Radon Testing in Colorado Springs

You cannot smell, see, or feel radon. The only way to know whether your Colorado Springs home is above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L is to test. Given that more than 40% of homes tested in El Paso County between 2005 and 2023 came back high, testing isn't optional — it's the starting point for everything else.^[1]

This page covers the three test types, where to get a kit in Colorado Springs, how to place a test correctly, and what to do with the result.

1. Short-term test kit (2 to 7 days)

An activated-charcoal or alpha-track canister you place in your lowest livable level, then mail to a lab. Cost is typically $15–$40 including lab analysis. Short-term tests are the fastest way to find out whether you have a radon problem at all.

Use short-term tests when:

• You want a quick first read on your home
• You're in a real estate transaction with limited time (though a professional test is preferred — see below)
• You're confirming the result of a previous test

2. Long-term test kit (90 days or more)

An alpha-track detector that sits in place for at least 90 days. Long-term tests average radon levels across seasons, which matters in Colorado because winter levels (sealed-up homes) are typically higher than summer levels.

Use long-term tests when:

• You're not under a transaction deadline
• You want a more accurate annual exposure picture
• A short-term test was borderline (close to 4.0 pCi/L)

3. Professional measurement

A continuous radon monitor placed by a certified professional. Used for real estate transactions and for situations where you need a defensible, third-party-verified result. Continuous monitors record hourly readings; some labs return a written report in 48–72 hours.

Use professional measurement when:

• You're buying or selling a home and need a defensible result
• Your DIY result was high and you want a confirming professional test before mitigation
• You're testing after mitigation to confirm the system worked

For real estate transactions in Colorado, professional testers must be certified through NRPP or NRSB and registered with Colorado DORA.^[2] Professional tests typically cost $150–$300 in Colorado Springs.

• El Paso County Public Health Laboratory sells radon test kits to local residents. Check El Paso County Public Health for current pricing and pickup hours.^[1]
• CDPHE periodically offers low-cost or free kits during National Radon Action Month (January). See the CDPHE radon page for current availability.^[3]
• Home improvement and hardware retail — Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, and Amazon stock EPA-approved short-term kits.
• Online radon labs — many ship a canister and a return mailer with lab analysis included in one price.

If you choose a retail kit, make sure it is an EPA-approved device from a recognized lab.

A test placed incorrectly returns the wrong answer. EPA placement guidelines:

• Place the test in the lowest livable level of the home (a finished basement counts; an unfinished crawl space does not).
• Place it 2–6 feet above the floor, away from drafts, fireplaces, exterior walls, and high-humidity areas like bathrooms or kitchens.
• Keep windows and exterior doors closed for at least 12 hours before and during a short-term test ("closed-house conditions"). Normal in-and-out traffic is fine.
• Avoid placing the test next to running HVAC vents or in direct sunlight.
• Don't move the test once it's deployed.

Follow the kit's specific instructions — small differences in placement and timing affect the result.

Result (pCi/L)	EPA guidance	What to do
Less than 2.0	Below "consider mitigation" threshold	Retest every two years.
2.0–3.9	EPA suggests "consider mitigation"	Re-test (long-term preferred) and weigh mitigation. Many Colorado homes in this range choose to mitigate.
4.0 or above	Action level — mitigate	Confirm with a second test (or a professional continuous monitor) and get at least two written quotes from licensed contractors.
10.0 or above	Well above action level	Mitigate. EPA recommends not waiting — limit time in the lowest level until a system is in place.

Action level reference: EPA — Health Risk of Radon.^[4]

• Every 2 years for a previously low result.^[3]
• After any major remodel that changes the foundation, basement, or HVAC system.
• After mitigation — a post-install test confirms the system actually brought levels below 4.0 pCi/L.
• Before listing or buying a home.
• If your living patterns change — for example, finishing a basement that becomes daily living space.

Real estate testing has different rules. Buyers and sellers should use a professional continuous monitor placed by an NRPP or NRSB certified, DORA-registered tester.^[2] The reasons:

• The result must be defensible if either party disputes it.
• Continuous monitors record hourly data, so anti-tampering is built in.
• Results are typically available in 48–72 hours, which works with most inspection timelines.

Colorado SB23-206 requires sellers and landlords to disclose any known radon test results and mitigation history.^[5] If a previous test exists, the buyer should review it; if the seller has had mitigation done, the buyer should ask for the system's post-install test result and warranty documentation.