DIY vs Professional Radon Testing: Differences, Pros, and Limitations
Radon: It’s a gas that has no odor or color, but it can cause serious health issues if it’s in your home, including lung cancer. Many homes in Connecticut and across the United States have radon, and the main problem is that it’s not something you’d know unless you tested for it. Radon testing can be done by a professional or with a kit you purchase yourself from a home improvement store. Which is better?
Let’s discuss the different considerations to keep in mind regarding whether DIY or professional radon testing is better:
- Cost of radon testing
- Accuracy and reliability
- Convenience
- Treatments for radon
If you’re ready to learn about what type of radon testing is best for you, keep reading.
Cost of Radon Testing
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to run a radon test, then DIY might be the way to go. You can buy a kit from a home improvement store for between $10 and $100. These range from one-time test kits to monitors that remain on the wall to show you the level of radon in a particular room.
Hiring a professional will cost more than that. They have different types of testing options to choose from, though.
Accuracy and Reliability
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. If you’re going to test for radon, it’s imperative that the test results be accurate and reliable. It wouldn’t make sense to test for a potentially deadly gas and not use an accurate test.
The tests you can buy to use on your own are accurate–but only if they’re used properly. While a professional radon testing company will know exactly what to do to ensure an accurate test, a typical homeowner might not.
The best way to be sure you’re getting an accurate reading is to hire an expert.
The second-best way is to follow the instructions precisely. You’ll need to choose the right location in your home, which will usually be at waist height on the lowest level of the home. You’ll need to keep all windows closed for at least a day before your test as well as during the entirety of the testing period. You also have to avoid using fans that bring in air from outside.
There are some weather conditions that could affect your radon test, such as high humidity and high winds. These are factors that a radon company will know how to account for.
Convenience
As with any type of in-home testing or service, doing it yourself can be more convenient in the sense that you don’t have to have someone come into your home or worry about scheduling an appointment.
On the other hand, having someone else take care of hanging the radon test, collecting it when it’s done, and interpreting the results can take less time and be less stressful than trying to do it all on your own.
Thus, deciding whether DIY or professional radon testing is more convenient is really a matter of mindset and preference. Some people find it easier to simply handle it themselves, while others would rather leave it to an expert to deal with.
Treatments for Radon
Finally, it’s important to consider what you’d do if your radon results were to come back high. You can’t treat radon on your own; you will need to hire a professional radon mitigation company to install the right equipment to safely and effectively remove the radon gas from your home.
If you perform your own radon test, it’s possible that the radon mitigation will need to be performed by professionals if the results come back high. If the results are borderline, for example, they may want to know whether a more accurate test will show a higher or lower value.
If you hired a professional to perform the test in the first place, they’ll get the results and will know exactly what to do in order to bring the levels down to an acceptable level in your home. The type of removal equipment you need will depend on the type of home you have and other factors.
Conclusion
When deciding whether to use a DIY radon test or have professional radon testing performed, it’s important to consider all of the factors involved. If you have further questions, it’s best to consult with a qualified professional radon mitigation company.