How Bad Is Radon in York County and What Does a Test Cost?

Radon is bad in York County. The EPA puts the whole county in Zone 1, its highest-risk category, and of the roughly 98,800 York County test results in the Pennsylvania DEP's public database, about 52 percent came back at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. A do-it-yourself test kit costs $15 to $30, a certified tester runs more, and if you need a mitigation system, York County homeowners reported a median cost of about $1,150 in 2025.

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes up out of the ground and collects in basements. You cannot see or smell it, and the EPA estimates it causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the U.S., making it the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and the leading cause among people who never smoked. The good news for York County homeowners is that it is one of the most fixable problems a house can have, and the numbers on testing and fixing are smaller than most people expect.

How high are radon levels in York County?

High, by any measure. The DEP says roughly 40 percent of homes tested statewide are above 4 pCi/L; York County runs higher than the state. I pulled the DEP's open-data set of certified radon test results in September 2026:

York County test results (PA DEP data)	All years, 1986 to mid-2026	2021 to mid-2026
Results reported	98,845	15,591
At or above 4 pCi/L	51,935 (52.5%)	6,808 (43.7%)
Median result	4.3 pCi/L	3.2 pCi/L
Average result	10.8 pCi/L	9.4 pCi/L

Two honest caveats. These are tests reported by DEP-certified labs and testers, so many are real estate transaction tests and some are follow-ups on homes already known to be high. And an average of 10.8 is pulled up by a few very high readings; the median is the better picture of a typical house. Either way, roughly half of tested York County homes have needed attention, and your neighbor's result does not predict yours.

What does a radon test cost and how do I do it?

A short-term kit from a hardware store or a DEP-certified lab costs about $15 to $30, usually including lab analysis. You set it in the lowest level of the house that you live in, keep windows and outside doors closed for 12 hours before and during the test, leave it for two to seven days, and mail it in. Heating season, when the house is already closed up, is the easiest time to get a valid result.

If the result is 4 pCi/L or higher, the EPA says to take a follow-up test before deciding. If the first result is more than 8 pCi/L, take a second short-term test right away; if it is between 4 and 10, the DEP suggests a long-term test of 91 days to a year, which gives you the true year-round average. Fix the house if the average is 4 or above. The EPA also says to consider fixing between 2 and 4, since most homes can be brought to 2 or below.

Pennsylvania is one of the few states where anyone other than the homeowner who tests, mitigates or analyzes for radon must be certified by the DEP. That has been the law since 1988 under the Radon Certification Act (25 Pa. Code Chapter 240). For a purchase or sale, the DEP recommends a certified tester rather than a mail-in kit, and you can check anyone's certification through the DEP's Radon Services Directory or the Radon Hotline at 800-237-2366.

What does radon mitigation cost in York County?

Less than most repairs you are dreading. Over 99 percent of systems are sub-slab depressurization: a sealed pipe through the basement floor and a small fan that pulls the gas from under the slab and vents it above the roofline. The DEP's fact sheet puts most installations at $800 to $1,200, and its own York County mitigation records show the median reported system cost was $1,111 in 2024 and $1,150 in 2025 across roughly 1,350 installs. The fan runs on $30 to a bit over $100 a year in electricity.

The system has to be installed by a DEP-certified mitigator, and the DEP says to get the guarantee in writing: below 4 pCi/L for the quoted price. Insist on a follow-up test after installation. Then retest every two years if you have a system, every five if you do not, and any time you finish a basement or add living space down there.

What happens with radon when I sell?

It comes up in almost every York County sale, and it is far better to have the number in hand than to learn it from the buyer's inspector. Pennsylvania's seller disclosure statement (49 Pa. Code 35.335a) asks whether you are aware of hazardous substances on the property, and it names radon specifically. If you have a result, you disclose it; if you have a system, you disclose that too. Nothing requires you to test before listing, but buyers' inspectors in York County almost always do, and a home that comes with "mitigated, current test on file" is a cleaner sale than one that hits a 12 pCi/L surprise two weeks before closing.

If you are getting a house ready to sell and have never tested, I would rather help you spend $25 on a kit now than negotiate a mitigation credit later. Call or text me at 717-356-9413. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.