Radon Guide
Radon Testing vs Radon Mitigation
Two different steps, often confused. Testing tells you whether your Iowa home has a radon problem. Mitigation is the work that fixes it. Here is how the two compare, and how to know which one you need next.
Radon testing measures the radon level in your home, so it tells you if you have a problem. Radon mitigation is the system that fixes an elevated level. You always test first. You only mitigate if your result is at or above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
The Simple Relationship
Think of it like a thermometer and a furnace. A thermometer tells you the temperature. It does not change it. A furnace changes the temperature, but only once you know the room is too cold. Radon testing is the thermometer. Radon mitigation is the furnace.
This matters in Iowa more than almost anywhere else. All 99 Iowa counties are designated EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest-risk category. The Iowa state average indoor radon level is around 8.5 pCi/L, compared with a US average of about 1.3 pCi/L, according to Iowa HHS. Iowa HHS also reports that roughly 71.6% of Iowa homes test above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. In other words, a large share of Iowa homes that get tested end up needing mitigation, but you still have to test to find out.
We are a marketing service that connects Iowa homeowners with independent specialists. We do not perform testing or mitigation ourselves. The work is done by an NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed specialist (NRPP is the National Radon Proficiency Program, and Iowa HHS is the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services).
Radon Testing: Finding Out If You Have a Problem
Radon testing measures how much radon gas has accumulated in the air inside your home, reported in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Because radon is invisible and odorless, a test is the only way to know your level. There are three common ways to measure it.
Short-term tests (2 to 7 days)
These are the quick, low-cost kits most homeowners start with. A small detector sits in the lowest livable level of the home for two to seven days, then goes to a lab. They are fast and inexpensive but only capture a short window, so the result can swing with weather and season.
Long-term tests (over 90 days)
A long-term test measures for more than 90 days and gives a more reliable picture of your year-round average, since radon levels rise and fall with the seasons. It is the better choice when a short-term result lands in the gray zone (around 2.0 to 3.9 pCi/L) and you want more certainty before deciding on mitigation.
Continuous radon monitors
Continuous monitors record radon hour by hour and report an ongoing reading. Professionals often use them for real estate transactions and post-mitigation checks because they are harder to tamper with and show how the level changes over time.
Closed-house conditions
For an accurate short-term test, keep the home under closed-house conditions. Windows and exterior doors stay shut except for normal entry and exit, ideally for 12 hours before the test starts and throughout. This keeps the measurement from being artificially diluted by fresh air.
Where to get a test in Iowa
Some Iowa county health departments sell low-cost radon test kits to residents. According to published Iowa pricing, these kits typically run about $7 to $15, while a professional measurement runs roughly $135 to $250. Check with your local county health department to see whether kits are available in your area.
When to test
- You have never tested your home.
- You are buying or selling a home.
- You finished a major renovation or foundation work.
- Roughly every two years, since radon levels can change over time.
The number that matters most is 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA action level. At or above that level, the EPA recommends fixing the home. You can enter your own result in our radon action level calculator to see EPA-aligned guidance on what it means.
Radon Mitigation: Fixing the Problem
Radon mitigation is the work that brings an elevated radon level down. The most common method in Iowa is active sub-slab depressurization. A specialist installs a pipe through the foundation slab and adds a quiet, continuously running fan that pulls radon gas from beneath the home and vents it safely above the roofline, before it can enter your living space.
When mitigation is needed
Mitigation is called for when a test result is at or above 4.0 pCi/L. The EPA also notes that homeowners may wish to consider fixing the home between 2.0 and 3.9 pCi/L, since there is no completely risk-free level of radon. Below that, retesting every couple of years is usually enough.
The one-day install
A typical residential mitigation system is installed in a single day. The specialist assesses the foundation, routes the piping, mounts the fan, and seals entry points. Properly installed systems typically reduce radon by 50 to 99% according to the EPA. That reduction figure is from the EPA and is not a guarantee we make.
The post-mitigation re-test
After the system is running, a follow-up test confirms the level actually dropped below the action level. This closes the loop. Testing told you there was a problem, mitigation addressed it, and the re-test proves it worked. Read more about the process in our radon mitigation and radon testing service pages.
The NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed partner contractor you are matched with is licensed and insured and provides a written workmanship warranty. Those credentials and warranties belong to the partner, not to us.
Testing vs Mitigation at a Glance
| Radon testing | Radon mitigation | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Measures the radon level in your home so you know if there is a problem. | Reduces an elevated radon level so the home is safer to live in. |
| When you do it | First, before anything else. Also when buying or selling, after a renovation, and roughly every two years. | Only after a test result at or above the 4.0 pCi/L EPA action level. |
| Typical cost | About $135 to $250 for a professional measurement, or $7 to $15 for a county health department kit, according to published Iowa pricing. | Standard sub-slab systems run roughly $800 to $2,500, with a median around $1,400, according to published Iowa pricing. |
| What you get | A number in pCi/L that tells you where you stand against the EPA action level. | An installed system (usually active sub-slab depressurization) plus a post-install re-test to confirm the level dropped. |
Cost figures are published Iowa market data, attributed to published Iowa pricing, and are not our prices. Action level and reduction figures are from the US EPA.
Which One Do You Need First?
The order is always the same. Test first. Mitigate only if the result warrants it.
- Never tested, or it has been a while. Start with a test. A short-term kit is a fine first step.
- Result is below 2.0 pCi/L. No action needed now. Re-test in about two years.
- Result is 2.0 to 3.9 pCi/L. Below the action level, but consider a long-term test, and the EPA notes you may wish to consider fixing the home.
- Result is 4.0 pCi/L or higher. This is the EPA action level. The recommended next step is mitigation.
If your test came back at or above 4.0 pCi/L, the next step is a free, no-obligation mitigation quote. We can connect you with a credentialed specialist who serves your part of Iowa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both radon testing and radon mitigation?
Every home should be tested, because testing is the only way to know your radon level. You only need mitigation if your result is at or above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. Many Iowa homes test high, so it is common to need both, but testing always comes first.
Can I skip testing and just install a mitigation system?
It is not recommended. Testing tells you whether you have a problem and gives you a baseline number. After a system is installed, a post-mitigation re-test confirms the level actually dropped. Without testing, you cannot prove the system worked.
How much does radon testing cost in Iowa?
According to published Iowa pricing, a professional radon measurement runs roughly $135 to $250, while low-cost test kits sold by some Iowa county health departments run about $7 to $15. These are published market figures, not our prices.
How much does radon mitigation cost in Iowa?
According to published Iowa pricing, a standard sub-slab depressurization system runs roughly $800 to $2,500, with a median around $1,400. The exact figure depends on your foundation and home size. These are published market figures, not our prices.
What radon level requires mitigation?
The EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is at or above 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA action level. The EPA also notes that homeowners may consider fixing between 2.0 and 3.9 pCi/L, since there is no completely risk-free level.
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