All homes need to be tested for radon. Continue reading to learn how and why.
Radon is the second main cause of lung cancer. About 800 Georgians die each year from lung cancer caused by radon. This gas has no smell, color, or taste. It silently slips into homes through cracks in the foundation.
A study conducted by University of Georgia Extension’s Radon program found almost one out of every five homes tested in Forsyth County had too much radon. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends fixing your home if radon level is 4.0 pCi/L or above. Forsyth County has the highest recorded radon level (17.8 pCi/L). That’s four times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says is safe, which is 4 pCi/L.
These samples were collected using test kits provided by the UGA Radon Program from January 2020 to March 2026. Data are from 2818 households, who self-selected to test their homes for radon in Forsyth County. Forsyth County’s percentage of elevated radon levels (13.7%) is slightly lower than surrounding counties, which have 15% or greater elevated radon levels (144 valid results out of 166 tests; 2,818 households tested for radon from 1990 to 2026. This may be due to lower testing rates compared to neighboring counties, the time of year the tests were conducted, and where uranium-rich rocks are located. Forsyth County is Georgia’s fastest growing county, so it is likely that many households have not yet tested for radon because they are unaware that it needs to be done and how to do it.
Realtors and Homeowner’s Associations should protect home buyers and homeowners by raising awareness of this trend and how to test for radon through their social media channels and newsletters to promote healthy homes.
RADON GETS IN THROUGH:
1. Cracks in solid floors.
2. Construction joints.
3. Cracks in walls.
4. Gaps in suspended floors.
5. Gaps around service pipes.
6. Cavities inside walls.
7. The water supply.
All homes should be tested. If your home has too much radon, it’s important to fix it quickly to get rid of this invisible danger. Good air quality inside your home helps everyone, especially kids, older people, and those with health issues like asthma or heart disease.
Testing is cheap (about $15 for a kit) and you can buy kits online or at local hardware stores. Forsyth County libraries even have free testing kits you can borrow!
Why was so much radon found in our county? Forsyth County is in a part of Georgia called the Piedmont region. This area has very old, hard rocks, like granite. These rocks naturally contain tiny amounts of uranium.
When this uranium slowly breaks down, it creates radon gas. This gas then tries to escape from the ground. Think of our local rocks like a big, cracked puzzle. These cracks and spaces in the rocks and soil act like hidden tunnels. They make it easier for radon gas to travel up from deep underground and into the air around our homes. Homes built on top of these rocks can trap the gas until it finds cracks in the foundation, basement sump pumps, or pipes to sneak inside.
Well water can also have radon if the water has touched rocks with uranium. When this well water is used for showering, washing dishes, or cooking, the radon can escape into the air inside your home.
Testing your home is important to keep loved ones safe and lower risk of lung cancer. There is no way to tell if your home has a lot of radon without testing it. Short-term radon tests take 2 to 90 days (depending on the kit). They are the best first step to take to find out about the air quality of your home. The tests measure the average level or radon in your home. Long-term radon tests (around $30, good for 5 years) are the most accurate, but take over 90 days to complete. They are recommended to double-check short-term tests kits’ results when they are close to, or exceed 4 pCi/L.
If your home has too much radon, don’t worry. Mitigation is a way to remove radon in your home. The most common method involves inserting pipes into the foundation. A fan then sucks radon out through these pipes and sends it safely outside. The UGA Radon Program recommends using a certified professional (https://nrpp.info/pro-search/) for this work and getting estimates from more than one company. The EPA recommends performing a radon test every 2 years in every type of building: homes, offices and schools. The greatest exposure to you and your family is most likely at home where you spend most of your time.
Buying a new home this summer? If you are in the process of buying a home, it is standard for buyers to ask sellers to cover the mitigation cost or provide closing credit for that amount. This cost can be negotiated during the buying process. For questions on radon mitigation cost from a Cumming-based certified professional, contact Ensign Building Solutions at 770-205-9891.
For more information on radon, check out https://radon.uga.edu/ and www.epa.gov/radon.