Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that enters homes through cracks in the foundation, and the EPA names it the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The agency's guidance is direct: test your home because the only way to know your level is to measure it, and fix it if the result is high. The EPA's zone maps show lower average radon potential across much of Texas than in northern states, but zone maps are county averages, not house-level guarantees, and neighboring homes can read differently. Test the house you live in, Patriot Nation, and make it a great one.
Quick Answer
Yes, test for radon. Texas levels average lower than northern states, but readings vary home to home, and a low-cost do-it-yourself test gives you certainty in a few days.
Ask Patrick whether to test for radon.
Why Test at All
Radon is the invisible risk you cannot smell, see, or taste, and it comes from the ground itself, seeping through cracks in the foundation and gaps around pipes. The EPA's recommendation is not about scaring you, it is about certainty, because the difference between a safe reading and a high reading is a few dollars and a few days.
Texas averages lower than northern states on the EPA's zone maps, and that is good news, but averages do not protect a specific house. Two homes on the same street can read differently because soil, foundation, and construction all matter. The test is the only way to know yours.
How the Test Works
The EPA's short-term test is simple: close the house, place the kit in the lowest lived-in level for two to seven days, and mail it to a lab. Radon test kits are inexpensive and sold at hardware stores and online, and the EPA publishes guidance on picking a reliable tester.
Follow the kit's instructions exactly: keep windows and doors closed as directed, place the kit away from drafts and heat, and do not move it mid-test. A test done right gives you an answer you can act on, and a test done sloppily gives you a number that means nothing.
What the Numbers Mean
The EPA action level is 4 picocuries per liter: fix the home if the long-term average is at or above it, and consider fixing homes between 2 and 4. If your result is above the action level, a professional mitigation system, usually sub-slab depressurization, typically costs roughly $800 to $1,500, a small price for safe air.
A high short-term result is not the final word, the EPA recommends a follow-up test to confirm the average before committing to mitigation. Then make the call with the long-term number, not a single reading from a busy week.
When to Test as a Buyer
Radon testing is not part of a standard Texas inspection, so ask your inspector about adding it, or run a short-term test yourself right after closing. If the result is high and you have not closed yet, the result gives you room to negotiate; after closing, you fix it for peace of mind.
The cheapest time to test is while you still have the option period, because a high reading before closing is a negotiation point, and a high reading after closing is just your project. Either way you want the answer, so get it early.
Patrick's Advice: Make It a Great One
Test the lowest lived-in level of your home with a reliable kit, follow the instructions, and read the result against the EPA action level. If you are buying, ask about radon during the option period, and if you are selling, test before you list so the answer is already on the table. The homeowners who test are the ones who sleep easy, and that is the whole point. Ask Patrick to help you plan your radon test.
Ask Patrick about radon testing
Get a straight answer on radon risk in Texas, testing, and what to do if levels are high.
