Iron Clad Inspections · Radon Testing
Radon Testing in Boise & the Treasure Valley.
Radon is invisible, odorless, and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Parts of Idaho sit in EPA-designated elevated radon zones. Testing during your inspection is the only way to know what you're buying. Starting at $150. Bundle with your home inspection and save 10%.
- EPA-Approved Testing
- Quick Turnaround
- Bundle With Inspection
- Starting at $150
- InterNACHI Certified
- EPA-Approved Testing
- Quick Turnaround
- Real Estate Support
- Bundle With Inspection
We test. We don't mitigate.
That separation keeps the analysis honest. If your levels are elevated, we tell you and refer you to a mitigation specialist. We don't have a mitigation invoice waiting on the other side of your result.
Why It Matters
Why Idaho buyers should always test for radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into homes, particularly through foundations, crawl spaces, and basements. In Idaho, the geology makes it worth a closer look on every purchase.
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Invisible and odorless
Radon has no color, smell, or taste. The only way to know what's in a home is to measure it with calibrated equipment.
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Leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
The EPA estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. It's the second-leading cause overall, and the leading cause among people who have never smoked.
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Idaho sits in EPA Zone 1
Much of Idaho, including significant parts of Ada and Canyon counties, falls in EPA Zone 1: the highest predicted indoor radon level zone in the country.
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Every home behaves differently
Two homes next door can test at very different levels. Soil composition, foundation type, ventilation, and sealing all change how radon enters a home. Past tests on the neighborhood are not a substitute for testing yours.
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Mitigation is straightforward
If your test comes back elevated, the fix is well-understood: a sub-slab depressurization system that vents radon outside before it enters the living space. Cost is typically a fraction of what buyers expect.
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Best tested before you close
Radon testing is a contingency-window item. Knowing the level before you close gives you negotiating leverage and lets you require mitigation as a closing condition.
Local Context
The Idaho-specific radon problem.
The EPA divides the country into three radon zones based on predicted indoor levels: Zone 3 (lowest), Zone 2 (moderate), and Zone 1 (highest). Idaho is one of a small number of states where every county falls in Zone 1 or Zone 2. The Treasure Valley sits in a mix of both, with significant portions of Ada and Canyon counties in Zone 1.
- Zone 1 designation means the predicted average indoor radon level for the area exceeds 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA's action threshold. It does not guarantee any individual home is elevated, but it does mean testing is the only way to know.
- Neighboring homes can test very differently. Two houses on the same block, built the same year, can show radon levels orders of magnitude apart. Soil composition, foundation type, and air sealing all affect the result.
- Crawl space construction, which dominates Treasure Valley housing stock, is a common entry pathway. Soil gas migrates up through openings around plumbing penetrations and unsealed crawl space access points.
- Mitigation systems are reliable. A correctly designed sub-slab depressurization system typically reduces indoor radon by 50 to 99%, and these systems have been used for decades with well-documented performance.
Because Idaho's geology means elevated radon is common rather than rare, pre-purchase testing is the responsible default here. The cost of testing is small. The cost of skipping it can be measured in years of exposure that a buyer didn't know they were signing up for.
Pricing
Transparent pricing. EPA-compliant testing.
Radon Testing
EPA-approved radon testing protocol. Detailed report with clear next steps if your reading is elevated.
What's Included
- EPA-approved radon testing equipment and accurate measurement protocols
- Professional monitor placement and on-site setup by a certified inspector
- Detailed report with the measured reading and EPA action threshold reference
- Mitigation system recommendations if your reading is elevated
- Follow-up testing guidance, including post-mitigation re-test options
- Real estate transaction support so the report works for your closing timeline
- Can be added to your home inspection visit: same trip, same team, one report
How It Works
EPA-approved testing, straightforward process.
We use EPA-approved testing equipment and accurate measurement protocols. Here's what to expect:
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Professional monitor placement
Your inspector places EPA-approved testing equipment on the lowest occupied level of the home, away from drafts and exterior walls. Closed-house conditions apply for the duration of the test.
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Accurate measurement
The equipment runs through the EPA-recommended measurement period. We monitor for valid test conditions throughout (no opened windows, no fan tampering).
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Retrieval and analysis
We retrieve the monitor, download the data, and verify that test conditions held throughout the measurement period. We will give you a specific results timeline when we confirm your appointment.
