There are many different times when your home should be tested for radon, whether you purchase a do-it-yourself kit or want to bring in a trained professional. A home should be tested for radon before it is put on the real estate market, after every major remodel, before renovating the basement or just every one to two years. Radon levels tend to fluctuate on a daily basis, so having it tested once is not a good indicator that the levels in your home are safe. Even a short-term snapshot test needs to be completed over a period of three to four days for an accurate reading.

Here are a few tips for testing the radon levels in your home:

• In order to get as accurate of a reading as possible, you will need to seal up your home by closing all doors and windows at least 12 hours before you conduct the test. This will allow the radon levels in your home to accumulate.
• Do not conduct the test during cases of severe weather, such as a rainstorm or periods of high winds. This will change the barometric pressure inside and outside of your home, which will give you an inaccurate reading.
• As radon levels come in through the ground, the test should be conducted at the lowest inhabitable point in the house. For most people this means the basement, as it is the part of a home that is both closest to the ground and frequently used.

If you live in Maryland and want a professionally done radon test, schedule an appointment with Alban Inspections today! As a leading home inspection company we will complete your request, as well as suggest where having radon detectors installed will be most beneficial.