Confused About Radon?​

You’re not alone. With an increased focus on radon in Utah, families often receive mixed, inaccurate, emotionally charged messages about what to do with radon.
​Radon Navigator™ provides fact‑based, not fear‑based, radon guidance. We’re not a mitigation company and we’re not affiliated with one. We help Utah families understand radon with clear steps, calm explanations, and practical tools — no fear, no pressure, no sales agenda.

Welcome to Radon Navigator™ 

A calm place to understand radon and make decisions at your own pace.
We know most radon information relies on broad population averages, fear‑based charts, or sales‑driven interpretations — not on individual households. ​
​These patterns have real consequences​
Families sometimes spend money on unnecessary mitigation, and in extreme cases, fear becomes so overwhelming that people leave their homes. One elderly woman even slept in her car despite having a low, non‑urgent radon level.
​We built Radon Navigator™ to close that gap with calm, evidence‑based guidance that reflects real homes and real lives — not fear, pressure, or sales influence.
Our system focuses on five elements of an evidence-based radon decision:
  • Learning what radon is and what it isn't.
  • Understanding radon risk and the odds of lung cancer at different levels.
  • Knowing how national organizations interpret radon levels.
  • Awareness of evidence-based recommendations for action based on radon levels.
  • Knowledge of pros and cons of mitigation systems.
There are two phases in our process:
  1. A concise overview of radon basics.
  2. Interactive tools that help you understand your risk and the science‑supported options available to you.
Together, these tools support a calm, informed, evidence‑based radon decision. Click below to enter the ​decision‑making pathway.
PHASE ONE

Radon Basics

Evidence‑based information grounded in national radon testing and mitigation standards.
Fact Vs Fiction About Radon
Fiction: “Radon only gets into some homes.”
Fact: Radon gets into every home. It moves through small openings in the foundation, floors, and walls. ​Click here to learn more.
Fiction: “You can usually tell if your home has radon.”
Fact: You can’t sense radon. There are no symptoms, smells, or warning signs — only a test can confirm your level. ​ Click here to learn more about testing and order a free test.
Fiction: "It only takes one test to determine radon levels.
Fact: EPA requires a follow‑up test before making any mitigation decision. Radon levels change from day to day, so one test is only a snapshot—not a reliable measure of your home’s true long‑term level. Click here to learn more.
Fiction: “Anything above 2.7 pCi/L is dangerous.”
Fact: The U.S. mitigation threshold is 4.0 pCi/L. The 2.7 number is often used in mitigation marketing, not in national policy. Click here to learn more.
​Fiction: “Radon is an immediate danger.”​
​​Fact: Radon is a long‑term exposure risk, not an emergency. For most never‑smokers, the odds of lung cancer at typical household levels are real but modest, and they build slowly over many years. ​Click here to read our take on radon. ​
​Fiction: “Everyone with a high number faces the same risk.”
​Fact: Risk varies widely based on smoking status, second‑hand smoke exposure, time spent at home, and where in the home people spend their time. Two families with the same radon level can have very different risk profiles.
​Fiction: “Anything above 4.0 pCi/L is dangerous.”
Fact: The 4.0 guideline is a policy threshold, not a danger line. It’s based on population‑level modeling, not individual household risk. Families have time to plan, budget, and choose a reputable contractor.
​Fiction: “Mitigation is a cure.”
Fact: Mitigation is preventive insurance, not a crisis response. You have time to plan, budget, and choose a reputable contractor. Click here to learn more about mitigation. ​​
Fiction: A mitigation plan and bid can be developed without an in-person inspection.
​Fact: Radon standards require onsite diagnostics. The ANSI/AARST mitigation standards—used nationwide--require contractors to evaluate the foundation and perform diagnostics in person before designing a system or preparing a bid. Remote or photo‑only bids don’t meet these requirements. Click here to learn more.
In sum:
  • You are not in immediate danger, radon does not cause short‑term symptoms or emergencies.
  • Your long‑term risk is real but modest, risk builds slowly over many years.
  • Mitigation is a smart, preventive investment, not something that requires urgent action.
  • You have time to make a calm, informed decision, nothing about this requires rushing.
PHASE TWO

