Buying or selling in the Black Hills? Here's how radon test kits work, how to place them, and how testing fits into a real estate deal.
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South Dakota DANR describes two kinds of tests (SD DANR):
Both are acceptable, and whichever you use should meet EPA proficiency standards.
Per DANR: put the kit on the lowest livable level, in a frequently used room without high humidity (a bedroom or family room). Keep it at least 20 inches off the floor, 4 inches from other objects, 12 inches from an exterior wall and 3 feet from a window. Run it under closed-house conditions.
The EPA Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon recommends testing before you buy and explains options for buyers and sellers, including fixing an elevated level before or after closing. In the Black Hills this matters: more than half of reported tests in Pennington County were at or above 4 pCi/L (see the local data).
For a sale, consider a certified tester. DANR links to providers certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). Choose "Real estate transaction" in the form and we'll connect you with a local professional.
The EPA recommends testing for radon before buying a home, and its Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon explains how to handle testing during a real estate transaction.
DANR's free kits are meant for residents testing their own homes. For a sale, buyers and sellers often use a certified measurement professional so the test conditions are documented. Find NRPP- or NRSB-certified providers through the links on the DANR radon page.
SD DANR says exterior doors and windows should be kept shut for 12 hours before and during the test, except for normal entry and exit, and fans and blowers should be off.