Radon is a gas you can't see, smell or taste, and it doesn't set off a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm. The only way to know how much is in a home is to test. Cold weather is a practical time to think about it: Cleveland-area windows and doors stay shut for months, which is exactly the "closed-house" condition a short-term radon test calls for.
This guide explains what radon is, what the numbers mean, how a renter can run a simple test, and what to do with the result. It is general information drawn from the U.S. EPA, the Ohio Department of Health and Cuyahoga County Board of Health. It is not medical or legal advice, and your lease is the final word on your home.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health describes radon as a naturally occurring, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that comes from the earth. It can enter a house from below the foundation through cracks in floors and walls and through openings around drains and sump pumps. CCBH notes that levels are generally higher in basements and ground-floor rooms that touch the soil.
EPA's A Citizen's Guide to Radon adds an important point for renters: any home may have a radon problem, whether it is old or new, drafty or well sealed, with or without a basement. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home, so a neighbor's result doesn't tell you yours.
The Ohio Department of Health calls radon the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause for smokers. EPA's health risk page estimates about 21,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, about 2,900 of them among people who have never smoked. Both agencies stress that the risk grows with higher levels and longer exposure, and that smoking and radon together raise the risk much more than either alone.
Because you can't see, smell or taste radon, there's nothing to notice day to day. That's why testing, not waiting for a sign, is the advice from every agency.
EPA's Map of Radon Zones for Ohio places Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights and Chagrin Falls, in Zone 2 (moderate potential, a predicted county average of 2 to 4 pCi/L). Summit County, which includes Akron, is in Zone 1 (highest potential, a predicted average above 4 pCi/L).
EPA is clear that the map is meant to help governments and builders plan, not to decide whether a single home needs a test. Homes with high levels turn up in every zone. If you live anywhere in Northeast Ohio, the zone map is a reason to pay attention, not a substitute for a test.
Radon in air is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). According to EPA's action level page:
CCBH's guidance matches: a result of 4.0 pCi/L or greater means contacting an Ohio licensed radon mitigation professional.
Yes. A do-it-yourself short-term test is a small kit you set out, leave alone and then mail to a lab. CCBH describes home testing as easy and inexpensive. Ohio licenses people who test or fix radon for others under Ohio Revised Code 3723.02, but the law exempts people testing a building they own or lease, so you can test the home you rent yourself.
Where to get a kit. The Ohio Department of Health's Radon Education and Licensing Program works with local health departments and offers free radon test kits for Ohio homeowners through its request site. Local agencies that promote the program, such as RAPCA, note that free kits have an income requirement and that others can buy a discounted kit. Because the program is described as being for homeowners, call ODH's radon education staff at 614-728-0272 or email indoor.radon@odh.ohio.gov to ask whether a renter can order one. Short-term kits are also sold at many hardware and home-improvement stores. Check that the price includes the lab analysis.
Ask first. Before you buy anything, ask your landlord whether the home has been tested or already has a radon reduction system. A common system is a vent pipe running from the basement floor or foundation to the outside, with a fan that pulls radon out and a warning device, usually a liquid gauge called a manometer. EPA's Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction says the fan should never be turned off; it has to run continuously to work. If your home has one, don't unplug it or cover the pipe.
EPA's Citizen's Guide lays out these steps. Always follow the instructions that come with your kit, since devices differ.
Below 2 pCi/L. Keep the report. EPA says you may want to test again in the future, and you should retest if you start using a lower level of the home, such as moving a bedroom to the basement.
Between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA suggests considering a fix. Share the result with your landlord so it's on file, and consider a follow-up test, especially a long-term one (more than 90 days) that gives a better picture of the year-round average.
4 pCi/L or higher. EPA's recommended next step is a follow-up test, either a long-term test or a second short-term test. If the first result is more than twice the action level (8 pCi/L or higher), EPA says to take the second short-term test right away. Send your landlord both results in writing, with photos of the kit placement and the lab report.
Fixing radon is a building repair, not a renter project. EPA's guidance and CCBH both point to qualified, licensed mitigation contractors, and in Ohio those contractors are licensed by ODH. Don't seal floors, cut into drains or install fans yourself. Your landlord decides how the repair is handled and who does it, and your lease explains how repair requests work.
These don't replace a fix, but they're sensible while you wait for a test result or a repair:
Radon questions are not an emergency. Send them, along with any test results, through RentRedi as described on our maintenance page. Our maintenance request documentation checklist shows what details help: the room and level where the kit sat, the test dates and the lab report. If you see damage to a radon pipe or fan, include photos. For true emergencies like a gas smell, fire or a carbon monoxide alarm, get to safety, call 911 if needed, and then call us at (216) 490-0217.
Radon comes from the uranium found in nearly all soils, it gives no warning signs, and the only way to know your level is a simple test. Winter's closed-up houses make it a good time to run one. Share the result with your landlord, follow up on anything at or above 4 pCi/L, and leave the fix to licensed professionals. For more cold-weather prep, see our smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checklist, winter condensation and mold prevention checklist and Cleveland winter rental tips, or browse our tenant resources hub. Looking for a new home in the Cleveland area? See our available rentals.
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