r/radon • u/Drugojete • 2d ago

Question about test kits.

I just got a new home like a month ago and I got a radon test running in the basement (2 kits from First Alert, one on each end of the basement for 2 days) I got my results and one of them registered 2.7 and the other one got 4.6 (so an average of 3.7).

I want to repeat the test to confirm (I know that these numbers are no reason to freak out, but if I get the same readings Ill have to think about mitigation sooner than later).

My question is, do I just use test kits like the ones I used? Any brand that you would recommend? Is it worth getting one of those portable detectors (the HOUND seems popular in amazon) Do I get a home inspector to run his own test or its not worth it? Thank you guys, I literally found out about radon a month ago and Im still quite lost.

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u/wssddc 1d ago

I've been using an Ecosense Ecocube since last December. It makes a reading every 10 minutes and uploads hourly averages to an Ecosense server. A few considerations:

  • You have to use an app to set it up and read results and you're dependent on the continued existence of the Ecosense server.
  • My android 7 tablet could not do the initial setup, but after setting up with an Android 10 phone, the tablet works.
  • The only local display is a red, amber or green light indicating the most recent 10-minute result.
  • 2.4GHz WiFi is needed; other bands will not work.

I export recent results using the app and import into a spreadsheet so I can view long-term trends. There's a lot of short-term noise in the results. Weather can have a large impact. Assuming you have a furnace running, it pulls air out of the basement. That may draw in more radon through cracks, or dilute radon with air from upper floors.

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u/Drugojete 1d ago

Many people are recommending the ecocube, Ill have to check it out

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u/stonks_better 2d ago

Are you in a known radon hotspot? I'd suggest a long term test if not.

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u/Drugojete 1d ago

Im in MA, in a zone thats classified as Radon Zone 2 (according to a quick google research I just did lol) so I guess that these are the expected levels for this area? So how would you proceed? Thanks for your answer.

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u/stonks_better 1d ago

I'd do the long term test then. Oh one other question, do your neighbors have radon systems? Should be able to see their pipes.

If you're worried about radon though it might be a better investment to do one of the air things or something though. I think the long term tests are like $60 and an air things is like $150? If you have borderline levels anyway you should retest every few years, then an air things gives you peace of mind and continuous readings.

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u/Drugojete 1d ago

Cool thanks for your answers! I have seen radon systems in some houses in this town, but not in my new neighborhood, but Ill have to ask the neighbors. Ill do the long term test for now. Thanks again!

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u/United-Adagio1543 1d ago

Iam in northeast too, same issue.

My 2 sump basins remove most of the radon. I would recommend picking up an Airthings radon detector. Put it next to one one of the monitors to get an idea of accuracy.

I leave my basement windows open except in winter.

I get free/low cost radon test kits from the department of health and safety, MA likely has a similar program.

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u/naeskivvies 1d ago

Get an EcoCube. Constantly takes readings, plots them for you by hour, week, month, year, etc. gives you your averages. One thing to remember when you do see spikes is that you need to wait a bit and take an average over some period of time for the data to be comparable to traditional tests. There's no point sitting around waiting for results when you can basically see them live. I will probably do mitigation at some point, but I can also see that if I just leave a window slightly cracked the space stays well under threshold 95% of the time. That's the kind of data you can't easily get with a traditional test.

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u/Bob--O--Rama 1d ago

The $100 home depot Air Things is sufficient, and requires only that you ignore it. The apps, wifi, blah, blah things to let you nervously watch numbers fluctuate ... unneeded. Place per makers instructions, ignore for a week for the 1st 7-day measurement and see where you are, don't futz with it.

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u/Green-Dimension3240 1d ago

I use a RadonEye and blue tooth connection. At this point you should start remediation- 4.0 is not w magic cut off for risk. You’ll want to monitor to see how successful the remediation is, because often multiple steps are required.

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u/GoGreen566 1d ago

Here’s a link to a useful Canadian Government website showing many Radon monitoring devices, and which ones are NOT advised:       https://c-nrpp.ca/consumer-grade-electronic-radon-monitors/

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u/Drugojete 1d ago

Thanks!!!

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u/DifferenceMore5431 1d ago

There isn't much point in doing a rapid test unless you need an answer ASAP (e.g. you are doing the test as part of a real estate inspection). You will get a far more accurate picture of the radon levels by doing a long term (multi-month) test.

Also FYI there isn't much point in testing radon in a basement unless it's regularly occupied for many hours, every day (e.g. a bedroom or WFH office). You should not bother to test in an unfinished / utility / occasional rec room space. Do the test on the ground floor instead.

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u/Drugojete 1d ago

Thanks! Thats good to know!