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Report and next steps
You receive a written report with the measured level, the EPA action threshold reference, and clear guidance on what to do if the reading is elevated, including real estate transaction support.
Schedule
Every county in Idaho sits in a radon zone.
Zone 1, the EPA's highest predicted radon level, covers much of the Treasure Valley. A $150 test tells you what's actually in the home before it's yours. Bundle with a home inspection and we'll set up the monitor on the same trip.
- EPA-approved testing equipment
- Professional placement and monitoring
- Closed-house condition verification
- Detailed report with action threshold
- Mitigation system recommendations
- Post-mitigation re-test option
- Real estate transaction support
- Bundle with home inspection: save 10%
"I consistently recommend Iron Clad to my clients because they deliver what they promise - comprehensive inspections with clear, detailed reports. Their professionalism and reliability make my job easier."
Amanda Richardson · Real Estate Agent
Frequently Asked
Radon testing questions, answered.
What radon level is dangerous?
The EPA recommends action when indoor radon levels reach or exceed 4.0 pCi/L. Lower levels still carry some risk (there's no zero-risk level for radon), but 4.0 pCi/L is the standard threshold above which mitigation is recommended. The World Health Organization uses a lower threshold of 2.7 pCi/L.
What if my test shows high radon?
Radon mitigation is a well-understood fix. The typical solution is a sub-slab depressurization system: a sealed pipe and small fan that vents soil gas outside before it enters the home. Iron Clad provides your report and refers you to Treasure Valley mitigation specialists we trust. We do not perform mitigation ourselves, which keeps the testing honest.
How long does the test take?
EPA-approved radon testing requires a measurement period under closed-house conditions, then retrieval and analysis. Most real-estate timelines fit comfortably inside a typical inspection contingency window. We will give you a specific timeline when we confirm your appointment.
Can I get faster results?
EPA-approved testing protocols require a minimum measurement period for accuracy. Faster screening tests exist (charcoal canister, instant electronic) but they have higher error rates and are not recommended for real-estate decisions.
Should I test for radon during a home inspection?
Yes. Idaho's geology makes radon testing one of the most-valuable specialty add-ons in our service area. Bundling with a home inspection costs less than scheduling separately, and our team handles setup and pickup on the same visits we'd already be making.
What about a charcoal canister kit from the hardware store?
Inexpensive charcoal kits are better than not testing at all, but they can be confounded by humidity, temperature, or shipping delays, and they don't provide the documentation a real-estate transaction needs. For a purchase decision, professional EPA-approved testing is the right tool.
Verified Reviews
What Treasure Valley
home buyers say.
5-star rated across Google reviews, verified by real Treasure Valley clients.
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"Outstanding work Kristin and Jayma! You've demonstrated a very high bar for professionalism, attention to detail and timely execution. Much appreciated."
RRecent Client
Treasure Valley Homeowner · Verified Review
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"Thank you again for your quick engagement and for being so straightforward on scope and pricing. It makes a real difference for us on the out-of-state side of this transaction."
VVerified Google Review
Out-of-State Buyer · Verified Review
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"Working with you and your team has been an exceptionally positive experience from start to finish. The care your team brought to the inspection process gave us a level of confidence and clarity that we really appreciated. You have absolutely earned our highest recommendation."
BBrian and Marissa
Treasure Valley Homeowners · Verified Review
Service Area
Treasure Valley and beyond.
Based in Caldwell, Iron Clad serves 12 counties across southwestern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. Home inspection in Boise, Meridian, and Nampa is our home turf, and our reach extends well beyond it. Our reach keeps growing across Idaho, and it always will be local: real inspectors who live here, not a national lead-gen operation.
Idaho Counties
Ten counties served.
- Ada
- Boise
- Canyon
- Gem
- Payette
- Valley
- Elmore
- Owyhee
- Washington
- Adams
Oregon Counties
Licensed in Oregon.
- Malheur
- Baker
Oregon requires home inspectors to carry a state license. We hold it, and Eastern Oregon has been part of our service area from the start: Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, and the surrounding communities.
Ready When You Are
Don't close on what you don't know.
Same-day scheduling. Reports within 24 hours. Free re-inspection included. Three certified inspectors. 12 counties across Idaho and Oregon.
(541) 786-2403- InterNACHI Certified ·
- E&O + Liability Insured ·
- Advanced Technology ·
- We Work Weekends