The Silent Threat Beneath Connecticut Homes
Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps into homes from the ground beneath them. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths each year. Connecticut's geology makes many homes particularly susceptible to elevated radon levels, which is why professional radon testing should be a non-negotiable part of every home inspection in the state.
Unlike a leaky roof or a cracked foundation, radon gives no warning signs. You can't see it, smell it, or taste it. The only way to know if your home has dangerous radon levels is through proper testing—and understanding the results can make all the difference in protecting your family's health.
Why Connecticut Is a High-Risk State for Radon
Connecticut's bedrock is rich in uranium and radium, the natural elements that produce radon as they decay. The Connecticut Department of Public Health estimates that roughly one in five homes in the state has radon levels at or above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
Certain areas of the state have even higher prevalence rates. Homes built on granite bedrock, homes with basements or slab-on-grade foundations, and older homes with more cracks and openings in their foundations tend to have higher radon levels. But radon can affect any home—new or old, well-sealed or drafty. Two homes on the same street can have vastly different radon levels, which is why individual testing is essential.
How Radon Enters Your Home
Radon enters homes through the path of least resistance. Common entry points include cracks in foundation floors and walls, gaps around service pipes and wiring, construction joints where walls meet the floor, sump pump openings, crawl spaces with exposed soil, and well water that contains dissolved radon.
Because homes create a slight vacuum effect relative to the surrounding soil—especially during heating season when warm air rises and draws air in from below—radon is essentially pulled into living spaces. Basements and ground-floor rooms typically have the highest concentrations, but radon can accumulate on upper floors as well.
Professional Radon Testing vs. DIY Kits
While hardware store radon test kits exist, professional testing provides far more accurate and reliable results. At JFM Home Inspections, we use Continuous Radon Monitoring (CRM) equipment—the gold standard in radon testing.
Advantages of Professional CRM Testing
CRM devices take hourly readings over a minimum 48-hour period, providing a detailed picture of radon levels throughout the testing period. This approach captures fluctuations caused by weather changes, barometric pressure shifts, and daily patterns that a single-point test might miss entirely.
Professional CRM testing also includes tamper detection, ensuring results haven't been compromised by opened windows or other interference during the test period. The equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained to laboratory standards, and results are interpreted by trained professionals who understand what the numbers mean in context.
Why DIY Kits Fall Short
Charcoal canister tests from hardware stores provide only a single average reading over their exposure period. They're sensitive to humidity and temperature, can be affected by drafts, and don't capture the hourly fluctuations that reveal the true radon picture. Most importantly, they lack the quality controls and chain-of-custody documentation that professional testing provides.
For something as consequential as radon exposure, professional testing isn't an upgrade—it's a necessity.
What Happens If Radon Levels Are High
If testing reveals radon levels at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, the good news is that radon mitigation is well-established and highly effective. A qualified radon mitigation contractor can install a system that typically reduces radon levels by 80 to 99 percent.
The most common mitigation approach is sub-slab depressurization, where a pipe and fan system draws radon from beneath the foundation and vents it safely above the roofline. For homes with crawl spaces, a combination of sealing and ventilation achieves similar results.
Mitigation systems are relatively straightforward to install, operate quietly, use minimal electricity, and require only periodic maintenance. For homebuyers, knowing the radon situation before closing allows you to negotiate mitigation as part of the transaction or factor the cost into your decision.
When to Test for Radon
During a Home Purchase
Radon testing should be part of every home inspection in Connecticut. The brief testing window during the inspection contingency period provides critical information that affects both your health and your negotiating position. Discovering high radon after closing means you bear the full cost and responsibility of mitigation.
In Your Current Home
If you've never tested your home for radon, now is the time. The EPA recommends testing every home below the third floor, regardless of age, construction type, or location. Even if your home tested low years ago, conditions can change—foundation settling, changes in groundwater patterns, and home modifications can all affect radon levels.
The EPA also recommends retesting every two years, after any major structural renovation, and if you've installed a radon mitigation system, to verify it's working properly.
Seasonal Considerations
Radon levels tend to be highest during heating season when homes are closed up and the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors is greatest. Testing during fall and winter months often reveals higher levels than summer testing, though elevated radon can occur in any season.
Radon and Real Estate Transactions in Connecticut
Connecticut law requires sellers to disclose known radon test results to buyers. However, there's no requirement to test before selling. This means many properties change hands without either party knowing the radon status—a gap that a thorough home inspection fills.
For buyers, including radon testing in your home inspection is straightforward and adds minimal time to the process. The CRM device is placed during the inspection and retrieved after the testing period, with results available shortly thereafter.
For sellers, conducting a pre-listing radon test demonstrates transparency and removes a potential obstacle from the sale. If levels are elevated, addressing mitigation before listing eliminates a negotiation point and shows responsible property stewardship.
Protecting Your Family's Health
The health effects of radon exposure are cumulative. Long-term exposure to elevated levels significantly increases lung cancer risk, particularly for smokers and former smokers. Children, who breathe faster and spend more time in lower-level living spaces, may face additional vulnerability.
Unlike many environmental health risks, radon exposure is entirely controllable. Testing identifies the problem, and mitigation solves it. There's no reason for any Connecticut family to live with unknown radon exposure when the solution is this accessible.
The JFM Home Inspections Approach to Radon Testing
At JFM Home Inspections, radon testing is one of our most requested services—and for good reason. Our approach includes state-of-the-art Continuous Radon Monitoring equipment, proper placement following EPA testing protocols, tamper-evident monitoring throughout the test period, detailed reporting with clear explanations of results, and guidance on next steps if elevated levels are found.
We believe every Connecticut homebuyer deserves to know the radon status of their potential home, and every homeowner deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their family is breathing safe air.
Take Action Today
Whether you're buying a home, selling a property, or simply want to know what your family is breathing, radon testing is one of the smartest investments you can make in your home and your health. It's quick, non-invasive, and provides information that could literally save lives.
Don't assume your home is safe just because your neighbor's tested low, or because your home is new, or because you don't have a basement. Radon doesn't follow assumptions—it follows geology. The only way to know is to test.
Contact JFM Home Inspections to schedule professional radon testing as part of a comprehensive home inspection, or as a standalone service. Your family's health is worth the certainty that only professional testing can provide.