Most radon tests are performed in the basement as that is the area in a home that is closest to the ground. Radon enters homes through cracks and fissures in foundations, opening around pipes, drains, sump pumps and crawl spaces. This happens because the soil pressure surrounding a home’s foundation is typically higher than the pressure inside a home. This pressure differential can cause radon to literally be sucked into the home as though a vacuum cleaner was placed on top of the structure.
If the style of the house has multiple levels as seen in many contemporary homes, the radon testing process must address those levels. Most likely there will be at least two levels that are slab on grade in direct contact with the ground. Testing the levels with direct ground contact is imperative for an accurate assessment of the home.
Some homes will have a traditional basement yet there may also be extensions with either no basement and built slab on grade or there may be a crawl space just below the living space. Crawl spaces are notorious for radon build up . Testing the living space that is in the extension built slab on grade or with a crawl space below is important since there is no buffer of a basement and radon can enter directly into your living space.
Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!