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It is possible to test for radon yourself using DIY radon test kits, but these at-home test kits should never be a replacement for professional radon testing. DIY test kits can provide some information about radon exposure in your house, but your indoor temperature and humidity can affect the results, as can improper usage of the test kit. You could save yourself some money by hiring a radon professional to begin with, and when it comes to your family’s safety, hiring an experienced professional to do the testing is usually the best option.

Since radon typically comes out of the soil, it is most commonly found in the lower levels of a home. In houses with basements, that's a common location for radon. Homes built directly on the ground may have radon on the ground floors. Radon can be found on the upper floors of the home, but often in lower concentrations than in lower levels.

No level of radon is technically safe, but because it’s everywhere—even in the air outside—it’s impossible to avoid entirely. Instead, the Environmental Protection Agency encourages taking preventative measures if the levels of radon in your home rise above 2 pCi/L. (For reference, the average radon level in homes across the United States is 1.3 pCi/L.

You should have a professional test for radon every two to five years. A good rule of thumb is to get testing done every five years if you’ve never had an issue before and every two years if you have. You may also want to schedule testing if you notice symptoms of radon exposure or if you do intermittent DIY radon testing and notice changes in your levels between tests. If you have an active radon monitor, you can schedule testing if you notice levels increasing over time.