Testing guide
How to test your home for radon
A radon test is cheap and simple. Pennsylvania DEP says kits cost about $20 to $30, and colder months are the best time to test. Here's how to get an accurate result.
$800–$1,200 typical system in PA
Pennsylvania DEP's range. Free quote, no obligation, from an installer certified by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
What does your test result mean?
Enter the radon level from your test report.
General guidance from the EPA and Pennsylvania DEP, not a substitute for a certified professional's assessment.
Pick a test
- Short-term test. Runs at least 48 hours, often 2 to 7 days. Good for a quick answer and for home sales.
- Long-term test. Runs more than 90 days. Shows your home's year-round average, which the EPA prefers when you have time.
- Hire a tester. A Pennsylvania DEP-certified testing company can do it for you. Pennsylvania requires radon testing companies to be certified by DEP.
Kits are sold at hardware stores and by Pennsylvania-certified radon labs. The lab that analyzes your kit should be PA-certified.
Where to put it
- On the lowest level you use or could use as living space, often the basement.
- In a room used regularly, like a family room or bedroom. Not a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or hallway.
- At least 20 inches off the floor, away from drafts, heat, humidity and outside walls.
Keep the house closed
For tests shorter than four days, keep windows and outside doors closed for 12 hours before and during the test, apart from normal coming and going. Avoid testing during severe storms or high winds.
Why winter is a good time
Pennsylvania DEP says colder months are the best time to test, because homes are closed up and radon can build up. That gives you a result closer to your worst case.
After the test
Write down the start and stop times, reseal the kit, and mail it to the lab right away. When the result comes back, check what it means with the checker above. DEP recommends retesting every two years.
Sources: PA DEP, January 2026 · U.S. EPA radon testing guidance
Who you'll talk to
An independent referral to a certified installer
Butler County Radon Help is a referral service, not an installer. When you request a quote, we connect you with a radon mitigation company certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that serves Butler County. The quote is free, and you're never obligated to hire anyone.
Check any company yourself
Look it up in the PA DEP radon services directory, or call DEP at 1-800-23-RADON.
Service area
Serving all of Butler County
- Butler
- Cranberry Township
- Zelienople
- Harmony
- Evans City
- Mars
- Valencia
- Seven Fields
- Saxonburg
- Slippery Rock
- Chicora
- Prospect
- Adams Township
- Jackson Township
- Center Township
- Penn Township
Good to know
Your radon questions, answered.
Straight answers from EPA and Pennsylvania DEP guidance.
More guides: What your test result means · How to test for radon · Radon mitigation cost · Buying or selling a home · Radon in new homes
How much does a radon test kit cost?
Pennsylvania DEP says test kits typically cost about $20 to $30.
How long does a radon test take?
Short-term tests run at least 48 hours, often 2 to 7 days. Long-term tests run more than 90 days.
Can I test in summer?
Yes, but colder months are the best time according to PA DEP, because the house is closed and radon can build up.
Where can I find a certified tester?
Pennsylvania DEP lists certified testers, labs and mitigators. Call 1-800-23-RADON or check the DEP radon services directory.
Free quote
Ready to lower your radon?
Tell us a little about your home, and we'll connect you with a DEP-certified installer serving Butler County.
- No cost to request a quote
- Shared with one certified installer, not sold to a list
- Mention a closing date and it's flagged as urgent