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Radon Testing in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Wilkes-Barre homes are commonly affected by elevated radon due to the region's coal-belt geology along the Susquehanna River. We provide fast, certified radon testing and mitigation for homeowners, buyers, and sellers throughout Luzerne County.

Schedule a Test See testing costs

$150–$250per test

48 hrstest duration

Same daycertified report

How the 48 hours go

From phone call to certified report

Day 0Monitor placed
A continuous radon monitor is set in the lowest lived-in level. Takes about 15 minutes.
Hours 0–48Live your life
Keep windows closed; doors for normal coming and going. The monitor logs radon every hour.
Hour 48Pickup & report
The monitor is collected and your certified report — with the hourly data — is delivered the same day.

Radon testing for Wilkes-Barre homes

Aerial view of downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania with surrounding neighborhoods and mountains

Much of Wilkes-Barre's housing dates from its growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Wilkes-Barre is the seat of Luzerne County and the heart of the Wyoming Valley, from Public Square and the River Common along the Susquehanna to the neighborhoods of the North End, the Heights, South Wilkes-Barre, Parsons, and Miners Mills. Much of the city's housing dates from its coal-era growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with stone and block foundations and basements that have seen a century of settling.

The city is also home to Wilkes University and King's College, and many older homes near downtown have been converted into rental units. Whether you own one house or manage several, radon is worth checking. It has no smell and no symptoms, and it collects in the lowest level of a home, especially in winter.

A 48-hour test costs $150 to $250, with a certified report the day it ends. If the result is at or above 4.0 pCi/L, mitigation installs in a day and is verified with a follow-up test.

Why a monitored test beats a mail-in kit

You can buy a charcoal test kit at any hardware store, and for casual curiosity it's fine. But a kit gives you one averaged number, has to be mailed to a lab, and takes a week or more to come back. Also test kits are not accepted for most real estate transactions. A professional test uses a continuous radon monitor: a calibrated device that records your radon level every single hour, along with temperature, humidity, and pressure. When the 48 hours are up, you get a certified report the same day, including the hour-by-hour graph.

That hourly data matters more than it sounds. Radon isn't steady — it swings with weather, furnace cycles, and time of day. Seeing the pattern tells you whether a 3.8 average is a home that hovers there or one that spikes to 8 overnight. And because every open window and every bump of the device shows up in the log, the results are tamper-evident — which is exactly why monitored tests are the accepted standard when a home sale hangs on the number.

Testing for Wilkes-Barre home sales

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and it gives no warning — no smell, no taste, no visible sign. The EPA recommends mitigation for any home testing at or above 4 pCi/L. Testing is the only way to know where your Wilkes-Barre home stands.

Radon contingencies are common in purchase agreements, and an unresolved test can stall a closing at the worst possible time. We offer expedited testing and mitigation scheduling built around real estate deadlines, so your transaction stays on track.

Testing is simple and non-invasive. We place a certified monitor in your lowest livable level for the required testing period, then provide a detailed report with your results. If mitigation is needed, our technicians design a system specific to your home's foundation — most Wilkes-Barre installations, whether basement, crawlspace, or slab, are completed in a single day.

Radon levels often rise during colder months, when homes are sealed up tight and ventilation drops. Testing now gives you an accurate picture of your Wilkes-Barre home before winter sets in.

Radon testing cost in Wilkes-Barre

A professional 48-hour monitored test in Luzerne County runs $150–$250, including placement, pickup, and the certified same-day report. For comparison:

Option	Cost	Results	Accepted for home sales?
Continuous monitor (professional)	$150 – $250	Same day, hourly data	Yes
Charcoal mail-in kit (DIY)	$15 – $40	1–2 weeks, one average	Generally no
Post-mitigation verification	Included with installs	Same day	—

When to test — and retest

Every home should be tested at least once, because radon varies house to house even on the same street — your neighbor's low number tells you nothing about yours. Beyond that first test, retest every two years, after any major renovation or foundation work, after a mitigation system goes in, and whenever you buy a home. If you have the choice, test in winter: Wilkes-Barre's closed-house heating season is when radon runs highest, so a winter number is the most honest picture of your family's actual exposure. A summer test that comes back borderline is worth repeating in January before you decide anything.

Testing questions, answered

Is a professional radon test more accurate than a hardware store kit?

A continuous radon monitor records your level every hour for 48 hours and produces a certified report the day the test ends. Charcoal kits give one averaged number, must be mailed to a lab, take a week or more for results, and are not accepted for most real estate transactions. For a quick screening a kit is fine; for a decision, a monitored test is the standard.

What are closed-house conditions?

For 12 hours before the test starts and for the full 48 hours it runs, windows stay closed and exterior doors open only for normal coming and going. Heating and air conditioning can run normally. Closed-house conditions make sure the test measures your home, not the breeze.

What happens if my radon test result is high?

A result at or above 4.0 pCi/L means the EPA recommends fixing the home. Mitigation is a one-day installation, typically $1,000 to $1,500 for most Wilkes Barre homes, and it reduces radon by 80 to 99 percent. A high test is a solved problem, not an emergency.

Can a radon test be tampered with during a home sale?

Continuous monitors log radon, temperature, humidity, and pressure every hour, so opening windows or moving the device shows up clearly in the data. That hourly record is a key reason monitored tests are the accepted standard for real estate transactions.

How often should I retest my home for radon?

Retest every two years, after any major renovation or foundation work, after installing a mitigation system, and when you buy a home. Winter tests give the most conservative picture of your exposure because closed-house heating season is when radon runs highest.

Schedule your test

Tell us your timeline — especially a closing date if you're mid-transaction — and we'll call back to get you scheduled, usually within one business day.

Wilkes-Barre ZIP codes served: 18701, 18702, 18705, 18706

Nearby towns we also serve: Kingston, Nanticoke, Pittston. See all service areas.