There are two main types of radon tests used to measure the amount of radon in a commercial building or home. These are the passive and active radon tests. These tests collect the air in a given area and either report the amount of radon detected or hold that information for a lab to determine.

The passive radon tests are used in a space between 2 and 90 days. These tests require no electricity to run and can be used on every level of the building. The EPA suggests at least one test be placed on the lowest level of the building. The kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and hallway should not be used as the air source. Most passive tests will take between 48 and 96 hours to complete.

Passive radon tests employ the use of charcoal canisters, charcoal liquid or alpha-track detectors to measure the radon levels. The levels are collected and when the unit is finished tracking the air quality, it is sent off to a lab where the radon levels are reported. The lab report is then sent to the appropriate party.

The active radon tests works in a slightly different manner. This unit requires electricity to run. Continuous monitoring of the air in a commercial building or home allows the radon level spikes and dips to be recorded more successfully. These units can be used by the owner of the building, but are most often used by professionals testing for radon gas in the home.

When using radon tests, the homeowner or building owner should follow a few simple tips to ensure the readouts are accurate.

* All windows and doors should be kept shut while the air quality is being tested.

* Radon tests need to be located a minimum of 20 inches from the floor.

* Short term radon tests do not accurately measure radon levels during high humidity, stormy or windy conditions.

* Before the radon tests are installed, the windows and doors should be left closed for at least 12 hours.

* If radon gas is thought to be in the space, people should not use the space until the tests are complete.

Radon tests are a quick and effective way to measure the radon gas in a given space. Radon is an odorless gas that is thought to cause cancer. A non-smoker who is regularly breathing even the lowest levels of radon may have a higher chance of contracting lung cancer than someone who is not around radon gas.

If higher than normal levels of radon are detected with the radon tests, there are effective removal systems that can be installed within the home or commercial building. These removal systems employ the use of pipes running from the source of the radon to the roof to move the gas out of the space before it can concentrate to higher than healthy levels.

Radon kits are used to measure the amount of radon in the home or business. These kits are installed on the lowest level of the building where the radon is seeping into the space. Most radon comes from the soil or rock below a building entering into the air through cracks in the foundation. The radon kits can test short-term radon levels or long-term radon levels.

The short-term radon kits are used for less than 90 days in a space. These kits use no power and need to be sent to a lab for a final radon readout. This readout is then sent back to the person who ran the test. The long-term kits are installed for longer than 90 days and often use a digital readout powered by electricity to constantly measure the radon levels in a given space.

When measuring radon with radon kits, the air movement from outside needs to be limited to ensure an accurate reading. For this reason, all air exchange units need to be turned off during the test. This does not include air conditioning units that recirculate the air within a given space.

Other important tips to ensure an accurate reading include minimizing the opening of doors and windows and keeping the doors and windows shut for at least 12 hours before the start of the test, especially for the short term test. The radon kits need to be installed in a space in the home that is used regularly. If that space is the basement, the unit should be placed there. If the basement is not regularly used, the first floor of the building is the optimal place for the radon kits.

The radon kits need to be kept at least 20 inches from the floor. This ensures an accurate reading for breathable air and keeps the unit safe from damage during the testing period. The package instructions for the kit will tell the use how long the test needs to stay in place before the reading is complete for a short-term radon test.

The long-term radon kits are often left for more than 90 days. These units need to be installed in the same way as the short-term units, but employ the use of electricity and constant monitoring to measure spikes and dips in radon levels.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are three steps to radon detection using radon kits.

Step 1: Use a short-term test in the space to measure any immediate danger.

Step 2: If the short-term test measures radon levels at 4 or above, a long-term test or a second short term test should be used to verify the results.

Step 3: If radon levels are consistently above 4 on the test readout, correction measures should be taken to reduce the amount of radon.

Radon can enter the home through soil or water. While soil is the most imminent danger, the water seeping into the home during times of stormy weather can also increase the levels of radon. It is important to use radon kits on a regular basis even after steps have been taken to resolve the higher radon levels in the home. These radon kits will ensure no spikes in radon are continuing after the radon mitigation systems are installed and working.