Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil breaks down. It seeps up through the ground and accumulates in homes — particularly in basements, crawlspaces, and lower-level living areas. The EPA estimates it causes around 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the US. Among non-smokers, it's the leading cause.
Alabama isn't in the highest-risk zone on the EPA's map, but that doesn't mean you can skip testing. I've found elevated levels in homes across Jefferson, Walker, Bibb, and Cullman counties — including newer construction that owners assumed was fine.
The test itself is simple. We place a monitor in the home for a set period and measure the average concentration. The EPA's action level is 4 picocuries per liter. If the result comes in above that, mitigation usually runs $800 to $1,500 — a sub-slab depressurization system that vents radon out before it builds up.
That's a manageable cost for a house you're going to breathe in for decades.
If you're buying a home and your inspector doesn't offer radon testing, it's worth asking why.