Radon in Paulding County: What the Maps Say

What does the University of Georgia radon map show for Paulding County?

University of Georgia Extension maps the share of tested homes in each county that came in at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), EPA’s action level. On UGA’s published map, Paulding County falls in the 22 to 28 percent band. Several neighboring counties land higher.

Two limits matter. The published map uses tests from four radon labs between January 1990 and December 2018, and UGA notes the results come from people who chose to test their own homes, so they are not a random sample. UGA’s interactive map covers tests through 2024 and lets you click any county for its current figure.

Why can’t a county map tell you whether a house has radon?

A county figure describes many houses, not yours. EPA’s home buyer’s guide is direct about this: you cannot predict radon levels from state, local, or neighborhood measurements, and homes next to each other can have different indoor radon levels. The only way to know a house’s level is to test that house.

EPA also publishes radon zone maps by county. They are useful background, but EPA’s own guidance is to test regardless of zone. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor.

What radon level should concern a buyer?

EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher, and suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA also notes that levels below 4 still carry some risk and can often be reduced.

The reason EPA sets a number at all is lung cancer risk. EPA estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the United States, and calls it the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The details of health risk are EPA’s to explain; its health page is linked below.

How is radon tested during a home purchase?

EPA’s guide says every radon test should run for at least 48 hours. It recommends testing in the lowest level of the home that could be used regularly, since a buyer may use a basement or lower level the seller doesn’t. It also says not to test in closets, stairways, hallways, crawl spaces, kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms.

During a sale, EPA recommends steps to keep the test honest: keeping the house closed up, using devices or procedures that can detect interference, and having the seller or occupant agree not to disturb the test.

Continuous radon monitors are one type of device EPA describes. They record radon levels throughout the test, which can reveal unusual swings rather than giving only a single number at the end. Davis Home Inspections tests with continuous radon monitors, either alongside a home inspection or on its own. Radon testing is not included in a standard inspection unless you ask for it. One buyer described their test:

We also had him test the home for radon. He has state of the art equipment and brought two detectors to make sure the results were accurate.

(Joe Gonzalez, Google review, quoted verbatim.)

Should a brand-new home be tested for radon?

Yes. Radon comes from the ground, and a new house sits on the same ground as the old ones. EPA’s guidance for new homes is to ask the builder whether radon-resistant construction features were used and whether the home has been tested.

A new-construction buyer can add a radon test to the completed-home inspection. The new-construction checklist covers when to schedule that inspection.

What happens if the radon test comes back high?

A high result is a fixable problem, not necessarily a reason to walk away. EPA recommends having a qualified mitigation contractor reduce the level, and its guide covers what to ask for. In a purchase, the result usually becomes part of the repair or credit conversation during your due-diligence period, alongside the other inspection findings.

The guide on what happens after the inspection walks through those options. Your agent leads the negotiation itself.