Radon Testing Bonita Springs

Florida Department of Health regulates radon measurement and radon mitigation in Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, and all of Florida.Florida requires Naples or Bonita Springs persons certified for radon measurement “testing” to adhere to several protocols when placing radon tests.
Your Naples or Bonita Springs certified Radon Measurement person should choose a position where the detector will not be disturbed during the measurement period and where there is adequate room for the device.
Florida requirements for placement of a radon test within a home include:

Elevated Radon levels in Condo's are about 1 out of 2 (50%)

In our experience, it is not unusual for condos in Bonita Bay, Pelican Landing, The Brooks or anywhere else in Bonita Springs to have elevated radon levels. We have had thousands of clients concerned about the radon levels in the Bonita Springs home they are buying but have never tested the home they have lived in for years “up north”. Radon levels can be lowered by a FL DOH certified Radon Mitigation Business.

Bonita Springs Home Buyers should take "THE NATIONAL RADON TEST".

What to expect whenordering a radon test:

Professionals in Bonita Springs will perform a “short term” radon test using a CRM (continuous radon monitor); which will give you hour by hour reading of your radon levels. Professionals who use a Femto-Tech radon monitors will generally run a second passive test from “Air Chek” as a quality control test. Radon and Mold Professionals started doing this years ago, after we had a problem with our Radalink monitors. Any mechanical device can have a “problem” so with a second test (quality control) we do our best to provide you with the best test we can. We have not used Radalink equipment for more than a decade now. We switched to Femto Tech monitors and have been very happy with the results.We have performed over 13,000 radon tests in SW Florida including Bonita Springs.

For a “long term” radon test in Bonita Springs, we recommend an “Alpha Track”. Experience has shown us that for radon tests between 90 days and one year, the Alpha Track is the way to go. Long term radon tests do not require your Bonita Springs home to maintain “closed house” conditions like the “short term” radon test does.

Radon testing guidance was originally produced by the US EPA in the mid-late 1980s. Their guidance was to conduct a screening test first using a short-term testing device and prior to deciding whether to mitigate, recommended a follow-up test. The follow-up recommendation included short-term and long-term options, depending on the amount of radon found during the screening measurement, meaning that a decision on the need for mitigation could take several months.

When the real estate community began to understand the need to include radon testing as part of home transactions, there was a realization that the EPA guidance wasn't real estate friendly because the majority of the transactions needed quicker turnaround to meet closing deadlines, etc. The EPA responded to the real estate community's request for a time-sensitive and released Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes in 1993, which included sections that were specific to real estate transactions. An abbreviated version of the real estate section has been published as a stand-alone guidance booklet, known as Home Buyer's Seller's Guide to Radon, which was last updated in January 2009. The EPA guidance essentially says to test once, either with an appropriate electronic Continuous Radon Monitor, or by deploying a duplicate pair of passive devices (i.e., charcoal-based devices). The recommendation on when to fix is based on the outcome of this testing strategy by saying that results of 4 pCi/L or more should result in the installation of a radon mitigation system. Therefore, there isn't really any guidance that incorporates second tests and how to handle the second result when reading through the real estate sections of the documents. The EPA continues to support a homeowner protocol of testing multiple times when there are not time constraints and in that guidance it would recommend averaging two results when two rounds of short-term testing has been performed and to install a radon mitigation system if the average was 4 pCi/L or more. ------------------------
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) operates a radon program, which includes a certification section. The DOH does provide guidance to radon professionals as well as to Florida residents regarding radon testing and mitigation, including all type of radon testing including real estate, general homeowner concerns, and well as mandatory testing required in many school, day care, foster home, licensing situations. I have had many conversations with Ms Gail Melvin, who runs the certification section of the FL Radon Program about their radon policies and on more than one occasion, Ms Melvin has indicated that their guidance for real estate transaction is that as long as the first radon test has been done properly, there is not need to perform a second test. Situations that could be considered improper include things like testing by a non-certified technician, device malfunction, protocol violation, extreme or unusual weather. However, in these scenarios a test would need to be deemed invalid in order to necessitate a second test. If the first test was valid and there are no reasons why the test should be thrown out, the decision whether to mitigate should be based on the first test alone.
I have searched the FL Radon Program website for written guidance that substantiates Ms Melvin's verbal guidance, and I have not found anything at this time. I did find the following paragraph on their FAQ page that seems to contradict the guidance that I have been given:
If your first test results were from a short term test (passive test), it is suggested that you perform another radon test in the same area. If you are in a time crunch (ie: for a real estate transaction) then perform a short-term test in the same place again. Then average the results of the 2 tests. If the average is below 4 pCi/L, then retest your home every 2 years. If the average is above 4 pCi/L, consult with a certified mitigator regarding your next step. If you have the time available, it is suggested that you perform a long-term test as your second test. This test lasts over 91 days and provides an excellent measurement of the radon concentration in your home because it takes into account weather fluctuations and radon concentration fluctuations that occur in your home. If this result is over 4 pCi/L, consult with a certified mitigator regarding your next step. If the first testing of your home was with a long-term test and the result is greater than 4 pCi/L, it is suggested that you perform another short term test in the same area. If the results of both tests or the average of both tests are greater than 4 pCi/L, consult with a certified mitigator regarding your next step. If the result is less than 4 pCi/L, continue testing your home every 2 years.

What do I do if my test results are greater than 4 pCi/L?

Shawn Price

WallRadon Testing, Inc. dba Radon & Mold Professionals is a Florida Department of Health Certified Radon Measurement Business (RB1938). We are NOT affiliated with any radon mitigation business. We are an independent radon testing business. We just test. We are NOT responsible for poor radon mitigation installation or lack of required permits.

Naples, Marco Island and Bonita Springs Homeowners, Buyers and Sellers should choose their Radon Mitigation Business with caution. Protect yourself, insist on

Certified businesses are required to report their activities. A mitigation contractor must provide:

1) mitigation system labels, (name of company installing system)
2) a visual or audible device to automatically indicate system failure,
3) soil gas exhaust vents above the eave of the roof for active soil depressurization systems, and
4) written instructions on the operation and maintenance of the system.

The department recommends you review these requirements with the mitigation contractor before entering into a contract. If you have any questions about the radon businesses listed below or your radon mitigation system, you may contact the Bureau of Epidemiology, Radon Program by calling (800)-543-8279 or writing to 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710.

Best & Most Experienced Radon Measurement (Testing) Business Serving Bonita Springs since 1999.

Florida radon testing rules:

Elevated Radon levels in Condo's are about 1 out of 2 (50%)

Bonita Springs Home Buyers should take "THE NATIONAL RADON TEST".

What to expect whenordering a radon test: