Service · Des Moines, IA
Radon Testing & Detection in Des Moines, IA
Short-term and long-term radon testing that tells you your actual indoor level, not a guess, so you know whether mitigation is even necessary.
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We do not make you wait weeks for a test or an install date.
One shop, one service area, no franchise call center.
You cannot see radon, smell it or taste it, so the only way to know what is actually in the air in your Des Moines home is to test for it. The EPA sets the action level at 4 pCi/L, and in IA the statewide median indoor reading runs around 8.5 pCi/L, more than double that number. That gap is exactly why a real test matters more here than in most states.
Capitol Radon places both short-term and long-term test devices across the Des Moines metro, reads the results, and explains what they actually mean for your house. Quick quotes and quick scheduling mean you are not waiting weeks to find out where you stand.
What a radon test actually measures
A radon test measures the concentration of radon gas in the air you breathe, reported in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. It is not a pass or fail inspection in the way a home inspection is. It is a number, and that number tells you whether the air in your basement or lowest livable level is at, above, or comfortably below the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L.
Radon levels can swing with the seasons, the weather, and even which doors and windows were open the day of the test, which is part of why we place devices carefully and follow EPA-recommended protocols for placement and duration rather than just leaving one anywhere convenient.
Short-term versus long-term testing
A short-term test runs anywhere from two to seven days and gives you a fast read, which is useful for a real estate transaction or when you just want an answer quickly. A long-term test runs for more than ninety days and gives a more accurate picture of your year-round average, since radon levels do shift with temperature and how sealed up a house is in different seasons.
- Short-term test — two to seven days, fastest turnaround, common for home sales
- Long-term test — ninety days or more, most accurate average, good for a permanent record
- Continuous monitor — an installed device that tracks levels ongoing, covered under detection device installation
Where and how we place the test device
The device goes in the lowest level of the home that gets regular use, generally the basement, with the doors and windows in that area kept in normal closed-house conditions for the test period. Placing it too close to a drafty window or an exterior door can throw off the reading, so we follow the same placement standards used for real estate transactions in Polk County.
What your results mean
A result under 4 pCi/L means your home is currently below the EPA action level, though the EPA notes there is no fully risk-free level and mitigation can still be worth considering at lower readings. A result at or above 4 pCi/L means mitigation is recommended, and that is where a sub-slab depressurization system typically comes in, often reducing levels by up to 99 percent.
Radon Detection (Testing) across Polk County
We run this work throughout Des Moines and the surrounding towns. In places like Des Moines, West Des Moines and Ankeny, no two elevations are exactly the same, so every job gets scoped on site rather than over the phone.
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Des Moines
- Radon Detection (Testing) in West Des Moines
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Ankeny
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- Radon Detection (Testing) in Clive
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Waukee
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Altoona
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Pleasant Hill
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Windsor Heights
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Norwalk
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Indianola
- Radon Detection (Testing) in Carlisle
Common questions
Radon Detection (Testing) questions we hear in Des Moines
A short-term test runs two to seven days. A long-term test runs ninety days or more. We can talk through which one fits your situation, whether that is a home sale on a deadline or wanting the most accurate year-round number.
You can buy a home test kit, and it is better than not testing at all. A professional test follows stricter placement and chain-of-custody protocols, which matters most if you need the result for a real estate transaction.
The EPA action level is 4 pCi/L. Homes at or above that are recommended for mitigation. There is no fully risk-free level, but the lower the number, the lower the long-term exposure.
Yes. See our real estate and home sale radon testing page for timelines and what buyers and sellers in Des Moines typically need.
What neighbors say
Referral work is most of our schedule
PLACEHOLDER review. Two to four sentences in a real customer voice, naming the job and the city.
PLACEHOLDER Name — Des Moines
PLACEHOLDER review. Mention a specific detail — the crack repair matched, the crew cleaned up, the estimate held.
PLACEHOLDER Name — Des Moines
PLACEHOLDER review. Something about responsiveness or the written scope works well here.
PLACEHOLDER Name — Des Moines
Get a straight answer on your wall
Free on-site estimates across Des Moines and Polk County. We look at the actual wall, measure the elevations and send a written scope — no charge and no sales pitch.