Radon Testing in Idaho Falls, Pocatello & Southeast Idaho
Vantage Point Inspections tests homes for radon across Southeast Idaho, including Idaho Falls and Pocatello. Radon tests during a real estate transaction run for 48 hours. We test, we don't mitigate, so the number we give you isn't tied to selling you a fix.
Why Test for Radon in Southeast Idaho?
Most homes in our area have some radon, even if the level is very low. The point of testing is to catch the homes where it's high. Readings of 2 to 5 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) are very common here, but we also test homes that come in at 15, and some that read over 100.
The EPA recommends fixing a home when radon is 4 pCi/L or higher. Because there is no known safe level, it also suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Read the EPA's explanation of its radon action level
RADON FACTS
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Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates.
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Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of those were people who never smoked.
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Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.
Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Informational Video on Radon
How Our 48-Hour Radon Test Works
We set up a radon monitor in the home and let it run. Radon tests during a real estate transaction run for 48 hours. When the test is finished, we pick up the equipment and send the results to you.
Foundation type doesn't change the answer. Basement, crawlspace or slab, if there's radon in the ground under the house, it can get inside.
Add Radon Testing to Your Inspection, or Book It on Its Own
Buying a home? Add radon testing when you schedule your home inspection.
Already own your home? You don't need a home inspection to get a radon test. Call our office at (208) 254-4848 to book a standalone radon test.
Radon testing pricing
• Starting at $185 when added to a home inspection
• Starting at $198 for a standalone radon test
Travel fees may apply depending on your distance from Idaho Falls. If the level of the home being tested (for example, the basement) is over 2,000 sq ft, it needs an additional monitor, which increases the fee.
What If Your Radon Level Is High?
We test, we don't mitigate. Vantage Point doesn't install radon systems, so our results are independent of whether the house needs one.
If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, the EPA recommends fixing the home. Between 2 and 4 pCi/L, it recommends considering a fix. The fix is a mitigation system installed by a qualified radon mitigation contractor. The EPA suggests contacting your state radon program to find credentialed professionals: EPA: find a radon test kit or measurement and mitigation professional
If you're buying, the result is something specific to talk through with your agent before your inspection period ends.
Radon in Idaho Falls and Pocatello Homes
Idaho Falls. If you're buying in Idaho Falls, add radon testing when you schedule your home inspection. Two homes in the same neighborhood can test very differently, so the result for the house you're buying is the one that matters.
Pocatello. Pocatello homes get the same 48-hour test, whether you're buying or have lived in the house for years. Your result is compared to the EPA's 4 pCi/L action level so you know where your home stands.
COMMON QUESTIONS
WHAT IS RADON?
Radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas. This gas comes from "the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils." This gas is able to make its way into any home "through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside where it can build up."
IS RADON HARMFUL?
"EPA already has a wealth of scientific data on the relationship between radon exposure and the development of lung cancer." Overall, the EPA lists radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer.
HOW LONG DOES TESTING TAKE?
Short-term testing: "The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device." Long-term testing: "Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days." Testing during a real estate transaction runs for 48 hours. We send the results after we pick up the equipment.
WHAT DO MY RESULTS MEAN?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or higher and considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. For comparison, the EPA puts the average U.S. home at about 1.3 pCi/L. Many Southeast Idaho homes fall in the 2 to 5 range, and some test far higher, so the number for your house is what matters.
CAN'T I JUST BUY A TEST KIT?
You can. Do-it-yourself radon kits are sold in stores and online, and they're a reasonable first look for a homeowner. During a home purchase, though, you're working against an inspection deadline and need a documented result you can share with your agent and the seller. That's where a professional 48-hour test makes sense.
DOES MY FOUNDATION TYPE MATTER?
No. Basements, crawlspaces and slab-on-grade homes can all have high radon. If it's in the soil under the house, it can get in, so every foundation type is worth testing.
DO YOU DO RADON MITIGATION?
No. We test, we don't mitigate. If your level is high, a qualified radon mitigation contractor can install a system. See "What If Your Radon Level Is High?" above.
CAN I GET A RADON TEST WITHOUT A HOME INSPECTION?
Yes. Homeowners can book a standalone radon test. Call our office at (208) 254-4848 to set it up.