Radon is a common, invisible gas that's often highest in the basement. Here's how to test and fix it.
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Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas you can't see or smell. It seeps up from the soil into homes, and the EPA estimates about 1 in 15 US homes has an elevated level.
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the US after smoking. Because it comes from the ground, levels are often highest on the lowest level of a home — typically the basement.
A radon mitigation system (sub-slab depressurisation) uses a fan and pipe to draw radon from beneath the slab and vent it safely above the roof. Most systems cost $800–$3,000 and are a one-time install that protects the whole home — usually working within a day.
Source: U.S. EPA, A Citizen's Guide to Radon. General guidance only.