Radon reduction in Des Moines: what it involves and how to choose a provider

A plain-English guide for homeowners in Des Moines and nearby areas who have a radon test result, or are about to test, and want to understand the next steps. Every fact below links to a public source.

Radon basics

Radon is a natural radioactive gas. You can't see, smell or taste it. [Iowa HHS]
Testing is the only way to know whether your home has radon. [Iowa HHS]
Iowa HHS notes that, according to EPA, the entire state of Iowa is considered at high risk for radon gas in homes, and that high levels can be found in any type of home. [Iowa HHS]
Results are reported in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). [EPA]

What the 4 pCi/L number means

EPA recommends fixing your home if the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more, and suggests considering a fix for levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. [EPA]
Iowa HHS says results at or above 4 pCi/L are considered elevated and mitigation is recommended, but that mitigation decisions should not be based on a single test result. [Iowa HHS]

Iowa HHS lists ways to get a do-it-yourself test kit, including kits sold at hardware and home improvement stores, on its radon page.

What radon reduction involves

"Radon reduction" and "radon mitigation" mean the same thing: changing the house so less radon gets in or builds up.

An inspection first. EPA's consumer guide says a contractor will visually inspect the home and design a system around its features. Sometimes diagnostic tests are needed, such as using a small amount of chemical smoke to see how air moves. [EPA guide]
Foundation type matters. EPA groups homes by foundation: basement, slab-on-grade, or crawlspace. Some homes have more than one, which can call for a combination of methods. [EPA guide]
Soil suction is the usual approach. It draws radon from below the home and vents it through a pipe to the air above the home. For basement and slab homes, EPA calls active subslab suction (subslab depressurization) the most common and usually the most reliable method. [EPA guide]
Sealing alone is not enough. Sealing cracks is a basic part of most approaches, but EPA does not recommend sealing by itself, because it has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently. [EPA guide]
Iowa sets the installation standard. A credentialed specialist must follow the ANSI/AARST standard SGM-SF-2023 for existing homes, and must install a system that reduces the radon level to below 4 pCi/L in the area or level of the building where it is installed. [641 IAC 44.3]
Testing before and after. Iowa requires a test before and after mitigation unless the owner waives this in writing, before work starts, on a state form. The post-mitigation test starts no sooner than one day after the work is finished and within 30 days. [641 IAC 44.3(4)(d)]
The tests are independent of the installer. Under Iowa rules, those before-and-after tests must be done by an independent measurement specialist who is not employed by the mitigation firm, or by the homeowner, occupant or other person responsible for the building. [641 IAC 44.3(4)(d)]

Who can do the work in Iowa

In Iowa, no one may mitigate radon for a fee unless Iowa HHS has credentialed them. This also applies to out-of-state businesses offering mitigation to Iowa residents. [641 IAC 44.3(1)]
Iowa HHS publishes a list of credentialed radon mitigation specialists with each person's credential number (starting with RNMIT). The list shows the date it was generated, so check that it is current.
For the independent before-and-after tests, Iowa HHS also publishes a list of radon measurement specialists.
EPA suggests contacting your state radon program to find providers, and recognizes two national radon proficiency programs (NRPP and NRSB). [EPA]

Questions to ask before you hire

What is your Iowa HHS radon mitigation credential number? (Then find it on the Iowa HHS list yourself.)
Is the person who designs and installs my system the credentialed specialist, or someone working under them?
Which standard will the installation follow? Iowa requires ANSI/AARST SGM-SF-2023 for existing homes.
Who will do the before and after tests, and are they independent of your company, as Iowa rules require?
When will the post-mitigation test happen? (Iowa: no sooner than one day after the work, within 30 days.)
What is the plan if the post-mitigation result is not below 4 pCi/L where the system is installed?
Can I see the system design before work starts: where the pipe will run, where the fan and vent will go, and whether any electrical work is needed?
Is the written estimate itemized, and what is included?
How will I be able to tell the system is running, and what upkeep does it need?
Can you show proof of insurance?

Getting more than one written estimate is a reasonable way to compare designs as well as prices.

FAQ

Can the company that installs my system also do my radon tests?

Not the required before and after tests, under Iowa rules. Those must be done by an independent measurement specialist not employed by the mitigation firm, or by the homeowner or occupant, unless you waive testing in writing on a state form before work starts. [641 IAC 44.3(4)(d)]

Is 4 pCi/L the only number that matters?

EPA recommends fixing at 4 pCi/L or more and suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. [EPA] Iowa HHS adds that decisions should not rest on a single test result. [Iowa HHS]

Will a mitigation company share my home's radon results?

Iowa rules say a credentialed person may not disclose a non-public building's radon levels, or the work needed or done, to anyone other than the state unless the owner waives that confidentiality in writing. [641 IAC 44.3(4)(c)]

Can I just seal the cracks in my basement?

EPA does not recommend sealing alone, because by itself it has not been shown to lower radon significantly or consistently. Sealing is usually one part of a larger system. [EPA guide]

Does this site do radon testing or mitigation?

No. This is an independent information and referral site. It does not test, mitigate, or hold any Iowa radon credential. See About this site.

Preview

Ask to be contacted by one independent provider

This site is in preview and does not take requests yet. There is no phone line, form or email sign-up, and nothing you do here is collected.

When requests open, each one will go to one independent provider. That provider will be named on this page with its Iowa HHS radon mitigation credential number before you send anything. Before-and-after radon tests will not be bundled through that provider's firm.