Radon Testing in Iowa
Radon has no smell, so a measurement is the only way to know your level. You can place a low-cost kit in your own house, or hire a state-certified radon measurement specialist. We connect you with credentialed Iowa specialists.
Radon testing in Iowa happens one of two ways: you place a low-cost do-it-yourself kit in your own house, or you hire a state-certified radon measurement specialist to do it. Iowa rules reach the second case. Certification is required of anyone who measures radon in a building they do not own or occupy and reports the result to the owner or occupant, so the rule covers the person you pay and not a homeowner placing their own kit. Results come back in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), and the EPA action level is 4 pCi/L.
Radon testing measures the concentration of radon gas inside a home. Because radon has no smell and causes no immediate symptoms, a test is the only way to know whether a home sits above or below that action level.
We connect Iowa homeowners with NRPP-certified, Iowa HHS-credentialed specialists for professional testing. Iowa HHS also certifies radon measurement specialists and laboratories, and many counties offer low-cost test kits for homeowners who want to screen first.
Anyone paid to test or mitigate radon in Iowa must hold a state credential, and Iowa HHS publishes both a list and a map of credentialed radon mitigation specialists so a homeowner can check a name before hiring. Checking that credential is the single most useful thing you can do between getting a result and signing a contract.
Why Radon Testing in Iowa Matters
With a state average around 8.5 pCi/L per Iowa HHS and roughly 71.6% of Iowa homes above the 4 pCi/L action level, the odds that an untested Iowa home has elevated radon are high. All 99 counties are EPA Radon Zone 1.
Radon levels vary home to home and even season to season, so a neighbor’s result does not tell you your own. Levels are often highest in winter when homes are sealed against the cold. Testing gives you a number to act on.
Types of Radon Testing Used in Iowa
Short-term tests
Run from two to seven days, these give a fast snapshot and are common during real estate transactions. Closed-house conditions are required for accuracy.
Long-term tests
Run more than 90 days, these average out seasonal swings and give the most representative picture of year-round exposure.
Continuous radon monitors
Professional electronic monitors log hourly readings and resist tampering, which is why they are often used for real estate testing.
Post-mitigation testing
After a system is installed, a follow-up test confirms the level dropped below the action level.
County and low-cost kits
Iowa HHS directs homeowners to buy a low-cost do-it-yourself kit from their county health department or through the Iowa Radon Hotline on 1-800-383-5992, open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Central. Kits are also sold at most hardware and home improvement stores and by the American Lung Association. The Iowa Cancer Consortium puts do-it-yourself kits at under $20. County pricing varies, so ask your county what it charges and whether the fee includes the lab result.
How Radon Testing Works in Iowa
- 1
Request testing
Submit the form or call, and a credentialed specialist will schedule a test or advise on a county kit.
- 2
Closed-house setup
For a short-term test, windows and exterior doors stay closed (except normal entry and exit) for 12 hours before and during the test.
- 3
Placement
The device is placed in the lowest livable level, away from drafts, exterior walls, and high humidity.
- 4
Results and next steps
If the result is at or above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends acting to reduce it, and the specialist explains mitigation options. Below that, a periodic re-test is recommended, because levels shift with the seasons and with changes to the house. If the result came back high during a home sale, the contingency clock starts running, and the guides linked below cover who pays, the retest, and the disclosure rules.
Who Can Legally Do Radon Testing in Iowa
Anyone paid to test a house they do not own or occupy in Iowa has to be certified by the state as a radon measurement specialist, and the laboratory that analyzes the device has to be certified as well. Both requirements sit in Iowa Administrative Code 641 chapter 43, checked August 14, 2026, and Iowa HHS runs the program through its radon testing and lab certification pages.
None of this stops you from buying a county kit and testing your own house, which is what Iowa HHS points homeowners to first. The rule is about who you pay, and checking it is the cheapest thing you can do before money changes hands. The same credential check carries over once a result turns into a quote, which is covered on our page for radon mitigation contractors, and the next steps after a high reading are on my radon test came back high.
The certification requirement
Chapter 43 sets the requirements for certifying radon measurement specialists and radon measurement laboratories. Its scope covers all persons performing measurements for radon or radon progeny in buildings, other than those which they own or occupy, and who provide the results of those measurements to the owner or occupant. Rule 641-43.3 states that no person may test for the presence of radon or radon progeny in Iowa unless that person has been certified by the department, which the rule text still names the department of public health and which is now Iowa HHS.
The laboratory has to be certified too
Rule 641-43.10 requires any laboratory providing analysis services for radon detectors used in Iowa to meet the chapter, and it prohibits a certified individual from using radon measurement devices obtained from a laboratory that is not certified under the chapter. The question is not only who places the device in your house, it is which lab reads it afterward.
