Testing is easy and inexpensive, and test kits are available from county health departments all across the state, usually for $15 or less. (For a list of agency addresses and telephone numbers, visit the DEQ Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqradon.) The test is done by exposing the device to the air in your home for a set period of time and when the measurement is completed, mailing the device back to a laboratory where it will be analyzed and a report sent back to the user.
When elevated radon levels are found, additional testing should be conducted to confirm the problem, and action should be taken to lower the levels. In some cases, the radon may be reduced by caulking and sealing the entry points, but for a guaranteed reduction, a trained contractor should be called to install a mechanical system that vents the gas from beneath the foundation and exhausts it above the roof.
For more information about Radon, visit www.michigan.gov/deqradon or contact the DEQ Radon Program at 1-800-RADON GAS (1-800-723-6642).