Radon Testing in Springfield, IL

Every radon decision starts with a test. Here's how testing works in Springfield and Sangamon County, what the numbers mean, and what Illinois law says about radon when a home is sold or rented, based on EPA and IEMA-OHS guidance.

Do-it-yourself test or professional test?

Both are valid. IEMA-OHS says you can test yourself by following its homeowner testing guide, or hire a licensed professional, and it recommends professional testing in real estate transactions. Anyone who tests radon for pay in Illinois must be licensed by IEMA-OHS (420 ILCS 44).

• DIY kits are inexpensive and sold at hardware stores and online. Follow the kit instructions and IEMA-OHS's placement guidance.
• Professional tests usually use a continuous radon monitor that logs hourly readings and can flag tampering or open windows, which is why they're standard in home sales.

Short-term vs long-term tests

Radon levels swing from day to day and season to season, so EPA notes that a long-term test is more likely to reflect your year-round average.

EPA's testing steps

1. Take a short-term test. If the result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test.
2. Follow up with a long-term test, or a second short-term test if you need results quickly.
3. Decide. Fix the home if the long-term result, or the average of two short-term tests, is 4 pCi/L or more. Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L.

Getting an accurate reading

• Test in the lowest lived-in level, such as a finished basement or the main floor if there's no basement. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
• For short-term tests, keep windows and outside doors closed for 12 hours before and during the test, except for normal coming and going.
• Avoid 2–3 day tests during severe storms or unusually high winds.

Radon when you buy or sell a home in Illinois

The Illinois Radon Awareness Act requires a seller of residential real property to give the buyer, before the buyer is obligated under a contract:

• the IEMA-OHS pamphlet "Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate Transactions",
• the "Illinois Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards" form, and
• any records or reports in the seller's possession showing radon above the action level.

The law doesn't require the seller to test or mitigate. If the disclosure only comes after the buyer has made an offer, the buyer gets a chance to review it and amend the offer. Some transfers are excluded, so ask your agent or attorney about your situation. IEMA-OHS notes that real estate testing involves several parties and requires specific test protocols; see its real estate page.

Renting in Illinois

According to IEMA-OHS, landlords of units below the third story must give tenants the "Radon Guide for Tenants" pamphlet, the "Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards to Tenants," and any records showing a radon hazard. A tenant has 90 days from the start of the lease to run their own test; if it's above the action level and the landlord chooses not to mitigate, the tenant may terminate the lease. The landlord may hire a licensed radon contractor for a retest within 30 days.

Already have a system?

EPA's Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction recommends retesting at least every two years, and after major renovations such as finishing a basement.

My test is high. What now?

Read about mitigation systems and what they cost, or send us your result with the form below. We'll pass it to an independent IEMA-licensed mitigation pro who serves your ZIP code.