Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Radon is found in homes throughout Illinois, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has found high radon levels in every county in the state. According to the American Lung Association in Illinois, about 45 percent of tested Illinois homes are at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. You can also check where McLean County falls on the EPA Map of Radon Zones. Radon levels vary from house to house, so the only way to know your level is to test.

No level of radon is completely risk-free, but the EPA recommends fixing your home if it tests at 4 pCi/L or higher. The EPA also suggests considering a fix if your result falls between 2 and 4 pCi/L. The lower your radon level, the lower your lung cancer risk, so we aim to reduce radon as far as we can rather than stopping at the action level.

You have two choices. A do-it-yourself test kit from a hardware store or a national radon program is inexpensive, and you mail it to a lab for results. You can also hire an IEMA-licensed radon professional, who uses calibrated equipment and gives you a detailed report. Either way, place the test on the lowest lived-in level of your home, away from drafts, windows, and vents.

A short-term test takes 2 to 7 days, depending on the device. A long-term test runs 90 days or more and gives a better picture of your average year-round level. Keep windows and exterior doors closed except for normal entry and exit during a short-term test, and avoid running whole-house fans or open fireplaces, since they can change your results. The EPA’s radon site has testing guidance and links to its free guides.

Yes. Under the Radon Industry Licensing Act, anyone who tests for or mitigates radon for others in Illinois must be licensed by IEMA. David Smith Radon Remedies is a Licensed Radon Mitigation Specialist with IEMA, license # RNM2020203. A licensed mitigator follows state rules and tests your home after installation to confirm the system works. You can also call the Illinois Radon Hotline at 1-800-325-1245 with questions.

Contact a licensed radon mitigation professional. If you used a short-term test, you can run a second test first to confirm, especially if the result is close to 4. If your level is well above 4, do not delay the fix. We offer free estimates, so you can see what a system would involve for your home before you decide.

Most homes use a method called sub-slab depressurization. We drill a small hole through your basement floor or slab and connect a pipe to the soil below. A fan draws radon from under the home and sends it through the pipe to a vent above the roofline, where it disperses outdoors. This stops radon from entering your living space. According to the EPA, radon reduction systems work, and some can reduce radon levels in a home by up to 99 percent.

The EPA’s Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction puts the typical cost of fixing a home between about $800 and $2,500. Your price depends on your foundation type, the size and layout of your home, and how many suction points your home needs. We offer free estimates, so call 309 (777-3910) or request a quote online and we will give you a price based on your home.

Most installations are finished in a single day, often in just a few hours. The work is clean and does not require major construction. Once the system is running, we recommend retesting your home within about 30 days to confirm your radon level has dropped.

Yes. If you have a sump pump, we seal the sump pit with an airtight cover and the system pulls radon from beneath it. In a crawl space, we install a sealed vapor barrier over the soil and draw radon from under it. Homes built on a slab with no basement can also be fitted with a system. The EPA’s Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction explains these methods, and we check which one fits your foundation during your free estimate.

A post-installation test is the best proof. Most systems also include a gauge on the pipe, called a manometer, that shows the fan is creating suction. Check it from time to time. Because radon levels can shift over the years, retest your home at least every two years and any time you remodel or make foundation repairs.

Illinois does not require a radon test for a sale, but the Illinois Radon Awareness Act requires sellers of residential property to give buyers the IEMA radon pamphlet and disclose any known radon test results. Many buyers order a radon test as part of their inspection. If a test comes back high, a mitigation system can usually be installed before closing. Who pays is negotiated between the buyer and the seller.