Radon is a dangerous radioactive gas that, if allowed to build up in your home, could pose serious health risks to you and your family. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is responsible for over 20,000 deaths each year and accounts for 15 percent of lung cancer cases. Radon is found naturally in most soil and water as the element uranium decays, and when we inhale it, the radioactive particles become lead inside our lungs, causing them to release radiation into the tissues.

Radon levels are higher in certain areas of the country than others (log on to www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html to find your area’s concentration), but no matter where you live, having your home tested is a worthwhile health precaution. In addition, radon is becoming an increasingly important issue for homebuyers, so having your home tested before you put it on the market can save you the heartbreak of a missed sale because you were waiting for the radon test results.

Radon is found naturally in the environment in concentrations of .4 picocuries (a unit of radiation) per liter. This low level is difficult to achieve within a home, so you should aim for levels of less than 4 picocuries per liter, which is the concentration the EPA considers safe. Radon can enter the home through various gaps and openings around your house, such as drains, sump pumps, crawlspaces, utilities access panels, and cracks in basement walls and floors.

Long-term and short-term tests are available, and both are simple to use. Try the short-term test first to determine if there is an immediate problem, and then use a long-term test to get a more accurate idea of radon levels in your home over an extended period. The EPA recommends testing every two years or after any large renovation.

Both tests usually consist of a small container of charcoal that’s left out to collect radon present in your home. These kits are readily available at most hardware stores and are inexpensive; the cost to analyze the sample from a recommended lab is also modest. Follow the directions that come with the test, and pay attention to where the container should to be located, usually on a lower floor where it won’t be disturbed or affected by humidity. The test should be left out two or three days with doors and windows kept closed, and no appliances that bring outdoor air into your home, such as a whole-house fan, should be run during that time.

Long-term tests work much the same way, only they collect radon over a three-month to one-year period and give a much more accurate picture of your home’s radon levels, since weather and other conditions can cause an increase or decrease in radon levels at different times.

If your home has high levels of radon, you have several options for safely removing it from air and/or water. Soil suction draws radon gas in through pipes underneath a basement or crawlspace and expels it out of the house. Energy recovery ventilators constantly replace indoor air with outdoor air.

If radon is in your water, aerators and filters can help remove it; you can place these on your faucets, but it’s much better if they’re installed where water comes into your home. You can request information from your water company if you use city water, or if you use well water, you can purchase a test kit for it.

According to the EPA, installing systems to reduce radon levels can range from $800 to $2,500, depending on the mitigation method and the home’s construction. If you’re building a new home, it’s much cheaper to test the land for radon and then install radon reduction equipment as you build rather than adding it after the fact.

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