You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but radon is one of the most common problems we find in Fargo-Moorhead homes. According to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, 63% of North Dakota homes have radon levels above the EPA action level. Across the river, the Minnesota Department of Health reports that more than two in five Minnesota homes have radon levels that pose a significant health risk.
If you have never tested your home, winter is the perfect time to do it.
What Is Radon, and Why Does It Matter?
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally as uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It moves up through the ground and into homes through foundation cracks, sump pits, floor drains, gaps around pipes and other openings in basements and crawlspaces.
Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. It is a leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked and is linked to more than 21,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.
Why Fargo-Moorhead Homes Are at Higher Risk
- Our soil. The Red River Valley’s soils and geology make radon common across our region.
- Basements. Many homes here have full basements, which put living space in direct contact with the soil.
- Long, closed-up winters. Our homes stay sealed and heated for months. Warm air rising inside a house creates a “stack effect” that pulls soil gas, including radon, in through the foundation.
- Newer, tighter homes. Energy-efficient construction is great for heating bills but can trap radon inside if there is no mitigation system.
Radon levels can be very different between two homes on the same street. The only way to know your home’s level is to test it.
When and How to Test
The North Dakota DEQ recommends testing during the colder months, when homes are closed up and radon levels tend to be highest. A few tips for an accurate result:
- Test in the lowest lived-in level of your home, such as a finished basement.
- Keep windows and exterior doors closed (normal coming and going is fine) for at least 12 hours before and during the test.
- Place the test away from drafts, high humidity, exterior walls and sump pits.
- Do not move or disturb the test device while it is running.
Do-it-yourself kits are available, and the state of North Dakota periodically offers free kits through the DEQ. For a home sale, or if you want reliable results you can act on, a professional test with radon monitoring equipment, done under proper testing conditions, gives you results you can rely on. Learn about our radon testing.
What Your Results Mean
- 4.0 pCi/L or higher: The EPA recommends fixing your home. This is the EPA action level.
- 2.0 to 4.0 pCi/L: There is no known safe level of radon, so consider mitigation to bring your levels down further.
- Below 2.0 pCi/L: Good news. Consider re-testing every few years, or after major renovations like finishing a basement.
High Radon? It Can Be Fixed
A high radon result is not a reason to panic or walk away from a home. Most homes can be fixed with a radon mitigation system, which uses a fan and piping to pull radon from beneath the foundation and vent it safely outside. A properly installed system can significantly lower radon levels, and you should re-test after it is installed to confirm it is working.
Already have a system? Check the U-tube manometer on the pipe regularly. If the liquid levels are even, your fan may not be running. See our radon system troubleshooting guide.
Buying a Home in Fargo-Moorhead?
Add a radon test to your home inspection. It is much easier to negotiate a mitigation system before closing than to pay for one afterward. If you are buying in Minnesota, the seller is also required to disclose what they know about the home’s radon history.
Want to learn more? Read Everything You Need to Know About Radon, explore our radon mitigation solutions, or schedule a radon test with Nordic Inspections today.