Short-term, long-term or professional?
| Test type | How long | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term kit | 2 to 90 days (most are 2 to 7) | A quick first check |
| Long-term kit | More than 90 days | Your true year-round average |
| Continuous radon monitor (professional) | Usually at least 48 hours | Home sales and fast, detailed results |
Radon levels rise and fall with the weather and seasons. In Fargo, readings are often higher in winter when the house is closed and the furnace is running, and lower in summer with windows open. A long-term test smooths that out.
Getting a reliable result
- Close windows and outside doors for 12 hours before and during a short-term test. In winter that's easy.
- Test in the lowest lived-in level, usually the basement if you use it, about 2 to 6 feet off the floor.
- Keep the test away from the sump pit, floor drains, the furnace, and exterior doors.
- Don't run whole-house fans or open the house up for ventilation during the test.
- Mail the kit to the lab right away so the result is valid.
Reading your result
- 4 pCi/L or higher: the EPA recommends confirming with a second test and fixing the home.
- 2 to 4 pCi/L: the EPA suggests considering a fix.
- Below 2 pCi/L: retest every two years and after major renovations, like finishing the basement.
The EPA estimates the national average indoor level is about 1.3 pCi/L. Fargo-area results are frequently much higher, so don't be surprised by a high number. It's fixable.
Finishing your basement?
Test before you start. If you need a system, it is much easier and neater to route the pipe and seal the floor before walls and flooring go in.
Request a test or quote from a certified Fargo-area radon professional.
Sources: U.S. EPA, A Citizen's Guide to Radon; North Dakota DEQ radon program.