Training and continuing education
Under rule 641-43.7, each person conducting radon-related activities completes a radon measurement training program approved by the department, and every certified individual takes a minimum of eight hours of department-approved courses or seminars every other year, on radon measurement or mitigation or both.
Approved devices and published protocols
Rule 641-43.3 requires a certified specialist to use detection devices approved by the NRPP, the NRSB, or another department-approved national radon proficiency program, and to follow EPA, ANSI/AARST and department-approved radon measurement and quality assurance guidelines, protocols and standards. That is the practical difference between a professional measurement and a kit you place yourself: the device and the procedure are both specified.
What to ask before you hire
Ask for the certification, ask which laboratory analyzes the device, and check the name against the state list before work starts. A specialist who holds a current certification will not mind being asked, and the answer takes one phone call to confirm.
Radon Testing Cost in Iowa
According to published Iowa pricing, professional short-term tests commonly run from roughly $135 to $250, while county test kits can be as low as $7 to $15. Real estate tests with a continuous monitor may cost more because of the equipment and chain-of-custody documentation involved.
These figures reflect published third-party market data, not a price set by Iowa Radon Professionals. The specialist confirms the exact cost before testing.
Figures reflect published Iowa contractor pricing, not a price set by Iowa Radon Professionals.
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.
Where We Help You Find a Specialist
We connect homeowners with credentialed radon specialists across Iowa. Our launch metros include:
What it costs, and what happens after you send it
- What does a radon test cost in Iowa?
- Testing costs a fraction of mitigation. A professional short-term test commonly runs $135 to $250, and a DIY kit runs $7 to $15 (county health department kits; the Iowa Cancer Consortium offers none itself and says several county public health departments offer free or low-cost kits, so ask your county). Many Iowa mitigation quotes already include the follow-up test, so ask before paying for one separately. 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
What radon level is too high?
The EPA action level is 4 pCi/L. At or above that, the EPA recommends taking steps to reduce radon. There is no completely risk-free level, so lower is better.
Short-term or long-term test?
A short-term test is faster and common for home sales. A long-term test (over 90 days) better reflects year-round exposure. For peace of mind outside a transaction, long-term is more representative.
Can I use a cheap county kit?
Yes. Many Iowa county health departments sell low-cost short-term kits, which are a good first screen. For real estate or post-mitigation testing, a professional test is usually preferred.
When is radon highest?
Radon is often highest in winter, when homes are closed up. That is also why closed-house conditions are required during short-term testing.
Does Iowa offer free radon testing?
Iowa HHS points homeowners to low-cost kits rather than free ones. The state radon hotline on 1-800-383-5992 and county health departments sell inexpensive do-it-yourself kits, and the Iowa Cancer Consortium puts them at under $20. Some counties and one-off campaigns have given kits away while supplies lasted, so it is worth asking your county what it currently offers. Help with the cost of mitigation, which is the expensive part, is covered in our Iowa radon mitigation cost guide.
Who can test my home for radon in Iowa?
Either you or a state-certified radon measurement specialist. Iowa Administrative Code 641 chapter 43 requires certification for anyone who measures radon in a building they do not own or occupy and reports the result to the owner or occupant, so a homeowner may place their own kit, but anyone paid to test your house must hold that certification. The laboratory that analyzes the device must be certified as well.
Are radon levels high in Iowa?
Yes, among the highest in the country. Iowa HHS puts the state average near 8.5 pCi/L against a typical indoor level of about 1.3 pCi/L, and roughly 71.6% of Iowa homes tested come back above the 4 pCi/L action level. All 99 Iowa counties are EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest-potential designation.
What houses are more likely to have radon?
Radon comes up out of the soil, so the drivers are the ground under the house, how the house meets that ground, and how it is ventilated. Age and style predict much less than people expect: a new, tightly built home can test higher than an old drafty one. In Iowa every county is Zone 1, so no house is ruled out by its location, and a neighbor result does not tell you your own number.
How long before radon makes you sick?
Radon does not work that way. It causes no immediate symptoms and no short-term illness, so there is nothing to notice and nothing to wait for. The health concern is lung cancer risk from long-term exposure, which is exactly why a measurement, rather than symptoms, is the only way to find a problem.
Sources on this page reviewed August 14, 2026.
Related Services
Radon Mitigation
The standard active soil depressurization system that vents radon from beneath the slab to above the roofline.
Real Estate Radon Testing
Fast, transaction-timeline testing for home sales and purchase contingencies, with results that fit closing deadlines.
Crawl Space Radon Mitigation
Sub-membrane depressurization for homes with crawl spaces, sealing and venting soil gas at the source.
Helpful guides: my radon test came back high, Iowa radon mitigation cost, testing vs mitigation, and choosing a credentialed contractor.
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