Professional Radon Testing Throughout Chicagoland

When radon testing is added to a Dunsing home inspection, the standard fee is $265. The final cost can vary if the property requires more than one testing unit because of multiple foundation types, separate lowest-level areas, or the size and layout of the home. 

In Illinois, a short-term radon measurement must run for at least 48 hours. Continuous radon monitors record measurements throughout the testing period so the results can be evaluated after the required measurement interval is complete. 

Sometimes. The correct testing locations depend on the home's foundation types and lowest areas suitable for occupancy. A single-foundation home may require one testing location, while homes with basements, crawlspaces, slab additions, or other distinct foundation areas may require multiple testing locations.

That depends on the home's layout and foundation configuration. Illinois requires measurements in each lowest structural area suitable for occupancy. For example, a home with a basement, slab-on-grade room, and room above a crawlspace may require testing in each of those areas. An additional test location is also required for each 2,000 square feet of the area being tested. 

Radon monitors are placed in each lowest structural area of the home that is suitable for occupancy, such as a basement, a slab-on-grade room or a room above a crawlspace. Within that area, the monitor is set in a regularly used room, away from exterior doors, windows, exterior walls, heating and cooling vents, and areas with high heat or humidity such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.

Illinois placement requirements also set minimum distances from the floor, walls and other features that could affect the reading, so the exact location is chosen on site based on the home's layout.

For short-term testing, closed-building conditions are required. Windows should remain closed, exterior doors should only be opened for normal entry and exit, and the home's heating and cooling system should generally operate normally. For tests lasting less than 96 hours, these conditions must begin at least 12 hours before testing starts. 

An elevated result does not mean the home cannot be occupied or purchased. It means radon reduction should be considered. Radon mitigation systems are commonly used to draw radon-containing soil gas from beneath the home and vent it outside. In Illinois, radon mitigation professionals are licensed by the state. Dunsing performs radon testing, but we do not install mitigation systems. 

Yes. New construction does not guarantee low radon levels. Radon potential varies from property to property, and EPA guidance recommends testing individual homes rather than relying on geographic radon maps or assumptions about the age or construction of the property. 

The EPA recommends considering a new test when a previous result is no longer recent, after renovations or alterations, or when living patterns change and a lower level of the home becomes occupied. Illinois guidance also recommends retesting after renovations or additions, and IDPH advises testing approximately every two years. 

Yes. A home with an existing mitigation system should still be tested to verify the current radon level. Illinois measurement rules specify that an installed mitigation system should remain operating during the measurement period. 

Yes. Illinois has a significant radon problem. The Illinois Department of Public Health cites a state study in which 41% of homes tested had radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA action level. Because radon levels can vary greatly from one home to another, testing is the only way to know the level in a specific property.