# Radon Testing in Des Moines | Radon Mitigation Des Moines > Continuous radon monitor testing for homeowners, buyers and sellers in Des Moines. Short-term, long-term and post-mitigation tests by Iowa HHS-credentialed testers. URL: https://radonmitigationdesmoines.com/radon-testing/ Radon testing # Professional Radon Testing We run CRM, short-term, long-term, real estate and post-mitigation tests with credentialed testers. Request An Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) Call Now To Book [tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447) Last updated October 27, 2026 · Pricing: Testing cost depends on test type and timing. Ask for a quote. ![Continuous radon monitor placed in the lowest lived-in level of a Des Moines home](/images/misc/continuous-radon-monitor-sitting-on-a-small-table-.webp) - Certified Radon Techs - 5-Year Warranty - 24/7 Support Know the risk ## Why Des Moines Homeowners Book a Radon Test Radon has no smell and no color. A valid test is the only number you can act on. - 01 ### Closing date coming fast Buyers and sellers need a result inside the inspection window. We schedule the 48-hour CRM test to fit it. - 02 ### DIY kit you do not trust A charcoal kit left near a sump or open window reads wrong. Our monitors log every hour and flag tampering. - 03 ### Neighbor tested high Their number does not predict yours. Soil, cracks and heating change the result, even on the same block. - 04 ### Proof a system works After an install, a post-mitigation test confirms the level dropped. Lenders and buyers want that number. What it is ## What Is Radon Testing? A radon test is the only way to know your level. Your neighbor's result doesn't predict yours, even on the same street, because soil, foundation cracks and how each house is heated all change how much soil gas gets in. In Iowa, an EPA Zone 1 state where about 71% of homes test above 4.0 pCi/L, testing is worth doing in every home. We place continuous radon monitors (CRMs) that log readings every hour for at least 48 hours. The hourly data shows how your level rises and falls, and built-in tamper detection flags if a window was opened or the unit was moved. That's why buyers, sellers and lenders accept CRM results during a real estate deal. For a truer annual picture, we also run long-term tests that last 90 days or more, using alpha track detectors. Short-term activated charcoal canisters are an option when you want a quick screening test. After a mitigation system is installed, a post-mitigation test proves the fix worked. All testing follows closed-house conditions from EPA protocol 402-R-92-004. Every tester holds an Iowa HHS radon testing credential. You get a plain-language report with your average in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), a chart of the hourly readings and a clear next step. - CRM Testing - Short Term & Long Term - Real Estate Testing - Post-Mitigation Testing ![Radon tester setting up a continuous radon monitor in a basement](/images/features/credentialed-radon-tester-setting-up-a-continuous-.webp) WHAT'S INCLUDED - 48-hour continuous radon monitor (CRM) testing - Short-term and long-term tests - Real estate testing timed to inspection contingencies - Post-mitigation verification testing - Hourly data report with tamper detection - Clear next-step recommendation ## Which Radon Test Do You Need? Not sure which radon testing option fits your situation? You’re in good company, because different homes and deadlines call for different tests. Here’s how the main options compare. | Test type | How long | Best for | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Continuous radon monitor (CRM) | 48 hours minimum | Real estate deals, quick decisions, post-mitigation checks | Hourly readings, average in pCi/L, tamper detection | | Activated charcoal canister | 2 to 4 days | Low-cost screening | Single average after lab analysis | | Alpha track detector (long-term) | 90 days to 1 year | True yearly average, borderline results | Long-term average that smooths seasonal swings | | Post-mitigation test | 48 hours, starting at least 24 hours after fan startup | Proving a new system works | Before-and-after comparison | If you’re buying or selling, a CRM test is almost always the right call. If your first short-term test came back between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L, a long-term test can tell you whether your yearly average is really above the line. A few prep steps keep any short-term result honest: - **Close up the house.** According to EPA guidance, closed-house conditions should start at least 12 hours before any test shorter than four days. - **Keep it closed.** Windows and exterior doors stay shut during the whole test, apart from normal coming and going. - **Leave the monitor alone.** Moving it or opening the house can trigger the tamper alert on a CRM and muddy the data. ## How to Read Your Result Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Here’s what the main numbers mean: - **Below 2.0 pCi/L:** Low. Retest every few years and after major changes to the house. - **2.0 to 3.9 pCi/L:** The EPA suggests considering a fix. The WHO reference level is 2.7 pCi/L (100 Bq/m³). - **4.0 pCi/L and above:** The EPA action level (150 Bq/m³). Mitigation is recommended. Why does the EPA care about numbers under 4.0? There’s no known safe level of radon. The EPA and the Surgeon General estimate radon causes more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. Iowa homes feel that more than most. