Radon testing southern Utah starts with the house in front of you, not with a color on a county map. The EPA Map of Radon Zones places Washington County in Zone 2, a predicted average of 2 to 4 pCi/L. The EPA action level is 4 pCi/L.
The map is county-level, and the EPA says it should not decide whether one house needs a test. Homes with elevated radon have been found in all three zones. Test every house, including a St. George house that sits in Zone 2.
Washington County buyers should order that test while the Utah REPC due diligence deadlines are still open. A result that arrives after you are bound to the contract is late information. The city context for many of these purchases is the St. George page.
Which areas test high
The EPA map does not name which St. George streets test high. Zone 2 is a predicted county average of 2 to 4 pCi/L, not a lab result for a lot. Using the color to skip a test is the mistake the EPA tells buyers not to make.
Ivins sits in the same Washington County zone as the rest of the county. That does not rank one city above another, and it does not clear a house. A neighbor’s result is not your result.
| Figure | What it says | What it does not say |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | The EPA places Washington County in this zone | It does not pick a neighborhood or a street |
| 2 to 4 pCi/L | Predicted average for the county | It is not the indoor result for your house |
| 4 pCi/L | The EPA action level | A lower county average does not clear one home |
| About $800 to $2,000 | A planning range for a typical standard-system quote | It is not a county fee and it is not your bid |
What to budget for mitigation
A typical mitigation quote for a standard system is often discussed in the range of about $800 to $2,000. Present that only as a planning range, not as a Washington County fee and not as a contractor’s promise. The number you can rely on is a quote after a test on that house.
If a test is at or above 4 pCi/L, you are at the EPA action level. The agency also says to consider fixing a home when the result is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Either conversation starts with the test, not with the zone color.
Soil that swells under a foundation is a different Washington County issue from radon gas. The expansive soil guide covers that ground movement separately. Do not merge the two repairs into one imagined price.
Use the test inside due diligence
Order the test early in the Utah REPC due diligence period so the result is back before you decide. Follow the closed-house instructions that come with the device. A canister that was placed late cannot be hurried into a valid answer.
If the result is at or above the action level, send it to whoever is pricing a standard mitigation system. Keep the planning range of about $800 to $2,000 in your notes only until that quote replaces it. Do not add a county charge that nobody bills.
If you want help lining this up on a St. George purchase, call Whetzel Homes Collective at (435) 334-1544 or email hello@whetzelhomes.com. You can also use the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington County a high-radon area?
The EPA Map of Radon Zones places Washington County in Zone 2, a predicted average of 2 to 4 pCi/L. That is a county figure, not a street figure. The EPA says the map should not decide whether one house needs a test.
Should I test a St. George home that sits in Zone 2?
Yes, test every house. The EPA action level is 4 pCi/L, and elevated homes show up in every zone, so a Zone 2 label is not a pass.
What does radon mitigation cost?
A typical mitigation quote for a standard system is often discussed in the range of about $800 to $2,000. Treat that as a planning range, not a Washington County fee. The price you can use is a quote on the tested house.
Can I skip the test because the county map looks moderate?
No. The map is county-level, and the EPA says it should not decide whether one house needs a test. In St. George and the rest of Washington County, the house test is still the decision tool.
When should the radon test be done on a purchase?
Order it during the Utah REPC due diligence period, early enough that the result comes back before the deadline. A late result does not help you object under the contract. Put the test on the same list as the other inspections.