Common questions
FAQ
Updated
What areas do you cover?
Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, Belvidere, and the smaller towns across Winnebago, Boone, and the northern part of Ogle County. If you're just outside those, ask anyway.
How much is radon testing?
Testing typically runs $150 to $300, depending on short-term vs. long-term monitoring. Testing price depends on short-term vs. long-term monitoring. Mitigation system cost depends on foundation type and house size. Get a firm number before anything is scheduled. See the full cost breakdown.
How much does a radon test cost in Illinois?
Statewide, radon testing commonly runs in the same range as the Rockford area, roughly $150 to $300 for a professional test, though exact pricing varies by company and by short-term vs. long-term method. Full pricing details here.
What houses are more likely to have radon?
None, specifically. Radon comes from uranium decaying in the soil a house sits on, not from the house's age, construction type, or whether it has a basement. A brand-new home and a 100-year-old home on the same lot carry the same underlying risk, and a neighbor's low result says nothing about yours.
How often do homes test above the action level here?
More than 1 in 3 homes in Winnebago County (36.7% in state IEMA data) test at or above the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level. Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle Counties all sit in the EPA's Radon Zone 1, its highest-potential category.
Is a radon level of 1.3 pCi/L considered high?
No. The EPA's action level is 4.0 pCi/L, with 2 to 4.0 pCi/L worth considering action on. A 1.3 pCi/L result sits below both thresholds. There is no level the EPA calls completely risk-free, but 1.3 pCi/L is not in the range where mitigation is typically recommended.
Is it worth doing a radon test?
Yes. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking, the EPA attributes roughly 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year to it, and testing is the only way to know a specific home's level. In a county where more than 1 in 3 homes test high, skipping it means guessing.
What happens during a radon inspection?
A test device (short-term or long-term) is placed in the lowest livable level of the home and left undisturbed for the testing period. There's no invasive inspection of the structure itself; it's a measurement of the air, read against the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level once the period ends.
Is radon testing required to sell a home in Illinois?
Illinois law doesn't require it, but many buyers, lenders, and agents request one, and under the Illinois Radon Awareness Act a seller must disclose a result they already know about.
Radon testing
Radon Testing in Rockford, IL
How long does a radon test take?
A short-term test runs a few days to about a week, placed in the lowest livable level of the home and left undisturbed for the full period. A long-term test runs 90 days or more for a more complete picture.
Where does the test get placed?
Testing happens in the lowest level of the home someone actually spends time in, typically a basement or ground floor. Unfinished crawl spaces and unused areas are not representative of what occupants breathe.
What happens if the result comes back high?
A confirmed result at or above the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level means a mitigation system is worth pursuing. That is a separate service from testing, and coordinating it is part of what happens after a high result.
Does a new home need to be tested too?
New construction is not automatically radon-free. Radon comes from the ground the house sits on, not the age of the building, so a brand-new home in this area carries the same testing case as an older one.
Radon mitigation
Radon Mitigation in Rockford, IL
How do I know if I need radon mitigation?
A confirmed test result at or above the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level is the standard trigger. Between 2 and 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA says it's worth considering; below that, risk still exists but mitigation is less commonly pursued.
How much does radon mitigation cost in the Rockford area?
Generally $800 to $2,000 depending on the foundation type (slab, crawl space, or basement) and house size, based on regional market data gathered 2026-09-01. Get a firm number from a licensed installer before anything is scheduled.
Does mitigation actually work?
A correctly installed and maintained active soil depressurization system can reduce indoor radon levels by up to 99%, per EPA guidance. The only way to confirm it worked for your specific house is a test placed after installation.
Is the installer required to be licensed in Illinois?
Yes. The Radon Industry Licensing Act (420 ILCS 44/) requires an IEMA license to perform radon mitigation or measurement anywhere in Illinois. IEMA publishes a free lookup to verify a specific contractor's license.
What if my mitigation system was installed years ago and I'm not sure it's still working?
Fans wear out. A retest is the only way to know a years-old system is still holding levels down, and it's a much smaller step than assuming the worst or replacing the whole system unnecessarily.
Buying or selling a home
Radon Testing for Home Sales & Purchases in Rockford, IL
Is radon testing required to sell a home in Illinois?
Illinois law does not require it, but many buyers, agents, and lenders request one anyway, and a seller must disclose a result they already know about.
How soon before closing should testing happen?
Scheduling it early in the inspection period leaves the most room to negotiate or arrange mitigation if the result comes back high, without threatening the closing date.
What if the result is high and closing is close?
Buyers and sellers can negotiate a credit or repair addressing mitigation costs, similar to how other inspection findings get handled. The key is knowing the number early enough to have that conversation.
Can a buyer request their own test even if the seller already has one?
Yes, and it is common. A buyer's own test on their own timeline avoids any question about how an earlier test was handled.
New construction
New Construction Radon Testing in Rockford, IL
When should a new home be tested?
Testing after the home is fully enclosed, with doors and windows able to stay closed for the test period, gives an accurate read of the finished structure.
What if the builder already installed a radon rough-in?
A rough-in is a good sign, but it only becomes an active system once a fan is added. Testing tells you whether the passive version alone is keeping levels below the action level.
Ready to know your number?
Tell us why you're testing and any deadline you're working against. You get a fixed price and a straight answer back.