemptions.
Radon Services We Help Iowa City Homeowners Find
We connect Iowa City homeowners with a credentialed specialist for radon mitigation in Iowa and every related service below, from an elevated test result through post-mitigation re-testing.
Radon Mitigation
The standard active soil depressurization system that vents radon from beneath the slab to above the roofline.
Learn MoreRadon Testing
Short-term and long-term radon measurement. Testing is the only way to know your home is above or below the action level.
Learn MoreReal Estate Radon Testing
Fast, transaction-timeline testing for home sales and purchase contingencies, with results that fit closing deadlines.
Learn MoreCrawl Space Radon Mitigation
Sub-membrane depressurization for homes with crawl spaces, sealing and venting soil gas at the source.
Learn MoreRadon System Repair
Diagnosing failing fans, re-testing, and bringing older systems back under the EPA action level.
Learn MoreNew Construction Systems
Passive and active radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) rough-in built into the home from the start.
Learn MoreWhen Iowa City Homes Need Radon Mitigation
Older homes on the Northside and in Goosetown
Early-1900s houses often have stone or block foundations with many joints and penetrations for soil gas to follow.
Postwar basements in Longfellow and Court Hill
Mid-century full basements are now finished living space, which is exactly where a household spends hours below grade.
Newer builds on the east and north sides
Newer homes test high too. What is under the slab drives the level, not the age of the house.
Rental property in Iowa City
Landlords and tenants both ask about radon, and testing is the only way to establish a level for a specific unit. Confirm any current local rule with Johnson County Public Health or the City of Iowa City rather than relying on what you read online.
A pending home sale
Johnson County transactions routinely carry a radon contingency on a short timeline, with the result due before closing. See real estate radon testing.
A system that was installed years ago
Fans wear out and pressure gauges drift. Our radon system maintenance guide covers what to check.
Neighborhoods and areas we help homeowners in include the Northside, Goosetown, Longfellow, Manville Heights, Court Hill, the Peninsula, Windsor Ridge, downtown Iowa City.
Radon Test Kits in Johnson County: Prices and Where to Buy
Johnson County Public Health sells radon test kits directly, and its published prices are the cheapest starting point in the county: a short-term kit is "$12 in office or can be mailed to you for $15", and a long-term kit is "$30 in person, or mailed for $33". Kits are ordered by calling Johnson County Public Health at (319) 356-6040 (prices read 2026-08-17; confirm the current ones with the county).
The long-term kit is the one worth noticing. A short-term kit tells you quickly whether there is a problem. A long-term kit, left in place for more than 90 days, gives a truer picture of what a household actually breathes over a year, and most county programs stock only the short-term kind. The Iowa Radon Hotline, 1-800-383-5992, also takes kit orders and answers questions, and kits are sold at most hardware and home improvement stores.
If a screen comes back at or above 4 pCi/L, that is the point to bring in a professional. We can connect you with a credentialed specialist for a follow-up measurement and a mitigation quote. For a home sale the measurement has to follow the real estate protocol, and the difference between the two jobs is explained in radon testing vs mitigation. Anyone paid to test or mitigate radon in Iowa must hold the Iowa HHS credential, and the state publishes the current lists, so checking a contractor against the live list before you sign takes a minute. What else to ask is in radon testing in Iowa.
Iowa City Schools and the Iowa Radon Mandate
Iowa City Community School District publishes its own radon program on its facilities page. The district states that "Radon testing is required at least once every five years for all Iowa public school attendance centers, licensed preschools, and licensed childcare centers", that it "meets the requirements of the Iowa House File 2412", and that it has "proactively placed all district buildings on a 5-year testing schedule". Its page links published testing results for 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 (read 2026-08-17).
Two details on that page are worth a homeowner reading. The district says "All testing is conducted by an Iowa Certified Radon Measurement Specialist using state-approved national testing standards", which is the same credential a homeowner should ask a contractor for. And it says "All new school construction shall incorporate radon-resistant construction techniques (RRNC)", the passive-system approach also covered in our mandate guide below. HF 2412, the Gail Orcutt Radon School Safety Act, requires every school attendance center in the state to test by July 1, 2027 and every five years after. See our guide to the Iowa school radon mandate.
The NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed partner contractor you are matched with is licensed and insured and provides a written workmanship warranty.
Properly installed systems typically reduce radon by 50 to 99% according to the EPA. Your specific result is confirmed by the specialist with a post-mitigation re-test.
How Radon Mitigation Works for Iowa City Homeowners
Free quote request
Submit the form or call. Share your most recent radon level if you have one.
Specialist contact
A credentialed specialist serving the area reaches out to assess your home.
Installation
A standard sub-slab system is typically installed in about one day.
Post-mitigation re-test
The specialist confirms the level dropped below the action level.
Nearby Areas We Serve
Beyond Iowa City, we connect homeowners with credentialed radon specialists throughout Johnson County and nearby communities, including Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, Solon, Swisher, University Heights, Hills, Lone Tree. Serving another part of the state? See our service area or request a quote.
What it costs, and what happens after you send it
- What does radon mitigation cost in Iowa City?
- A residential system runs about $800 to $2,500, with a typical Iowa job near $2,000. A standard sub-slab system for a basement home sits at the lower end, $800 to $1,800, while a crawl space or multi-area job runs $1,500 to $2,500. Those figures are published Iowa contractor pricing, market data for comparison rather than a quote or a price set by us. The Iowa cost guide breaks the figures out by system type and lists what moves a quote.
- How fast will someone get back to me?
- Calls and form submissions reach Compass Camper LLC directly. We read the request and pass it to an independent local radon professional, usually within about an hour during the day. That professional then contacts you to look at the home and quote the work on their own schedule.
- What work is covered?
- Radon mitigation, radon testing, real estate radon testing, crawl space mitigation, system repair, and new-construction systems. See every service.
Only the independent radon professional you are matched with can price your actual home. Compass Camper LLC does not test or mitigate radon and does not quote it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does radon mitigation cost in Iowa City?
A typical Iowa mitigation job runs near $2,000, with most falling in an $800 to $2,500 range depending on foundation type, the number of suction points needed, and how the system is routed. Iowa City is not a separate pricing market from the rest of the state. Our Iowa cost guide breaks down what moves the number up or down, and a quote from a credentialed specialist is free.
Will insurance cover radon mitigation?
That depends entirely on your policy and your carrier, so ask them directly rather than assuming either way. This site does not give insurance advice. Most Iowa homeowners plan for the work as an out-of-pocket home repair in the range above, and a quote from a credentialed specialist costs nothing.
Is there a grant program for radon mitigation in Iowa?
There is no statewide one. The Iowa Department of Revenue list of tax credits and exemptions carries nothing for radon (read 2026-08-05). The one city-run program this site has verified is in West Des Moines and is limited to households inside that city, so it does not reach Iowa City. Ask Johnson County Public Health at (319) 356-6040 what is currently available locally.
Where do I get a radon test kit in Johnson County?
Johnson County Public Health sells them and publishes the prices: short-term kits are $12 in office or $15 mailed, and long-term kits are $30 in person or $33 mailed. Order by calling (319) 356-6040. The Iowa Radon Hotline at 1-800-383-5992 also takes orders, and kits are sold at most hardware stores. For a home sale or a post-mitigation check, the measurement should be done by a certified specialist to the real estate protocol.
Are Iowa City schools tested for radon?
Yes. Iowa City Community School District states that it meets the requirements of Iowa House File 2412 and has placed all district buildings on a five-year testing schedule, with testing done by an Iowa Certified Radon Measurement Specialist. The district publishes results for 2022 through 2026 on its own radon page, linked in the sources above (read 2026-08-17).
Who installs the system?
An NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed partner contractor serving the Iowa City area. That contractor is licensed and insured and provides a written workmanship warranty. You contract directly with them.
Get Your Free Iowa City Radon Quote
Tell us about your home and a credentialed specialist serving Johnson County follows up. Prefer to talk? Call (712) 218-3501.
When you submit this form, your information is shared with an NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed radon specialist for the purpose of scheduling your free quote.
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