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Last updated: 2026-04-08

CRITICAL — Act Now

¿Hay gas radón en tu casa? Así puedes saberlo con certeza

✓ Tu preocupación es comprensible. El gas radón: riesgo crítico para la salud — hacer la prueba es la única forma de confirmar tu nivel de exposición.

No estás exagerando. Este peligro es invisible e inodoro; la EPA recomienda que todos los propietarios hagan la prueba sin importar la edad o el estado de la casa.

El kit de prueba de abajo puede decirte en 48 horas si tu casa tiene niveles elevados. Hacer la prueba es la única forma de saberlo con certeza.

Detalles (en inglés): la información técnica detallada a continuación se mantiene en inglés.

EPA Indoor Air Quality CDC Air Pollution & Health WHO Air Quality Guidelines

Radon Gas is a critical-severity indoor air quality hazard that the EPA classifies as requiring immediate action. It is most commonly found in basement, crawl-space, living-room and originates from uranium decay in soil, cracks in foundation, sump pumps.

Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer after smoking. It seeps from soil into basements and crawl spaces. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. The only way to know is to test.

Prefer a free assessment first? Take the Air Quality Risk Score Quiz →

Síntomas a vigilar

If you or your family members are experiencing any of these, radon gas could be the cause:

⚠️ lung cancer (long-term)
⚠️ persistent cough
⚠️ hoarseness
⚠️ shortness of breath
⚠️ chest pain

Datos de referencia rápida

HazardRadon Gas
EPA SeverityCRITICAL
Common Sourcesuranium decay in soil, cracks in foundation, sump pumps, well water, construction joints
Affected Areasbasement, crawl-space, living-room, bedroom, dining-room
Health Symptomslung cancer (long-term), persistent cough, hoarseness, shortness of breath, chest pain
EPA RecommendationTest every home for radon. If levels are 4 pCi/L or higher, install a radon mitigation system. Even levels between 2-4 pCi/L warrant action. Test every 2 years.

Your Children Breathe 20,000 Liters of This Air Every Day

Kids breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Their lungs are still developing. If radon gas is in your home, they're getting a higher dose than you are. You childproof cabinets and plug outlets — but have you checked what they're breathing?

⚠️ The EPA estimates indoor air can be 2–5× more polluted than outdoor air. Your family breathes 20,000 liters of indoor air every day.

If radon gas is present, every breath could be doing damage you can't see or feel — until it's too late.

Dónde se esconde en tu casa

Common Sources

  • • uranium decay in soil
  • • cracks in foundation
  • • sump pumps
  • • well water
  • • construction joints

Lo que recomienda la EPA

🏛️

EPA-Recommended Actions

Test every home for radon. If levels are 4 pCi/L or higher, install a radon mitigation system. Even levels between 2-4 pCi/L warrant action. Test every 2 years.

Fuentes y citas

  • 📎 EPA — Radon Information
  • 📎 EPA — Radon Zones by State
  • 📎 CDC — Radon and Health
  • 📎 EPA — Indoor Air Quality (general)

All data on this page is based on publicly available information from the cited sources. This page is not endorsed by the EPA, CDC, or WHO.

📋 Our Testing Methodology

Hazard severity classifications follow the EPA's Indoor Air Quality assessment framework:

  • • Critical: Immediate health risk — evacuate and contact emergency services
  • • High: Chronic exposure risk — test within 1 week, remediate within 30 days
  • • Moderate: Potential risk — test to confirm, address if confirmed

Product recommendations are based on published detection accuracy, third-party test results, and EPA-recommended testing methods. Updated May 2026.

Kits de prueba y protección

EPA recommends testing as the first step for any suspected radon gas exposure. These are the tools most homeowners start with.

Orientación basada en publicaciones de la EPA, los CDC y Health Canada.

Your Home Air Defense Kit

These 3 items help you monitor and improve your indoor air.

Your home may have hidden hazards you can't see, smell, or taste.

Our Room-by-Room Scanner checks every corner of your home for 20+ air quality hazards.

Scan My Home Now →
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One more thing — your home may have related hazards

If your home has radon gas, there's a chance it also has carbon monoxide (co). Both can thrive in the same conditions. When you test for one, check for the others too.

Peligros relacionados

Comparación de el gas radón con peligros relacionados

Radon Gas is classified as CRITICAL — the highest severity tier for indoor air hazards. Of the 4 related hazards we track, 2 carry a lower severity rating. This means radon gas should be your top testing priority if you suspect any indoor air quality issue.

