Radon is a poisonous gas. Breathing radon can increase your chances of getting lung cancer, especially if you smoke. One out of every 15 homes in the United States has a dangerous level of radon.
Testing your home is the only way to know if your home has a radon problem. If the radon level is high, you can take steps to fix it.
You can test for radon yourself or hire someone to do it for you. If you rent your home, ask your landlord to get it tested.
There are 2 main types of radon test kits. Short-term tests take between 2 and 90 days. Long-term tests take more than 90 days. Start with a short-term test.
The radon level in your home can change. A long-term test is the best way to know how high the radon level is over time.
If 2 radon test kits show the radon level in your home is 4 or higher, make a plan to fix your home. You may want to fix it if the radon level is between 2 and 4.
For more information about radon: