I purchased a short term radon testing kit because I have been reading so much about radon poisoning in the news. I sent my kit in and my results came back that we have an averave radon level of 5.0 pCi/L this is above the recommended amount, but not terribly high. Soes it matter that the test was done in the winter when the heat is on? Is this a threatening level? What is the scoop on acceptable radon levels? Ive read conflicting info.
Thanks Angie

The fact that the heat was on doesn't matter. The most important thing was that the windows weren't open during the testing period.

Where did you do the test? It should have been done in the basement. If the reading was 5 in the basement then I wouldn't worry. The recommended level is 4 in the basement and 2 on the first floor.

My old house was tested when we sold it. The reading came in at 20 in the basement. We'd been living there for 13 years but didn't use the basement for anything except storage. We don't glow. :)

If the level was 5 in the basement I wouldn't worry about it.

what you need to do is get a radon detector for EACH floor of the house. Try your local home improvement store, and not one of the big chains (I'm all for suporting the little guy)

radon is the number 1 cause of lung cancer in non smokers in the united states. It is a radioactive gas that rises from the ground that is odorless, colorless and did I mention radioactive!

it can be here this month and gone in a week, so there is no true "I-tested-and-we-don't-have-it" mentality. I've seen it in homes that are brand new, and homes that are 100 years old.

if it is found by your detectors in a HIGH level then there are radon entrapment systems that can be installed in your house. Basically they capture the gas and vent it outside the home. But remember, radon is here today and gone tomorrow (and might be back again next week) so understand the threat!

;^)