January is National Radon Action Month, and few places need the reminder more than Colorado. Colorado’s state health department reports that about half of the homes tested in the state come in above the EPA’s action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking.
What Radon Is
Radon is an odorless, invisible radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. Colorado’s geology makes elevated radon common across the Front Range, including Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson, and Denver counties. It seeps into homes through foundation cracks, sump pits, crawlspaces, and gaps around pipes, and it tends to build up in basements and lower levels.
Why Winter Is the Best Time to Test
Homes are closed up in winter, so radon levels are usually at their highest. A short-term test kit placed on the lowest lived-in level for two to four days gives you a quick read. Colorado’s health department regularly offers free or low-cost test kits, and kits are sold at most hardware stores.
What Mitigation Involves
If your home tests at or above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends mitigation. The most common system, sub-slab depressurization, uses a pipe and fan to pull radon from beneath the foundation and vent it above the roof. In the Denver area, a typical system often costs roughly $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the home. Colorado offers a low-income radon mitigation assistance program for eligible homeowners.
Does Insurance Cover Radon?
No. Standard homeowners policies don’t pay for radon testing or mitigation, because radon is a pre-existing environmental condition, not a sudden accidental loss. Some things to know:
- Health effects are handled by health insurance, not property insurance.
- Selling a home: the standard Colorado seller’s property disclosure asks about radon, and buyers often ask for mitigation as part of the inspection process.
- Landlords should keep test records and share results with tenants.
- Mitigation fans are electrical equipment. Damage from a covered cause, such as a fire or a lightning surge, may be covered like other parts of your home.
Next Steps
- Test your lowest lived-in level this winter.
- Retest after finishing a basement or doing major foundation work.
- Use a Colorado-certified radon professional for mitigation.
Sources
Have questions about your coverage? Call Johnson Insurance Agency at 303-768-8130 or stop by our office at 14 Inverness Dr. E, Suite G236, in Englewood. We compare coverage from multiple carriers for families and businesses across the Denver metro area and Colorado.
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