For Northern Liberties Homeowners & Renters
A Simple Guide to Radon in Your Home
Whether you’re just learning about radon or it’s been a while since your last test, this page breaks down the basics — what radon is, how it gets into your home, why it matters, and what testing can tell you.
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Independent radon testing with no mitigation sales or pressure.
What Is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms as uranium breaks down in the ground beneath us.
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Where Does It Come From?
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Why Is It Easy to Miss?
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How Do You Know It's There?
Radon gas can move through the soil and enter homes from below.
Radon gas has no color, smell, or taste.
Testing is the only way to know the radon level in a home.
First, let’s start with the basics.
How Radon Gets Into a Home
Your home can act a little like a vacuum cleaner. Warm air rises and leaves the house, which can create a small pull from below. That pull can draw radon gas out of the soil and into the home. Common places radon can enter are:
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Cracks in concrete floors and walls
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Open sump pits
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Gaps around pipes and utility lines
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Openings where the floors and walls meet
Did you know?
About 40% of homes tested in Pennsylvania have radon levels above the EPA action level.
Why Does Radon Matter for Your Health?
Radon can damage lung tissue over time and increase the risk of lung cancer.
The EPA estimates that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
The concern is long-term exposure. Testing helps you understand your home’s radon level so you can decide what to do next.
Measure the Home
A professional test measures the amount of radon in the air inside your home.
Radon cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. Testing is the only way to know the radon level inside your home.
About 48 Hours
A short-term radon testing device usually stays in your home for about 48 hours.
Understand the Result
The result shows your home’s radon level and helps you decide what to do next.
What Can a Radon Test Tell You?
Not sure what to do next?
Get clear, no-pressure guidance about radon and your home.
Do You Have a Question?
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Tell me where you are with radon and what you’d like help understanding. I’ll review what you share and follow up by email with practical guidance the same business day.
Request professional radon testing for your home, or start with free guidance if you still have questions.
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