DEQ Encourages Radon Awareness in January with Discounted Radon Test Kits

• January 02 2026

In recognition of National Radon Action Month, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering Montana residents a discounted radon test kit to assess radon levels in homes. These test kits, which typically cost between $12-40 will be offered for only .

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can enter homes through miniscule cracks in the foundation or around utility pipes and can build up in homes over time. Radon forms from the breakdown or decay of uranium in soil, rock and water. Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels can increase the risk of lung cancer and is the l cause of lung cancer in non‐smokers.

“Montana's geology makes our state prone to elevated radon levels. We encourage Montanans to test their homes every two to five years, and these discounted radon test kits for Radon Action Month are a reminder to make sure testing happens,” said DEQ Air Quality Bureau Chief Bo Wilkins. “Even if your home has previously tested below picocuries per liter, weather, ground disturbances and changes to your home have the potential to impact radon levels. If test results indicate you should take action, DEQ can also provide information about what steps to take next.”

Radon test kits are provided by the Montana DEQ Radon Control Program and funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The test kits are usually delivered within two weeks from the date they are requested. DEQ recommends testing at the lowest occupied floor of a home, after making structural changes to the home, or when moving into a previously unused lower floor of the home. Completed radon test kits must be mailed to the lab within one week of testing for accurate results. Paid return postage and analysis of the kit are provided with the radon test kit and lab results will be emailed to the requester once the test has been analyzed.

EPA recommends taking steps to reduce, or mitigate, radon levels at or above the action level of picocuries per liter (pCi/L). In Montana, approximately half of the homes tested for radon have levels at or above the 4.0 pCi/L action level. Elevated radon levels can be reduced through mitigation measures. The cost for a radon mitigation contractor to lower radon levels in a home typically starts at $1,500; though actual costs may vary depending on the home.