Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas — and Minnesota's geology produces a lot of it. Here's why every Hutchinson home should be tested, and what to do if levels are high.
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Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced as uranium in the soil breaks down. It seeps up from the ground and enters homes through foundation cracks, sump pits, and floor-wall joints, where it can accumulate to dangerous levels. The U.S. EPA identifies radon as the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. You can't see it, smell it, or taste it — testing is the only way to know.
The Minnesota Department of Health reports that more than two in five Minnesota homes have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L — far higher than the national average. Our glacial soils and the way homes are sealed tight against cold winters both contribute. McLeod County sits squarely in this high-radon region, so a Hutchinson home is statistically likely to have elevated radon until a test proves otherwise. New and old homes alike can be affected.
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A continuous radon monitor runs for a minimum of 48 hours in the lowest livable level to measure the average concentration.
The EPA recommends fixing homes at or above 4.0 pCi/L, and considering action between 2 and 4.
A sub-slab depressurization system — a fan and vent pipe — draws radon from under the foundation and exhausts it safely above the roof.
A properly installed mitigation system typically cuts radon to well below the action level.
After mitigation, a follow-up test confirms the system is doing its job.
Radon results can be negotiated like any other inspection finding; mitigation is a known, solvable issue.
Radon is one of several Minnesota-specific risks worth understanding. Browse the full Learning Center, explore our defect library, or see the complete 120-point home inspection. We serve Hutchinson and all of McLeod County.