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reports an average indoor level of 8.5 pCi/L in Iowa, compared with 1.3 pCi/L nationally. Want a quick comparison? Our free Radon Test Result Checker [/tools/radon-test-result-checker/ →](/tools/radon-test-result-checker/) converts your number to Bq/m³ and shows how much reduction a system would need. If your level is high, see how we fix it with residential radon mitigation [/residential-radon-mitigation/ →](/residential-radon-mitigation/) . ![Close-up of continuous radon monitor screen in a Des Moines living room](/images/content/homeowner-looking-at-a-continuous-radon-monitor-sc.webp) ## Real Estate Radon Testing in Des Moines Most Des Moines homes sell in under a month, and inspection windows are short. A failed radon test doesn’t have to sink a deal, but a late one can. The Iowa Radon Survey found that 71.6% of Iowa homes sit above the EPA action level, so a high number is common and fixable. Here’s how we keep your timeline moving: 1. We schedule CRM placement as soon as the inspection is booked. 2. We retrieve the monitor at 48 hours. 3. You get the report quickly, so there’s time to act inside the contingency window. 4. If the number is high, we quote a system right away. 5. In most cases, we install it before closing. 6. We run the post-mitigation test that buyers and lenders want to see. That last step follows the EPA’s timing. The follow-up test happens within 30 days of installation and no sooner than 24 hours after the fan starts. Iowa Code 558A.4 requires sellers to disclose known radon test results and existing mitigation systems. Iowa HHS also recommends that all new and existing homes get tested before they’re sold. > **Tip for sellers** > > Testing before you list gives you time to fix a high result on your schedule instead of during a buyer’s contingency. A home with a working system and a low post-mitigation result is an easier sale. ## How Much Does Radon Testing Cost in Des Moines? Pricing depends on a few simple factors: - **Test type.** CRM, charcoal or long-term alpha track. - **Timing.** Real estate deadlines and same-week placement. - **Number of test locations.** Homes with separate foundations, like a basement plus a slab addition, may need two monitors. - **Bundled services.** Post-mitigation tests are part of our install process. Hardware store kits are cheaper up front. One Iowa mitigation company, Adios Radon, puts a DIY kit at about $20. A professional CRM test costs more, but you get hourly readings, tamper detection and a report your buyer or lender will accept. Testing is the first step in every Des Moines radon mitigation project [/ →](/) we take on. Send the request form [/contact/ →](/contact/) for a quote. ## Why Iowa Radon Levels Change by Season In January, Des Moines lows average 17°F. Heated air rises and escapes through the top of the house, which pulls replacement air in at the bottom, including soil gas from under the slab. That’s the stack effect, and it’s why winter readings often run higher. Here’s how the seasons stack up: - **Winter:** Furnaces run, windows stay shut, and the stack effect is at its strongest. - **Spring:** Heavy rain saturates the soil and pushes soil gas toward your basement. - **Summer:** Not automatically safe. Air conditioning and closed windows can still limit fresh air, according to the team at Clean Vapor. A single short-term test is a snapshot, and the swing can be big. Protect Environmental reports seeing one building go from 1.8 to 2.2 pCi/L in summer to 28.0 to 32.0 pCi/L in winter. We’ll tell you when a follow-up test makes sense. For a full retest schedule, read how often you should test for radon [/guide/how-often-to-test-for-radon/ →](/guide/how-often-to-test-for-radon/) . To learn why Iowa sits in EPA Zone 1, see why radon is so high in Des Moines [/guide/why-is-radon-so-high-in-des-moines/ →](/guide/why-is-radon-so-high-in-des-moines/) . Ready to book your radon test? Send the request and we’ll get a monitor on the calendar. Why choose us ## Why Choose Radon Mitigation Des Moines for Radon Testing? 01 ### Credentialed testers Every tester holds an Iowa HHS radon testing credential and follows EPA closed-house protocol. 02 ### Deal-ready reports Hourly monitor data with tamper detection is the format buyers, sellers and lenders trust. 03 ### Fits your contingency We schedule around your inspection window and deliver results fast enough to negotiate. 04 ### Straight answers We explain what your number means and tell you when a retest makes more sense than a system. How it works ## How Does Radon Testing Work? 1. 1 ### Book Send the form and tell us about any real estate deadline so we schedule inside it. ![Customer support coordinator on the phone](/images/misc/candid-photo-of-a-friendly-customer-support-coordi.webp) 2. 