Radon testing in Fargo and Moorhead
Radon levels can't be guessed from the age, style or location of a house. Here's how to measure yours and what to do with the number.
A radon test answers two questions: does this house need a system, and, once a system is in, is it working? Both answers come from the same kind of measurement, done carefully.
What kinds of radon tests are there?
| Test | How long | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term kit | A few days | A first screening, or a check after a system is installed |
| Long-term kit | More than 90 days | A truer average across a heating season or a full year |
| Continuous radon monitor | At least 48 hours, logged hourly | Home sales and professional testing |
How do I get an accurate result from a kit?
- Test the lowest level you regularly use. A finished basement counts; a storage-only basement may not.
- Keep outside windows and doors shut, apart from normal comings and goings, starting 12 hours before a short-term test and for the whole test.
- Set the kit 20 inches or more off the floor, away from the sump, floor drains, outside walls, the furnace and humid rooms.
- Write down start and end times and mail it the day you finish. Labs can reject kits that sit too long.
Is winter a good time to test in Fargo?
It is. ND DEQ calls the cold months a great time to test, because the house is closed and the furnace is running, which is when soil gas gets pulled in hardest. A Fargo winter runs long, so a winter result reflects how you live for much of the year. A long-term kit started in fall and pulled in spring gives the fullest picture.
When should I bring in a professional?
For a home sale, for a test after mitigation, or any time you want calibrated equipment and someone else handling placement. In Moorhead, a person who places or retrieves test devices in a building they don't own needs an MDH radon measurement license. MDH requires licensees to use devices approved by a national program and to send passive devices to an MDH-licensed lab.
What do I do with a high result?
If a short-term kit reads 4 pCi/L or higher, a second test can confirm it before you commit. If the level holds, MDH and the EPA recommend mitigation. If it's between 2 and 4, they suggest you consider it. Next step: radon mitigation systems.
We don't quote prices. The radon company prices the job after it learns your foundation type and, in most cases, looks at the house. Treat any number you hear before that as a ballpark, not a bid.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I test my own house in Moorhead without a license?
Yes. MDH exempts people testing a building they own or lease. The license applies to people testing other people's buildings.
Does a split-level need more than one test?
Start with the lowest lived-in level. A radon pro may test more than one spot in a house with several foundation sections.
Related services
More background: Fargo-Moorhead radon guide.
Got a radon number you don't like?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a radon company that works in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.