Sealing up your home during the winter is great for keeping out the cold. But, if your home has radon, you could be sealing this dangerous gas in.

Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that is believed to cause approximately 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year across the U.S. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Radon gas results from the radioactive decay of uranium in the soil. When radon enters the body, it leaves behind particles that can remain in your lungs and disrupt cell reproduction.

While this gas is naturally occurring and present all around us, it can become concentrated in homes and other buildings. Particularly in winter months when doors and windows are closed, pressure differences between buildings and the outdoor air can create a vacuum that actively pulls radon from the soil into a home. Even well-sealed homes can allow radon to enter (see diagram below).

Garfield County is a high-risk area for radon.

You can use a free do-it-yourself kit to test for radon. Or you can get a Home Energy Assessment that will include a radon test and help you develop a plan for making your home energy efficient and comfortable.

FREE Radon Test Kits

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Garfield County Public Health offer FREE radon testing kits for all households.

Pick up your FREE home radon test kit at any of these three locations:

Garfield County Public Health Offices:

195 W. 14th St., Rifle

2014 Blake Ave., Glenwood Springs

CLEER: Clean Energy Economy for the Region office
Third Street Center, 520 S. Third St., Suite 17, Carbondale

Get a Home Energy Assessment

Click here to learn about options for getting a home energy assessment in your community.