Vermont Radon

Radon in Vermont homes, explained plainly

One in seven Vermont homes has elevated levels of radon.[1] Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas with no color, smell or taste, and unless you test for it, there is no way of knowing if it is in your home.[1]

Test your home I have a result

Why it matters

#1

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who don't smoke.[1]

4.0 pCi/L

The action level. At or above it, the Health Department and EPA recommend reducing radon in your home.[1]

Every area

High radon levels have been found in all types of homes in every area of Vermont.[2]

Three steps

  1. Test

    A long-term test of 3 to 12 months, ideally including a heating season, gives the most accurate picture.[1]

  2. Understand your result

    At or above 4.0 pCi/L, contact a certified mitigation contractor. Between 2.0 and 4.0, consider mitigation.[3]

  3. Fix it

    Radon problems can be fixed. The most common system, active soil depressurization, is estimated at $1,500 to $2,500 installed.[3]

Test your home

Start here

1. Order a test kit from the state lab

The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory sells radon test kits directly. The Health Department recommends a long-term test of 3 to 12 months, ideally including a heating season.[1]

  • Long-term radon in air kit (3 to 12 months), listed by the Lab as the recommended test: $25[4]
  • Medium-term kit (1 to 3 months): $25. Short-term kit (2 to 7 days): $50.[4]
  • Radon in water kit for well or spring water: $25[4]

Order from the Health Department Lab

Prefer the phone? Call 802-338-4736 or 800-660-9997 (toll-free in Vermont).[1] Prices as listed on the Lab's webstore when we checked; confirm when you order.

Also an option

2. A digital radon monitor

Continuous radon monitors are "active" devices: they need power and continuously measure and record radon levels. The EPA lists testing with a continuous monitor for at least 48 hours as one acceptable short-term option in a real estate transaction.[5]

A monitor does not replace the long-term test the Health Department recommends for knowing your home's typical level.[1]

Disclosure: monitor links are affiliate links. If you buy through one, Vermont Radon may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The state lab kits above are not affiliate links.

Guides for your situation

On a well?

Radon can also come from well water. How to test it and what the state's advisory level means.

Buying or selling

What Vermont law does and doesn't require, and the EPA's testing options for a home sale.

Your town's test data

How many tested homes in your town had elevated results, from Health Department data.

Radon reminders by email Coming soon

We plan to offer occasional reminders, such as when it is a good time to start a long-term test before the heating season. Signup is not open yet, and this site does not collect email addresses.

Sources

  1. Radon in Your Home, Vermont Department of Health. Checked 2026-10-17.
  2. Testing for Radon in Your Home (fact sheet, July 2025), Vermont Department of Health. Checked 2026-10-17.
  3. Fixing Radon in Your Home (fact sheet, January 2024), Vermont Department of Health. Checked 2026-10-17.
  4. Radon Test Kits (Health Department Lab webstore), Vermont Department of Health Laboratory. Checked 2026-10-17.
  5. Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon (EPA 402/K-24/001, March 2024), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked 2026-10-17.