Short-term
EPA describes short-term tests as lasting from 2 to 90 days, depending on the device, with a minimum of 48 hours. They trade speed for a less complete view of year-round conditions.
Prepare a short-term test
Radon decisions for North Florida homes
Test the house.
Then decide what the number means.
Understand testing, results, mitigation options and how to verify a Florida-certified radon business.
01
Prepare the building. Place the device correctly. Keep the conditions documented.
01
Test correctly
Choose the right test and conditions.
02
Read the result
Use current EPA guidance.
03
Verify the provider
Confirm current Florida certification.
01
The building decides
You cannot diagnose a house from its ZIP code, age, finish level or foundation label.
Radon levels can differ between nearby buildings. Weather, construction details and occupant behavior can also move a short-term result. EPA says its national radon-zone map should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing.
The practical rule is quieter and more useful: test the specific building with a qualified device, follow its instructions and document the conditions. A map can inform public planning; it cannot produce your home’s number.
Reading pCi/L
An action level, not a safety line
Radon in air is commonly reported in picocuries per liter. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or more and considering action between 2 and 4 pCi/L. No known exposure level is risk-free.
02Consider action4EPA action levelpCi/L
Below 2A lower result is not a declaration of zero risk. EPA notes that future retesting may still be useful.
2 to under 4EPA recommends considering ways to reduce the level.
4 or moreEPA recommends taking action to reduce the home’s level.
Choose the test for the decision
One number can answer different questions
Long-term
Tests lasting more than 90 days are more likely to represent the home’s year-round average. They are useful when the decision can wait.
Understand long-term testsConfirmation
The next step depends on the first result, device and purpose. Follow current EPA guidance and the device instructions instead of applying one confirmation rule to every situation.
Choose a next stepReal estate
Transaction guidance addresses timing and interference. The contract, parties or lender may add requirements; Florida’s generic disclosure notice is not a test result.
Review the real-estate pathWhat an elevated result means
It is information for a building decision.
An elevated measurement is a reason to follow the appropriate confirmation or mitigation path. It is not a medical diagnosis, a prediction of an individual’s outcome or proof that every room has the same concentration.
EPA identifies radon exposure as a cause of lung cancer and estimates about 21,000 radon-related lung-cancer deaths in the United States each year. Smoking increases the risk. Personal health questions belong with a qualified healthcare professional.
EPA health-risk overview02
After a result
How mitigation works
Control the entry path. Verify the air afterward.
EPA says soil suction is a common way to reduce radon entry. A pipe and fan create lower pressure beneath the slab or membrane so soil gas is directed outdoors. The right method and layout depend on the building.
Sealing openings can be part of a system, but EPA does not recommend sealing alone as a reliable radon-reduction method. A warning device indicates system operation; a new measurement checks the indoor air.
See the mitigation decision guideBefore you sign
Four places a radon proposal should be specific
- 01
Measurement method and test conditions
Device, location, dates, closed-house conditions, interference controls and the complete report.
- 02
Foundation assessment and suction-point design
The foundation areas being addressed, diagnostic work and why the proposed method fits the building.
- 03
Fan, vent, electrical, sealing and discharge details
Equipment, routing, system indicator, applicable code or permit responsibilities and how exhaust re-entry will be avoided.
- 04
Post-mitigation test, instructions and written warranty
Who performs the independent measurement, what documents you receive and what the written warranty actually covers.
Florida verification
Check the business and the person.
Florida law regulates paid radon measurement and mitigation. The Department of Health publishes separate lists for certified businesses and individuals and warns that a listed certification may have expired. Confirm current status before work begins.
Real estate
The statutory notice is not the property’s radon result.
Florida requires specified radon notification language on at least one document at or before a building sale contract or rental agreement. The notice is general information. It does not establish that the building was tested or state its level.
Separate the notice from the measurementNorth Florida context
Geographic focus without a neighborhood prediction
Orange Park to the St. Johns River, the useful advice stays the same: test the building.
This guide focuses on North Florida homeowners, buyers, sellers and property professionals. It does not claim that a ZIP code, subdivision, county, water source, home age or foundation type predicts a result.
Florida-certified businesses may provide services statewide, but each business sets its own current travel area and schedule. A request here does not promise coverage or an introduction.
Read the geographic-focus guideCarefully qualified
Common questions
Is 4 pCi/L a safe line?
No. It is the EPA action level, not a boundary between safe and unsafe exposure. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or more and considering action between 2 and 4 pCi/L because no radon exposure level is known to be risk-free.
Can a do-it-yourself test be useful?
Yes. A properly used qualified device can be useful for screening your own home. A real-estate decision may require a different protocol, an independent tester or a Florida-certified measurement business. Check the contract and use a current Florida-certified business when professional measurement is needed.
Does a new home or a low-risk map area rule radon out?
No. Maps and building characteristics cannot determine an individual home’s result. EPA says its radon-zone map should not be used to decide whether a particular home needs testing. Test the specific building.
Does a manometer prove the indoor radon level is controlled?
No. A system indicator can show that pressure is being produced, but it does not measure the indoor radon concentration. A post-mitigation measurement—and periodic retesting—checks the air.
What if I have a personal health question?
This website cannot diagnose risk or provide medical advice. Discuss personal health concerns with a qualified healthcare professional. A building measurement describes radon in that location during the test; it does not diagnose anyone’s health.
Owner-reviewed request
Describe the decision, not a diagnosis.
Send the site owner a concise project request. Your details are stored privately, an owner-review email is attempted and the delivery result is recorded. Information is not automatically sent to contractors.
- Phone is optional
- An existing radon result is optional
- No medical or payment information
- No response or provider introduction is guaranteed