General information for homeowners, not medical, legal or engineering advice. See the EPA and Nebraska DHHS radon programs for official guidance.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It moves up through the ground and into homes through cracks in the slab, gaps around pipes, sump pits and other openings. Because you can’t see or smell it, the only way to know your level is to test.
Why radon matters
The EPA calls radon the leading cause of lung cancer among people who don’t smoke and the second leading cause overall, and estimates it is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the United States. The risk grows with the level and with how long you’re exposed, and it is higher for people who smoke.
Is radon common in Omaha?
Yes. The EPA’s radon zone map places Douglas and Sarpy counties in Zone 1, its highest radon potential category, and high readings are common in Omaha basements. That said, radon varies from house to house. A low result next door says little about your home, and new construction is not immune.
What the numbers mean
- 4 pCi/L or higher: the EPA recommends fixing your home.
- 2 to 4 pCi/L: the EPA suggests considering mitigation, since there is no known safe level.
- Under 2 pCi/L: generally a good result. Retest after major renovations or every few years.
pCi/L stands for picocuries per liter of air, the standard U.S. unit for radon.
How to test
- Test in the lowest lived-in level of the home, such as a basement family room or bedroom.
- Keep windows and outside doors closed, apart from normal coming and going, for 12 hours before and during the test.
- Keep the test away from drafts, humidity, exterior walls and the sump pit.
- Use a short-term test for a quick answer and follow up with a second test or a long-term test before deciding on mitigation, unless the first result is very high or you’re on a real estate deadline.
Prefer a professional test? See radon testing in Omaha.
If your result is high
Don’t panic. Radon problems are very fixable. A sub-slab depressurization system, the most common approach in Omaha basements, usually brings levels well below 4 pCi/L. Read about radon mitigation andwhat it costs, then request a free written estimate.