Radon Testing in Decatur: Why Georgia Homes Are Not Immune

Radon testing rarely makes anyone’s list of exciting home projects, but for Decatur homeowners it may be the most useful $150 you spend all year. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that rises out of the soil, and the only way to learn whether it is collecting inside your house is radon testing. A home does not need to be old, drafty, or built over a basement to have a problem.

What Radon Testing Reveals About Metro Atlanta Homes

Radon forms when uranium in soil and rock slowly breaks down, and areas with a lot of granite tend to carry a higher risk. According to UGA Cooperative Extension, the EPA considers every north Georgia county to have a moderate or high radon potential, with Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett ranking highest. Decatur sits in DeKalb County, so this is not a distant statistic. UGA also notes that nationally about one in fifteen homes has a high radon level, while in north Georgia the figure could be closer to one in five. You can read the full explanation in this UGA Extension article on radon in Georgia homes.

The number to know is 4 pCi/L. Any result at or above that level calls for action, and the average indoor level is about 1.3 pCi/L. Because no result is ever exactly zero, the goal is to learn where your home falls on that scale.

How Our 48-Hour Test Works

At EIC Property Inspections, radon testing is a $150 service that uses a 48-hour sample collection period. The device sits in the lowest level of the home that people actually use, and it collects over two full days instead of grabbing a quick snapshot. That longer window matters because radon levels rise and fall with weather, soil moisture, and how the house is being used.

For an accurate result, the home should stay closed up while the test runs. Exterior doors and windows stay shut except for normal coming and going, and we explain the details ahead of time so you are not guessing. Placement matters too. UGA recommends a spot in the center of a room, roughly two to six feet above the floor, in a space such as a bedroom or family room.

What to Do When the Number Comes Back High

A high number is not a reason to panic. It is one of the more fixable findings in a home. A mitigation system typically uses a vent pipe that runs from beneath the foundation to above the roofline, along with an inline fan that pulls the gas out before it can build up indoors. A qualified mitigation contractor handles the installation, and a follow-up test confirms the system is doing its job.

For buyers, a high result is also a conversation starter with the seller. Many people ask for the system to be installed or the price adjusted, and having a documented reading makes that request much easier to support.

Radon Testing for Buyers, Sellers, and Longtime Owners

You can add radon testing to a full home inspection or book it on its own. Buyers use it to protect a major purchase. Sellers use it to avoid surprises once an offer is on the table. Longtime owners use it because a home that has never been tested is simply a home with an unanswered question.

Renovations can change the picture, too. New windows, added insulation, and air sealing all affect how air moves through a house, so a result from several years ago may not reflect today’s conditions.

Questions We Hear Often

How long does the test take?

Our test runs for a 48-hour collection period. We will tell you when it starts and when we pick it up so it fits around your closing schedule.

Does the age of my home matter?

Not much. UGA points out that anyone can have a radon problem regardless of a home’s age, how airtight it is, or whether it has a basement.

What does a result of 4 pCi/L mean?

It means action is recommended. Talk with a mitigation professional about a system, then retest after it is installed.

Can I add this to my home inspection?

Yes. Radon testing can be added to a residential inspection for $150, or scheduled as a standalone visit.

Schedule Radon Testing in Decatur

If you have never checked the air in your lower level, now is a good time. Schedule your inspection with EIC Property Inspections and we will walk you through your results in plain language.

EIC Property Inspections proudly serves Atlanta, Morrow, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Decatur, Hampton, Stockbridge, Riverdale, Griffin, Macon, Carrollton, Jackson, and surrounding communities across Metro Atlanta and South Georgia.