Get matched with top radon detection and reduction specialists in Brady, NE

The short answer is no, air purifiers do not help with radon. While they certainly can improve the air quality of your home, they only clean pollutants from the air. Radon is radioactive, and it isn’t affected by the same filtration systems that handle other airborne particles, like dust and mold. The only thing that works is a radon mitigation system.

The only way to determine if you have a radon problem in your home is to have professional testing done. You can buy DIY radon test kits, but these are sometimes inaccurate in certain temperatures and humidity levels, and they don’t paint the entire picture in terms of your radon exposure. Scheduling testing once every two to five years is best. You can also look out for the following symptoms, which, according to the American Cancer Society, are symptoms of radon exposure:

• Shortness of breath

• Cough

• Tightness in the chest

• Difficulty swallowing

• Hoarseness

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.

A DIY kit can lessen the sting that comes with paying for a professional assessment, but these comprehensive tests are true lifesavers. Inspectors are more likely to catch all of the pollutants and hazards in your air. Plus, you’ll still need a professional to verify and act on your DIY test results. 

Some kits don’t include tests for certain air pollutants or only detect their presence, but not their levels (i.e., mold spores). If you’re willing to shell out money for a DIY kit, it’s usually better to stretch your budget slightly higher for a more detailed assessment.