Radon in Pittsburgh: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know This January
- Nicole Brooks
- Nov 30, 2025
- 2 min read
When you grow up in western Pennsylvania, you get used to certain things: rolling hills, winding streets, and long stories about old mine shafts. But there’s one invisible part of Pittsburgh’s landscape most homeowners don’t think about...radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that’s alarmingly common throughout Allegheny County and surrounding areas.
And January, designated as National Radon Action Month, is the perfect time to understand the risks and take action.
Why Radon Is a Big Issue in the Pittsburgh Area
1. Our Geology Is Working Against Us
Western Pennsylvania sits on uranium-rich shale and sandstone formations, especially the Marcellus and Point Pleasant formations. As uranium breaks down, radon seeps upward through:
Soil
Cracked foundations
Gaps around plumbing
Sump pumps and crawl spaces
That means homes,even brand-new ones,can accumulate dangerous levels.
2. Older Housing Stock Increases Exposure
Pittsburgh’s charm comes from its century-old neighborhoods, but older basements:
Have porous walls
Often lack modern vapor barriers
Are more prone to settling and cracking
All of this makes it easier for radon to enter.
3. Pennsylvania Has Some of the Highest Radon Levels in the U.S.
The EPA categorizes much of the region—including Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland counties—as Zone 1, meaning the highest potential for radon exposure. Many local tests exceed 4.0 pCi/L, the level where EPA recommends mitigation.
What Homeowners Don’t Realize About Radon
Radon has no smell, no color, and no symptoms—until long-term damage is done.
It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., right behind smoking.
Your neighbor’s test result tells you nothing about your own home.
Radon levels vary dramatically—even between houses built at the same time on the same street.
Levels change seasonally.
Winter is the peak risk period because:
Homes are sealed tight
HVAC systems create negative pressure
Frozen ground traps radon below the surface
That’s why January is not just Radon Action Month,i t’s prime testing season.
What You Should Do This January
1. Test Your Home
Professional tests provide the best accuracy, especially in older homes. You can schedule a radon measurement test at www.FineLineInspects.com.
2. Retest Every 2 Years or After Renovations
Major projects, like finishing a basement, replacing windows, or adding HVAC equipment—can change pressure dynamics and increase radon entry.
3. Mitigate if Levels Are High
A typical Pittsburgh radon mitigation system costs $900–$1,500 and can reduce levels by up to 99%. Most systems take only a few hours to install.
4. If You’re Buying or Selling a Home, Make Radon Non-Negotiable
Radon testing is already standard in many real-estate transactions, but too many buyers skip the follow-up. Don’t.
Why Local Awareness Matters
Pittsburghers face a perfect storm:
Geology that produces radon
Older homes that let it in
Winters that trap it inside
And because radon accumulates indoors over years, exposure is a lifetime risk, not a one-time event.
If every household in the region simply tested their home this month, we’d prevent hundreds possibly thousands of future lung-cancer cases.
Ready to schedule a radon test? Schedule at www.FineLineInspects.com
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