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Home Radon Test and Mitigation Planner: Short Term vs Long Term Test Choice, Closed House Conditions, Test Placement, Follow Up Test Math Against the 4 pCi/L Action Level, Sub Slab Depressurization Quotes, and Post Mitigation Retest
Walk a homeowner or buyer through radon from first test to fixed: which test to use, how to set up closed house conditions and place the device, how to read results and decide on a follow up test, what a certified mitigator should quote for a sub slab system, and when to retest after the fan is running.
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Prompt
Act as a certified radon measurement and mitigation professional who helps homeowners and buyers test correctly, read results without panic, and compare mitigation quotes on the details that matter. Inputs: - Home facts: foundation type (basement, slab on grade, crawlspace, mixed), lowest lived in level, finished or unfinished basement, sump pit, age of home: [HomeFacts] - Situation: own and living there, buying with an inspection deadline, or selling: [Situation] - Test results so far: device type, dates, location in the house, result in pCi/L: [TestResults] - Mitigation quotes received: contractor certification, system type, fan location, pipe route, warranty, price: [MitigationQuotes] - Household concerns: smokers, children, bedrooms in the basement: [Household] - Output format: [Format] Generate: 1. Test choice from Situation: short term (2 to 90 days, often a 2 to 7 day charcoal kit or a continuous monitor for a real estate test) versus long term (over 90 days) for the most accurate year round average. 2. Setup instructions: closed house conditions starting 12 hours before and during short tests (windows and outside doors closed except normal entry, no whole house fans), placement in the lowest lived in level, about 20 inches or more above the floor, away from drafts, exterior walls, sump pits, kitchens, and bathrooms. 3. Result reading against the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L and the "consider fixing" range of 2 to 4 pCi/L, written for TestResults. 4. Follow up logic: if a short term result is 4 or more, do a second short term test and average them, or a long term test, before deciding; for a real estate deadline, how a continuous monitor result is usually used. 5. Mitigation primer for HomeFacts: sub slab depressurization for basements and slabs, sub membrane for crawlspaces, sealing as a support step not a fix, and where the fan and exhaust go. 6. A quote comparison table from MitigationQuotes: certification, suction points, fan model and location (outside the living space), pipe route and exhaust above the roofline, manometer, warranty, post mitigation test included, price. 7. Retest plan: a short term test no sooner than 24 hours and within 30 days after the system runs, then retest every two years and after major renovations. 8. A buyer or seller note if Situation is a sale: negotiating a credit or a seller installed system with a post mitigation test result. Constraints: - No medical advice beyond the general EPA guidance that radon is a leading cause of lung cancer and fixing high levels lowers risk. - Do not invent results or prices. No em dashes.
Instructions
Replace every [bracket] with your details before running. Works on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Generated Output
This image was generated using the prompt above.
Examples
Example Input
HomeFacts: 1962 split level, half basement with finished family room, half slab, sump pit in the laundry room Situation: own the home, kids' playroom in the finished basement TestResults: 3 day charcoal kit in the laundry room next to the sump, Feb 2 to 5: 6.8 pCi/L MitigationQuotes: A) NRPP certified, one suction point, fan in the attic, pipe through a closet, exhaust above roof, manometer, $1,650, 5 year warranty; B) not certified, fan in the basement, side wall exhaust at the patio, $1,050 Household: no smokers, two kids under 10 Format: what went wrong with the test, retest setup, decision rule, quote table, retest plan
Example Output
1) FIRST TEST REVIEW The 6.8 pCi/L kit was next to the sump pit in the laundry room. Sumps can push readings up, and the laundry room is not where you live. The result is worth taking seriously, but it should be confirmed with a properly placed test. 2) RETEST SETUP - Device: two short term kits run side by side, or a continuous monitor for 48 hours or more - Where: the finished family room, the lowest lived in level, on a shelf about 20 to 36 inches off the floor, away from the sump, outside walls, vents, and the TV cabinet heat - Closed house: windows and outside doors closed starting 12 hours before and during the test; normal coming and going is fine; furnace runs as usual - Write start and end time on the kit and mail it the day it ends 3) DECISION RULE - Average of the follow up and first test at 4 pCi/L or more: fix it - Between 2 and 4: consider fixing, especially with kids playing in the basement - Under 2: retest in two years 4) WHAT THE FIX LOOKS LIKE Sub slab depressurization: a pipe through the basement slab and possibly the slab section, a fan that pulls soil gas from under the house, and an exhaust above the roof. Sealing the sump with an airtight cover and sealing cracks helps the system but does not fix the problem alone. 5) QUOTE COMPARISON | Item | A | B | | Certified | NRPP | not stated | | Suction points | one; ask whether the slab half needs a second | not stated | | Fan location | attic, outside living space | basement, inside living space | | Exhaust | above roofline | side wall at the patio | | Manometer | yes | not stated | | Post mitigation test | ask | ask | | Warranty | 5 years | not stated | | Price | $1,650 | $1,050 | Pick A, and ask them to confirm a pressure field test for the slab half and to include the post mitigation test. B puts the fan inside living space and exhausts near where the family sits, which defeats the purpose. 6) RETEST PLAN - Short term test at least 24 hours after the fan starts and within 30 days - Check the manometer monthly; if the liquid levels even out, the fan has stopped - Retest every two years and after finishing more of the basement 7) NOTE The EPA calls radon a leading cause of lung cancer; lowering high levels lowers the risk. Questions about health belong with your doctor.