Radon Gas vs Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Both Radon Gas and Carbon Monoxide (CO) carry the same critical severity classification. Their combined presence in your home creates a compounding effect that exceeds the risk of either alone. Both are commonly found in basement, bedroom, dining room. Addressing one without testing for the other leaves a blind spot in your home's air quality.

Shared locations: basement, bedroom, dining room

Radon Gas poses a higher immediate risk than Basement Air Quality Hazards. While both require attention, radon gas is classified as critical severity versus basement air quality hazards's high rating. If you test for one, the EPA recommends testing for the other simultaneously — they share common areas like basement, crawl space.

Shared locations: basement, crawl space

Radon Gas vs Asbestos Fibers

Both Radon Gas and Asbestos Fibers carry the same critical severity classification. Their combined presence in your home creates a compounding effect that exceeds the risk of either alone. Both are commonly found in basement, living room. Addressing one without testing for the other leaves a blind spot in your home's air quality.

Shared locations: basement, living room

Radon Gas vs High Indoor Humidity

Radon Gas poses a higher immediate risk than High Indoor Humidity. While both require attention, radon gas is classified as critical severity versus high indoor humidity's moderate rating. If you test for one, the EPA recommends testing for the other simultaneously — they share common areas like basement, crawl space.

Shared locations: basement, crawl space

Severity classifications follow EPA Indoor Air Quality assessment standards. Related hazards share environmental conditions but may require different testing methods.

Qué significan tus resultados de la prueba de el gas radón

After testing for radon gas, you'll receive a measurement or a positive/negative result. Here's how to interpret what that number means for your home and family.

No Detection / Clear

No radon gas was detected in your test. Your home is currently clear of this specific hazard.

What to do: Re-test annually or after any renovation, water damage, or structural change. Radon Gas can appear at any time due to uranium decay in soil or cracks in foundation.

Trace Detection

Trace amounts of radon gas were found. Even at low levels, a critical-severity hazard like this warrants prompt investigation of uranium decay in soil, cracks in foundation, sump pumps.

What to do: Locate and eliminate the source immediately. Test every home for radon. If you cannot identify the source, contact a licensed professional.

Elevated / At Action Level

Your test shows elevated radon gas at or above the EPA action level. At this concentration, the health risk is significant and immediate steps are required.

What to do: Do not delay. Test every home for radon. Contact a licensed remediation professional within 24 hours. Evacuate if you experience lung cancer (long-term) or persistent cough.

Interpretation guidelines are based on EPA standards for radiological hazards. For radon gas, test every home for radon. Always confirm results with a certified professional.

Preguntas de propietarios sobre el gas radón

What are the symptoms of radon gas?

Common symptoms of radon gas include: lung cancer (long-term), persistent cough, hoarseness, shortness of breath, chest pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms, test your home and consult a healthcare provider.

How do I test my home for radon gas?

Common sources include: uranium decay in soil, cracks in foundation, sump pumps, well water, construction joints. You can test using the products recommended above. Test every home for radon. If levels are 4 pCi/L or higher, install a radon mitigation system. Even levels between 2-4 pCi/L warrant action. Test every 2 years.

Is radon gas dangerous to children?

Yes. Children are especially vulnerable to radon gas because their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer after smoking. It seeps from soil into basements and crawl spaces. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. The only way to know is to test.

🛡️

Stop wondering.
Start knowing.

The data is clear. The next step is testing.

The EPA notes that radon gas can only be confirmed through testing — it's often invisible and odorless. A test kit or monitor gives you a real number instead of a guess.

Get First Alert Radon Gas Test Kit →

1 in 15 US homes has elevated radon levels — the only way to know is to test.

Take the free Air Quality Risk Score quiz and find out what's lurking in your home.

Medical & Environmental Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes and is based on EPA and CDC guidelines. It is not a substitute for professional environmental testing, medical advice, or remediation services. If you suspect a gas leak or carbon monoxide emergency, evacuate immediately and call 911.

GH

Maren K. Solberg

Residential Air Quality Researcher · 10+ Years Investigating Home Environmental Hazards

Garrison F. Hale has spent over a decade researching residential air quality hazards, including mold, VOCs, radon, and combustion byproducts. He translates complex EPA and CDC guidance into clear, actionable steps for homeowners.

About HomeAirHazards →

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