Radon Myths vs. Facts for Huntsville & Madison County Homeowners

Quick answer: The most common radon myths are that only old homes or basements have radon, that a neighbor's low test means yours is low, and that radon can't really be fixed. The EPA says any home type can have high radon, levels vary greatly from house to house, and a properly installed system can cut levels by up to 99%. Testing is the only way to know.

Radon advice travels by word of mouth: from a coworker on the Arsenal, a home inspector, a Facebook group or a relative who "never worried about it." Some of it is right and some of it is costly. Below are the myths we hear most around Huntsville, Madison and the rest of the county, each answered with what the EPA says in its Citizen's Guide and Consumer's Guide. We're a free referral service, not a contractor, so we have no reason to oversell; independent certified pros do the testing and installation.

Myth 1: "Scientists aren't sure radon is really a problem."

The EPA says that while scientists debate the precise number, all major health organizations, including the CDC, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association, agree radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. The EPA's own estimate is about 21,000 a year. See radon and lung cancer risk for the numbers.

Myth 2: "Only old, drafty houses have radon."

The EPA lists old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements and homes without basements. A tight new house can trap radon more effectively than a leaky old one. Much of Madison and south Huntsville is newer slab construction, and slab homes test high too.

Myth 3: "No basement, no radon."

Radon enters through any contact between the house and the soil: cracks in a slab, the joint where slab meets wall, plumbing penetrations, sumps and open crawl-space soil. Slab homes are usually fixed with sub-slab depressurization; crawl spaces with a sealed membrane and suction (crawl space mitigation).

Myth 4: "My neighbor tested low, so I'm fine."

The EPA is blunt: a neighbor's result is not a good indication, because radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. Different foundations, soils, fill and even how the HVAC runs change the number. On karst limestone, which underlies much of north Alabama, two houses on the same street can test very differently.

Myth 5: "Radon isn't really an Alabama thing."

High radon has been found in every state. Madison County is EPA Zone 1, and the Alabama Department of Public Health lists Madison among its 15 highest-potential counties, along with neighbors like Limestone, Jackson and Morgan.

Myth 6: "Testing is complicated and expensive."

A basic short-term test takes a few days and costs little, and ADPH has offered free kits to Alabama households while supplies last. Professional testing with a continuous monitor, which you'll want during a home sale, runs roughly $150 to $700 nationally per Angi's 2026 data. Details on our testing page.

Myth 7: "Short-term tests can't be trusted."

The EPA says short-term tests can be used to decide whether to fix a home, especially when two are averaged or one is followed by a long-term test. What matters is doing it right: closed-house conditions, the lowest lived-in level, about 20 inches above the floor and away from drafts.

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Myth 8: "Sealing the cracks will fix it."

Sealing is part of most good installations, but the EPA does not recommend sealing alone, because by itself it hasn't been shown to lower radon significantly or consistently. A fan-driven system that pulls soil gas from under the floor and vents it above the roof is what reliably works.

Myth 9: "I'll just open the windows."

Ventilation dilutes radon while the windows are open. The EPA's Consumer's Guide notes that once windows, doors and vents are closed, levels most often return to previous values within about 12 hours. That's not practical through a Huntsville summer or winter.

Myth 10: "An air purifier takes care of radon."

The EPA's Consumer's Guide covers soil suction, sealing, house pressurization, heat recovery ventilation and natural ventilation. Room air cleaners aren't among the methods it lists for reducing radon, so don't count on one as your fix.

Myth 11: "Granite countertops are the main source."

Some granite does give off small amounts of radon, but the EPA says the soil under a home is a far more significant source than any countertop. If your test is high, look at the foundation first.

Myth 12: "A radon problem will kill a home sale," or "I've lived here too long for it to matter."

The EPA says where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked, and the added protection can be a selling point. And lowering radon reduces your risk going forward, even after many years in the house. Most systems cost about $805 to $1,326 (Angi 2026); see our cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can a new house in Huntsville have high radon?

Yes. The EPA says radon problems occur in new and old homes, with or without basements. Tight new construction can hold radon in. Some builders install a passive pipe; a fan can often be added if a test is high (see activating a passive system).

Do air purifiers remove radon?

Don't rely on one. Room air cleaners aren't among the radon reduction methods listed in the EPA's Consumer's Guide. Sub-slab or crawl-space suction systems are the standard fix and typically reduce radon 50% to 99%.

Is my granite countertop causing my high radon test?

Very unlikely. The EPA says soil gas entering through the foundation is a far larger source of indoor radon than granite countertops.

Should I test my well water for radon first?

The EPA recommends testing the air first. Most indoor radon comes from soil gas. If you're on a private well and your air test is high, ask about testing the water too.

Does opening windows lower radon?

Temporarily. The EPA notes radon usually returns to its earlier level within about 12 hours of closing up, so ventilation isn't a long-term fix.