Radon in Worcester County homes
You can't see, smell or taste radon. The only way to know a home's level is to test the air. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends testing every home, and says about one in four homes in the state has high radon. No area of Massachusetts is free of risk.
WorcesterRadonQuotes.com is a free request service. If you need a test, a mitigation system or a second opinion on a result, tell us your town and we'll work to connect you with a certified radon professional.
What does your radon number mean?
| Your result | What it means |
|---|---|
| 4.0 or higher | At or above the EPA action level. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health says to fix a home at 4 pCi/L or higher. Massachusetts' health department says levels above 100 pCi/L may need additional safeguards. Call the Massachusetts Radon Hotline: (800) 723-6695. The EPA recommends a follow-up test before deciding on a fix. For a home sale, it describes a different approach: two short-term tests run at the same time. |
| 2.0 to 3.9 | Below the action level, but not zero risk. The EPA recommends considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. No radon level is risk-free. |
| Below 2.0 | Below the level where action is suggested. That's below the range where the EPA suggests considering a fix. For comparison, outdoor air is about 0.4 pCi/L, and no home reads zero. |
Radon is usually higher in winter. Massachusetts suggests testing between November 1 and March 31, so a winter retest is worth doing.
Massachusetts recommends retesting a home with a system every year or two to make sure it's working. A result at or above 4 pCi/L with a system in place means it needs attention.
This is general guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the EPA, not a diagnosis of your home.
Why it matters
Radon is a radioactive gas from soil and rock. It seeps into buildings and builds up indoors. According to the state health department, breathing it over many years can cause lung cancer, and it's the leading cause of lung cancer among people who don't smoke. For people who smoke, a high-radon home raises the risk much further.
Worcester County is on the state building code's list of high radon potential counties. That's why new one- and two-family homes here have had to include a passive radon system since 2015. How that rule works →
What people ask us for
- A radon test. A first test, a winter retest, or a test before buying.
- A mitigation system. For a result at or above 4 pCi/L, or between 2 and 4 if you want it lower.
- A check on an existing system. A gauge that reads zero, a fan that went quiet, or a system nobody has retested in years.
- Help with well water. For homes on a private well.
Who's behind this
WorcesterRadonQuotes.com is a request service. We don't test homes or install systems, and we aren't part of the state health department. The service is free for homeowners, buyers, renters, and landlords. No radon company pays us today. In the future, companies may pay to receive requests, which is how the site would stay free.