2 ### Closed-house prep Keep windows and outside doors closed for 12 hours before and during the test. Normal coming and going is fine. ![Continuous radon monitor on a small table in a Des Moines home](/images/misc/continuous-radon-monitor-sitting-on-a-small-table-.webp) 3. 3 ### Monitor placement A credentialed tester places the monitor in the lowest lived-in level, away from drafts, sumps and outside walls. ![Gasketed clear sump pit lid sealed to a basement floor](/images/misc/gasketed-clear-sump-pit-lid-sealed-to-basement-flo.webp) 4. 4 ### Report and next step After 48 hours we retrieve the monitor and send your report with the average, hourly chart and a recommendation. ![Printed radon test report with hourly chart on a kitchen counter](/images/misc/radon-test-report-printout-with-hourly-chart-and-a.webp) Request An Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) Our work ## Radon Testing in the Field Installs and tests across the Des Moines metro. Click a photo to enlarge. Reviews ## What Customers Say About Our Radon Testing ★★★★★ > "Clear CRM report with hourly readings, delivered fast enough to keep our purchase inside the inspection window." Jordan P. · Ankeny ★★★★★ > "We tested before finishing our basement. The report showed the level spiked at night, which made the decision easy. They explained everything without making us panic." Natalie S. · Johnston ★★★★★ > "I'm a seller and wanted to know before listing. They placed the monitor Tuesday and I had the report by Thursday afternoon." Greg W. · Clive Read our reviews on Google → [https://www.google.com/maps?cid=14625480479653910645 →](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=14625480479653910645) FAQ ## Radon Testing Questions, Answered ### A continuous radon monitor test runs a minimum of 48 hours. Long-term tests run 90 days or more. Short-term charcoal canisters run two to four days and then go to a lab. ### Yes. We schedule the CRM test to fit inside your inspection period. You get an hourly report that real estate parties accept, usually within a day of pickup. ### Keep windows and outside doors closed, except for normal entry and exit, for 12 hours before and during the test. Don't run whole-house fans or window units that pull in outside air. ### In the lowest level you use or could use as living space, at least 20 inches off the floor, away from exterior walls, drafts, sump pits and heat sources. ### The EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L. The EPA suggests considering a fix between 2.0 and 4.0, and the WHO reference level is 2.7 pCi/L. We'll explain your result and your options. ### Short-term tests are fast and good for decisions on a deadline. Long-term tests average out seasonal swings and give a truer yearly number. Iowa readings are often higher in winter because of the stack effect. ### Under Iowa Code 558A.4, sellers must disclose known radon test results and any mitigation system to buyers. A recent, valid test gives everyone clear numbers to work from. ### It depends on the test type, how fast you need results and whether it's tied to a real estate deal. Call or send the form and we'll quote it. Post-mitigation tests are part of our install process. ### Yes. Retest every two years and after major renovations, basement finishing or foundation work to make sure the system is still doing its job. Still have a question? Our support line answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Request An Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) Call Now To Book [tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447) Free tools ## Free Tools for Radon Testing Two free calculators. No sign-up, and the result shows right away. FREE TOOLRadon Test Result CheckerEnter your radon result in pCi/L to see how it compares to the EPA action level and WHO reference level, and how much reduction a system would need.Use the free tool → [/tools/radon-test-result-checker/ →](/tools/radon-test-result-checker/) Guides ## Radon Testing Guides RADON GUIDEHow Often Should You Test Your Home for Radon in Iowa?A simple radon retest schedule for Iowa homes: every two years with a system, after renovations, basement finishing or foundation work, and with the seasons in mind.Read the guide → [/guide/how-often-to-test-for-radon/ →](/guide/how-often-to-test-for-radon/) All radon guides → [/guide/ →](/guide/) More services ## Related Services SERVICEResidential Radon MitigationWe size the system to your foundation: basement sub-slab, crawlspace, exterior or vapor intrusion.Learn more → [/residential-radon-mitigation/ →](/residential-radon-mitigation/) SERVICERadon System MaintenanceWe fix fan alarms, error codes, pipes and joints, and maintain and inspect radon systems from any installer.Learn more → [/radon-system-maintenance/ →](/radon-system-maintenance/) SERVICECommercial Radon SystemsWe test and mitigate schools, HUD multifamily, offices, warehouses and vapor intrusion sites.Learn more → [/commercial-radon-systems/ →](/commercial-radon-systems/) Des Moines & Central Iowa ## Ready to Book Radon Testing? Request An Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) Call Now To Book [tel:+15152187447 →](tel:+15152187447)