What Is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can enter homes from the soil. It is common enough that testing is worth doing, but it is also something homeowners can handle with a calm, practical plan.
The short version
Radon comes from natural breakdown in soil and rock. It can move up through foundation cracks, sump openings, crawl spaces, and other gaps. Testing tells you whether the level in the home is low or whether mitigation makes sense.
You cannot see or smell it
Radon does not have a color, smell, or taste, so a home can feel completely normal and still need testing.
Every home is different
Two houses on the same street can test differently because radon depends on soil, foundation openings, air pressure, and how the home is built.
Testing gives you the answer
A radon test is the only practical way to know the level in a specific home.
Why Radon Matters
Radon is one of those home issues that usually does not announce itself. There is no smell, stain, or sound. The concern is long-term exposure, especially in lower living areas where soil gas can collect.
The good news is that radon is measurable, and elevated levels can usually be reduced with a properly installed mitigation system.
Why Testing Is the Only Way to Know
Test the home
Use a proper radon test in the lowest lived-in area of the home.
Look at the number
The result is measured in pCi/L, which is the standard unit used for radon in air.
Make a practical plan
If the result is high, a state licensed mitigator can look at the home and explain the next step.
What 4.0 pCi/L Means
Radon test results are measured in picocuries per liter, written as pCi/L. The EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher.
A number over 4.0 does not mean you need to panic or stop using the home. It means the next practical step is to talk with a state licensed radon mitigator and understand what a system would look like for that house.
What Happens If the Level Is High?
Most Illinois homes with elevated radon are handled with a mitigation system that pulls radon from below the foundation and vents it safely outside. The layout depends on the foundation, sump area, finished spaces, crawl space details, and where the pipe and fan can be placed cleanly.
American Radon Systems looks at the actual home before final pricing so Bill can explain the route, the fan location, and what installation day should involve.
Why Not Just Wait Until You Sell?
A lot of homeowners first hear about radon during a real estate sale. If a buyer tests the home later and the level comes back high, they may ask for the radon issue to be fixed before closing. Testing now gives you more control. If the level is low, you can relax. If the level is high, you can reduce the radon exposure while you are still living in the home instead of waiting until a future sale forces the conversation.
How Radon Mitigation Works
The usual approach is sub-slab depressurization. A suction point is created below the slab, PVC pipe routes the air outside, and a fan runs continuously to pull radon from below the home before it builds up indoors. A small U-tube gauge on the pipe shows that the fan is creating suction.
How It Works
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that enters your home from the soil. Here's how it gets in and how we get it out.
How Radon Enters Your Home
Radon gas forms naturally in soil and rock as uranium breaks down. It migrates upward through the ground and enters homes through openings in the foundation, including basement floor cracks, sump pump openings, crawl space floors, and gaps around pipes.
- →Cracks in basement floor and walls
- →Sump pump pits and openings
- →Crawl space soil
- →Gaps around utility penetrations
- →Construction joints
Diagram: Cross-section showing radon entry points
Basement floor cracks · Sump openings · Crawl spaces
Diagram: Mitigation system cross-section
Collection point · PVC pipe · Fan unit · Exhaust above roof
How Mitigation Works
Sub-slab depressurization is the most effective radon mitigation method. We create a collection point beneath your foundation, run a PVC pipe up through the home, and install a quiet fan unit that continuously draws radon from the soil and vents it safely outside, above the roofline, away from windows.
- →Collection point drilled beneath foundation
- →PVC pipe routed through conditioned space
- →Continuous fan draws radon from soil
- →Gas vented above roofline, away from windows
- →Manometer confirms system is working
Already Have a Radon Result?
If you already have a radon result, call Bill and we can talk through the next step. If testing still needs to happen first, we can point you in the right direction.
Neutral Resources
These are helpful education links from EPA and the Illinois Department of Public Health.