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Radon Testing

The hazard you can’t see, smell, or taste.

Radon is a radioactive gas that rises out of the soil and collects inside homes — and it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country. You can’t sense it on your own. A professional test is the only way to know your home is safe.

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From $150Add it to any home inspection

1 in 15 homesHave elevated radon levels

48-hour testContinuous monitor, on site

A continuous radon monitor placed in the lowest livable level of a home during an Ally radon test

A continuous radon monitor placed in the lowest livable level — recording an hour-by-hour reading.

Why it matters

A common gas with an uncommon risk.

Radon forms naturally as uranium breaks down in the soil and rock beneath every home. Outdoors it disperses harmlessly. Indoors it can build to levels that quietly raise your family’s risk year after year — which is exactly why it’s worth knowing about.

A leading cause of lung cancer

After smoking, radon is the top cause of lung cancer in the U.S. — the EPA links it to roughly 21,000 deaths a year. The risk comes from breathing elevated levels indoors over time.

You can’t sense it

Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. There are no early warning signs and nothing to notice day to day. The only way to detect it is to measure it.

Any home can have it

About one in 15 homes has elevated radon, and it turns up in brand-new builds and century-old houses alike. Parts of north Alabama and Georgia sit in elevated EPA radon zones.

How it gets in

It rises from the ground, through the smallest gaps.

There’s radon in the soil under every home — the question is how much makes it inside. The gas follows the path of least resistance up into the lowest level, and a handful of entry points show up again and again.

Foundation cracks

Hairline cracks in a slab or basement wall are the most direct route radon takes into a home.

The most common entry point

Gaps around pipes & wiring

Every plumbing and electrical penetration leaves an opening the gas can slip through.

Easy to overlook

Floor-to-wall joints

The seam where the slab meets the foundation wall is rarely sealed all the way around.

A constant pathway

Sump pits & drains

Open sump pumps and floor drains connect the living space straight to the soil below.

A direct line to the ground

Crawl spaces & dirt floors

Exposed earth beneath the home lets radon rise into the structure with nothing to slow it.

Worst with bare soil

Well water

Groundwater can carry dissolved radon that releases into the air when you run the taps.

Worth testing on private wells

Side by side

A hardware-store kit isn’t the same as a professional test.

A DIY canister can give you a rough idea. A professional test gives you accurate, transaction-ready results — and someone to explain what they mean.

The detail

Hardware-store kit

An Ally radon test

The equipment

Passive charcoal canister

Calibrated continuous monitor

Getting results

Mailed to a lab, days to weeks

Logged on site, fast turnaround

Closed-house conditions

Up to you to maintain

Monitored throughout the test

Device placement

Guesswork

Placed to EPA protocol by a pro

Tampering & interference

Undetectable

Flagged by the monitor

For a real-estate deal

Often not accepted

Documented and deal-ready

Reading the results

You’re on your own

Explained by your inspector

When to test

When a radon test is worth it.

Radon levels aren’t fixed — they shift with the seasons, the soil, and changes to the home itself. A few moments are especially worth a test.

Before you buy

It’s the easiest time to test — and if levels come back high, you can negotiate mitigation with the seller before you close.

If it’s been a while

The EPA recommends testing every two years. Levels change over time, so a clear result from years ago doesn’t guarantee today’s.

After mitigation or renovation

A new mitigation system should be verified, and foundation or HVAC work can change how radon moves through the home.

Pricing

A small test against a serious risk.

From $150

Add radon testing to your home inspection, or schedule it on its own. Either way you get a continuous monitor placed correctly, EPA-protocol conditions, and a result you can act on.

Add it when you book. Radon testing pairs with your general inspection — we place the monitor, return to collect it, and document the reading right in your report.

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What’s included

A continuous radon monitor placed in the lowest livable level
EPA closed-house protocol followed start to finish
An hour-by-hour reading, not just a single average
Results measured against the EPA’s 4.0 pCi/L action level
A clear digital report and honest next steps if levels are high

What the number actually means.

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter — pCi/L. The EPA sets its action level at 4.0 pCi/L and suggests considering mitigation anywhere from 2.0 up. No level is completely risk-free, so the goal is simply to get it as low as reasonably possible.

If your home tests high, it’s a fixable problem. A mitigation system — a vent pipe and fan that draws radon out from under the slab — typically brings levels well below the threshold. We’ll explain your reading and point you toward the right next step.

Good to know

Radon testing FAQ.

Is radon really a problem in Alabama and Georgia?

Yes. Radon has been found in all 50 states, and parts of north Alabama and north Georgia fall into elevated EPA radon zones. Because levels vary house to house, the only way to know your home is to test it.

How long does a radon test take?

A standard short-term test runs a minimum of 48 hours. We place a continuous monitor, leave it to record under closed-house conditions, then return to collect it and document the reading in your report.

What are closed-house conditions?

Windows and exterior doors stay closed — apart from normal comings and goings — for at least 12 hours before and during the test. It keeps outside air from diluting the reading and giving a falsely low result.

What level is too high?

The EPA’s action level is 4.0 pCi/L. At or above that, mitigation is recommended. Between 2.0 and 4.0, it’s worth considering. No amount of radon is truly safe, so lower is always better.

What happens if the test comes back high?

Elevated radon is very fixable. A mitigation system vents the gas from under the foundation to the outside, usually dropping levels well below the threshold. If you’re buying, high results are also something you can negotiate with the seller.

Can I just use a kit from the hardware store?

You can, for a rough check. But for a home purchase, a professional test with a calibrated continuous monitor — placed correctly and run under controlled conditions — gives you the accurate, documented results most deals require.

Know what’s in the air you breathe.

A radon test is quick, affordable, and the only way to know your home is safe. We test across Birmingham, Huntsville, and metro Atlanta — with clear digital reports and honest guidance if levels come back high.