Some home inspection findings announce themselves. A cracked foundation, a leaking roof, and outdated wiring all leave visible evidence for a trained inspector to find. Radon leaves none of that. It is colorless, odorless, and completely undetectable without specialized equipment, which is exactly why radon testing has become one of the most important add-ons a Colorado buyer can request, and why skipping it is a genuine gamble in a state where the numbers are not in your favor.
Why Colorado Homes Are Especially at Risk
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced as uranium breaks down in soil and rock, and it seeps upward into homes through foundation cracks, sump pits, and gaps around pipes and utility penetrations. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, roughly half of homes across the state test above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter, a rate far higher than the national average. The geology beneath the Front Range and the eastern plains around Aurora, Bennett, and Parker is part of why radon testing carries so much more weight here than it might in other parts of the country.
What Radon Testing Actually Measures
A radon test measures the concentration of the gas in the air using a monitor placed in the lowest livable level of the home, typically over a 48-hour period following a 12-hour period with doors and windows closed. Results at or above the EPA’s 4.0 picocuries per liter action level indicate that a mitigation system is recommended. Because radon levels vary significantly even between neighboring properties, radon testing on the specific home in question, rather than relying on assumptions about the neighborhood or the age of construction, remains the only reliable way to know what you’re actually dealing with.
Why Many Newcomers to Colorado Are Caught Off Guard
A significant share of Colorado’s population moved here from states where radon is less of a documented concern, and that unfamiliarity shows up regularly in real estate transactions. Buyers relocating from regions where radon testing isn’t part of the standard conversation sometimes skip it entirely, assuming a newer home or a slab foundation offers some kind of built-in protection. It doesn’t. Radon can enter through slab cracks and utility penetrations just as easily as it can through an older basement wall, and construction age alone tells you very little about what the actual test result will be.
What Happens If the Results Come Back High
A result above the action level does not mean the home is unlivable or unsellable. It means a mitigation system, typically a soil suction system with a vent pipe and fan, needs to be installed to draw radon from beneath the home and vent it safely outside. These systems are effective and relatively affordable to install, and the state even offers financial assistance for qualifying low-income homeowners through CDPHE’s mitigation program. What matters most is getting the radon testing result in hand before closing, when the finding can still be negotiated as part of the transaction rather than discovered as a surprise afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every home in the Aurora area need radon testing, or only older ones? Every home, regardless of age or foundation type. Radon levels vary significantly by specific property, and Colorado’s roughly fifty percent elevated-level rate applies across new and old construction alike.
How long does radon testing take? A standard test runs about 48 hours with the monitor placed in the lowest livable level of the home, following a required 12-hour closed-house period beforehand.
What radon level is considered a problem? The EPA action level is 4.0 picocuries per liter. Results at or above that threshold indicate that mitigation is recommended.
Can radon testing be scheduled alongside a standard home inspection? Yes. Radon testing is typically scheduled alongside a standard inspection so results are available in time to factor into your purchase decision before closing.
Hemker Inspections proudly serves Aurora, Denver Metro, Bennett, Parker, Elizabeth, Castle Rock, Thornton, and surrounding areas. Schedule your inspection and radon test today.