Radon in Colorado: What Every Homeowner and Buyer Should Know
Learn about radon in Colorado, including health risks, testing, levels, disclosure requirements, and what homeowners and buyers should know before making decisions.
How Common Is Radon in Colorado?
Colorado has one of the highest radon potentials in the United States. Nearly half of homes tested across the state have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
What Is Radon and Why Is It Common in Colorado?
The reason is Colorado’s natural geology. Some rock and soil formations contain uranium that breaks down over time and releases radon gas. This gas can move through the ground and enter homes through foundation cracks, crawl spaces, sump pits, floor drains, and openings around pipes.
What Are the Symptoms of Radon Exposure?
Radon in Colorado can affect any property, regardless of its age, location, or price. A home may look safe during a walkthrough and still have elevated radon levels that cannot be detected without testing.
How Does Radon Testing Work in Colorado?
For homeowners and buyers, radon testing in Colorado provides valuable information about indoor air quality and helps identify whether additional steps, such as mitigation, may be needed. Whether you are purchasing a home, selling a property, or checking your current home, testing can help you better understand your home’s radon risk.
How Do Radon Levels in Colorado Compare to Other States in the US?
Radon is common throughout Colorado, and elevated levels can be found in homes across the state. According to Colorado health officials, about half of Colorado homes have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
Can Radon Cause Cancer?
Colorado’s geology contributes to this risk, with naturally occurring uranium in certain rock and soil formations releasing radon gas over time. The EPA classifies 53 of Colorado’s 64 counties as Zone 1 areas, meaning they have a high potential for elevated radon levels.
What Should You Do After a High Radon Result?
Radon concerns can be found across many Colorado communities, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, Lakewood, and Centennial. However, radon levels can vary meaningfully between properties, even within the same neighborhood.
What Should Home Buyers Know About Radon?
Communities along Colorado’s Front Range, including areas near Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, may have higher radon potential due to local geology. However, individual home results can vary based on factors such as foundation design, soil conditions, and construction details.
What Can the Colorado Radon Map Tell You?
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible radioactive gas created when uranium found in certain rocks and soils breaks down over time. Colorado’s geology contains areas with naturally occurring uranium deposits, which can release radon gas as part of this natural process. The gas can move through the soil and enter homes through small openings in the foundation.
What Should Homeowners Do About Radon?
Common entry points for radon in Colorado homes include:
What Happens If Radon Mitigation Is Needed?
The important thing to understand about radon in Colorado is that any home can have elevated levels. A home's age, location, price, or appearance cannot determine its radon risk.
What Should You Remember About Radon in Colorado?
Radon exposure does not usually cause noticeable symptoms. Unlike some environmental hazards, you cannot tell if a home has elevated radon levels based on how you feel. A person can feel completely healthy while living in a home with higher radon levels.
Common questions About Radon in Colorado
Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness are not reliable indicators of radon exposure. The primary health concern comes from long-term exposure, which can increase the risk of developing lung cancer over time.
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Radon testing measures the amount of radon in the air inside a home over a specific period. Since radon levels can change based on weather, ventilation, and home conditions, testing helps determine the actual concentration inside a property.
The length of a radon test depends on the type of test being performed. Short-term radon tests typically run for at least 48 hours, while long-term tests run for more than 90 days and provide a better estimate of a home's average radon levels throughout the year.
Placing an approved radon testing device A licensed radon measurement professional places an approved testing device in an appropriate area of the home, usually at the lowest lived-in level where people spend time.
Maintaining proper testing conditions Doors and windows should remain closed as much as possible during the testing period to help capture accurate indoor radon conditions.
Allowing the device to collect readings The device remains in place while measuring radon levels inside the home.
Completing the test and reviewing results After testing is complete, results are analyzed to determine the home's radon level.
Understanding results and next steps Results help homeowners and buyers decide whether additional action, such as mitigation, may be recommended.