Interactive Tools

How to think through the decision calmly and confidently.
The following tools help you interpret your radon situation using the same standards health professionals rely on. Each tool looks at a different part of the decision process, but they all depend on one consistent radon level--the number from your most recent test. Using the same level across all tools keeps your results aligned and allows the system to build an accurate profile of your home’s radon conditions
If you haven't completed a test, we will provide you a free test, and while you are awaiting the results, feel free to work with the tools using any level you’re curious about. Then come back once you have the actual level for your home.
STEP 1

Check Your Radon Risk

​Radon risk is often described by the EPA, radon mitigators, and others using dramatic comparisons that can make the numbers sound scarier than they are. 
​The risk numbers in this tool come from studies of miners who were exposed to radon for many years and later died from lung cancer. Scientists used those results to estimate how many people out of 1,000 might die from lung cancer if they lived in a home with a certain radon level for their whole life. The EPA defines a lifetime as 70 years of breathing the same air in the same house.

4.0 pCi/L

Never-smoker

Number of people in 1,000 that would die from lung cancer if exposed to radon for a lifetime at this level
7 in 1000
Percentage
0.7%
Odds
1 in 143

Smoker

Number of people in 1,000 that would die from lung cancer if exposed to radon for a lifetime at this level
62 in 1000
Percentage
6.2%
Odds
1 in 15

What this means for you

  • These numbers reflect decades of exposure, not days or weeks
  • Short-term spikes do not create sudden danger
  • You can take your time to make a calm, informed decision
  • Reducing radon can lower this long-term risk even further
An ​Interactive Radon Guidance Tool Developed by the Radon Navigator™ Program.
​© 2026 Radon Navigator™ Program. All rights reserved.
STEP 2

Understanding Your Radon Level

This tool helps you understand what your radon level means in plain, steady language. It explains long‑term risk and how home factors shape exposure, but it does not make recommendations.
​Those come with the next tool.

What Your Radon Level Means

A quick, level‑only interpretation of your radon result.

Your selected level: 4.0 pCi/L
048121620
EPA Action Level (4.0 pCi/L)
Low
0–1.9
Moderate
2.0–3.9
Elevated
4.0–7.9
High
8.0–14.9
Very High
15–20

Do any of these apply to your home?

An ​Interactive Radon Guidance Tool Developed by the Radon Navigator™ Program.
​© 2026 Radon Navigator™ Program. All rights reserved.
STEP 3

Your Radon Options and Next Steps

This tool uses your radon level and home factors to give you a clear, evidence‑based recommendation for what to do next. It brings together everything from the previous tools to guide your next step.
An ​Interactive Radon Guidance Tool Developed by the Radon Navigator™ Program.
​© 2026 Radon Navigator™ Program. All rights reserved.
STEP 4

Your Home's Radon Profile

A combined summary of radon risk, interpretations, and recommended actions
​based on your home's radon level.

Radon Level

Risk Tool Level: --

Interpretation Tool Level: --

Decision Tool Test Result: --

1. Mortality Risk Estimate (Based on lifetime exposure at this level)

Never‑smoker:
-- people in group of 1000
Odds: --
Smoker:
-- people in group of 1000
Odds: --

2. Interpretation

—

3. Recommended Action

Recommendation:
--

Why:
--

Additional Notes:
--

Learning about the pros and cons of mitigation is your final step to an informed radon decision.  Clicking below will take you to that step.
An ​Interactive Radon Guidance Tool Developed by the Radon Navigator™ Program.
​© 2026 Radon Navigator™ Program. All rights reserved.
STEP 5

About Mitigation

The pros and cons of radon mitigation
​Mitigation is a reliable way to reduce radon, but it isn’t a decision you need to rush. Every home, budget, and situation is different, and understanding the pros and cons helps you make a choice that fits your needs—not someone else’s agenda. 
 Click or tap any card to flip it over. Move through them at your own pace — each one highlights a different part of the mitigation experience.

What Mitigation Is

Mitigation reduces radon by creating controlled airflow beneath your home and safely venting it outside. This is the foundation for understanding the tradeoffs in the cards that follow.

What Mitigation Is

A mitigation system uses a fan and sealed piping to draw radon from beneath your home and release it outdoors, preventing it from entering your living space.

Systems are effective, long‑lasting, and work in nearly all home types. They operate continuously and require very little from the homeowner.

Understanding this basic process helps you make sense of the pros and cons in the next cards — and decide whether mitigation feels right for your home.

Cost & Value

Mitigation is a meaningful home upgrade, and understanding typical costs helps you decide whether it feels right for your home.

Cost & Value

Pros

  • Predictable cost range for most homes
  • Long‑term risk reduction for the entire household
  • Increases buyer confidence if you sell your home
  • One‑time installation with minimal ongoing expenses

Cons

  • Upfront cost that may feel significant
  • Extra work (sealing, electrical) can increase price
  • Unexpected conditions in older homes can add complexity

If the cost feels manageable and you value long‑term peace of mind, mitigation is a strong option. If the upfront expense feels heavy right now, it’s reasonable to wait and revisit later.

Effectiveness & Performance

Most systems reduce radon reliably, but performance depends on system design, fan placement, and contractor quality.

Effectiveness & Performance

Pros

  • Highly effective at reducing radon when installed correctly
  • Immediate improvement in radon levels
  • Works continuously without user action
  • Reliable performance in most home types

Cons

  • Quality varies between contractors
  • Poor design can reduce effectiveness
  • Some homes require more complex systems
  • Fans eventually fail and need replacement

If you want a dependable, long‑term solution and are comfortable choosing a qualified contractor, mitigation offers strong performance. If you’re unsure about contractor quality or system complexity, it’s reasonable to pause and gather more clarity.

Noise & Visibility

Fans run continuously, and placement affects how noticeable they are in daily life.

Noise & Visibility

Pros

  • Quiet options available with proper placement
  • Exterior installation reduces indoor noise
  • Consistent operation without user involvement

Cons

  • Some fans are audible, especially in basements
  • Improper placement can create vibration or hum
  • Older homes may transmit sound more easily
  • Fan noise may be noticeable outdoors
  • Some systems require visible exterior piping
  • In some homes, pipes may be visible in finished rooms

If you’re sensitive to noise, placement matters. If a faint hum is acceptable—or if the fan can be placed outside—noise is rarely a dealbreaker.

Maintenance & Longevity

Systems need very little attention, but fans eventually wear out and require replacement.

Maintenance & Longevity

Pros

  • Low maintenance for most systems
  • Simple monitoring with a manometer or indicator
  • Long fan lifespan (often many years)

Cons

  • Fan replacement cost every decade or so
  • Occasional checks to ensure the system is running
  • Weather exposure can shorten fan life

If you’re comfortable with occasional checks and eventual fan replacement, mitigation is easy to maintain. If long‑term upkeep feels burdensome, waiting may be reasonable.

An ​Interactive Radon Guidance Tool Developed by the Radon Navigator™ Program.
​© 2026 Radon Navigator™ Program. All rights reserved.

Ready For Your Next Step?

​You’ve now seen your radon risk, your test result, your options, and what mitigation involves. Most families feel ready to choose their path at this point. Move forward in the way that feels right for your home.
If you’ve decided to mitigate, go to our Mitigation Assistance Pathway.
This pathway provides you with valuable, science-based assistance with every step in the mitigation process.
If you need more help to make your decision, go to our Need More Information section.
This option offers additional clarity, reassurance, and support before you choose your path.

Built For Families. Based On Evidence.

​Radon Navigator™ is designed to protect families, not sell services.
We provide:
  • ​Independent, consumer‑protective guidance
  • Evidence‑based recommendations
  • Transparent, plain‑language explanations
  • No sales, no upselling, no conflict of interest
  • Created specifically for Utah homes and soil conditions