Radon testing in Minot
You can't tell a home's radon level from its age, its neighborhood or how tight it feels. A careful test is the only way to know.
Testing does two jobs. Before a system, it tells you whether the house needs one. After a system, it tells you whether the system is doing its job. Both depend on setting the test up the right way.
Which test should I use?
| Test type | Length | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term kit | A few days | A first look at your level, or the check after a system is installed |
| Long-term kit | More than 90 days | An average that covers a heating season or a full year |
| Continuous radon monitor | Usually two days or more, logged by the hour | Home sales and professional testing |
Where do I put the kit?
ND DEQ's testing guidelines lay out placement and house conditions:
- The lowest livable area of the home. If there's a crawl space, test the room above it.
- At least 20 inches above the floor and at least 4 inches from other objects.
- Away from walls, ideally 3 feet, and at least 3 feet from exterior doors and windows.
- Not in kitchens, laundry rooms or bathrooms, and not near heat sources or vents blowing across the device.
- At least 10 feet from a sump pit that isn't sealed.
What should the house be like during the test?
Close exterior windows and doors at least 12 hours before you start and keep them shut for the whole test, aside from normal coming and going. Run the furnace on auto as you normally would. Turn off ceiling fans, portable fans, dehumidifiers and air filters on the test level, and don't use a fireplace or stove unless it's your main heat.
Is winter a bad time to test in Minot?
It's a good time. DEQ calls winter a good time to test, and January is National Radon Action Month. In winter the house is closed up and heating, which is when soil gas tends to get drawn in hardest. With Minot's long cold season, a winter result reflects how the house is lived in for much of the year. If you want a fuller picture, a long-term kit set in the fall and collected in the spring covers most of it.
When does a professional make sense?
For a real estate deal, for the test after a system is installed, or any time you'd rather have calibrated equipment and someone else handling setup. DEQ's guidelines say testing in the lowest livable area is required for real estate tests. The EPA says the post-mitigation test should be done no sooner than 24 hours after the system starts running and within 30 days of installation.
What if my result is high?
At 4.0 pCi/L or above, the EPA recommends fixing the home. Many people run a second test to confirm before committing. If it holds, see radon mitigation systems.
We don't give prices. Each radon company sets its own after it knows the foundation, how many suction points the house may need and where the pipe can run, which usually means a visit. A figure you hear over the phone is a rough idea, not a quote.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I still get a free radon kit from ND DEQ?
Not right now. DEQ's radon page says it is out of free kits. Look for an EPA-approved kit at a hardware or big box store or online.
Should I test a split-level or a house with an addition in more than one spot?
Start with the lowest lived-in level. A radon professional may test more than one area if the house sits on more than one foundation.
Related services
More background: Minot radon guide.
Radon kit came back high, or your fan went quiet?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a radon company that works in the Minot area.