Our Salem home is new. Is it likely to have radon piping?

Some newer homes do. Look for a capped PVC pipe through the basement floor. A contractor can confirm.

What's a good first step?

Test. Utah DEQ offers discounted kits through radon.utah.gov.

What if our result is between 4 and 6 pCi/L?

Utah DEQ suggests a long-term test to confirm.

How much does radon mitigation cost in Salem?

Utah DEQ says a system should cost around $2,000, and price depends on the home's size, foundation and layout rather than the city. See our cost guide for details.

Who can install a radon system in Salem?

Utah requires a licensed contractor with NRPP or NRSB certification. A handyman registration does not qualify.

Radon Mitigation in Salem, UT

Radon and Salem homes

Salem is a growing city in south Utah County between Spanish Fork and Payson, centered around Salem Pond. It has a small-town core and many newer subdivisions built in recent decades.

Salem's housing is a mix of older homes and newer single-family houses, many with full basements. New subdivisions mean many owners are in homes that have never been tested.

Salem tip: If your home was built recently, check whether it has passive radon piping. Activating an existing passive system with a fan is often simpler than installing a new system.

Should you test your Salem home?

Yes. The Utah County Health Department says one out of three Utah homes has unsafe radon levels, and recommends testing at least every five years or after a remodel. The EPA radon zone map places Utah County in Zone 2 (moderate potential), but EPA is clear that the map can't predict any single home and that every home should be tested. Radon in Salem can differ from house to house, even on the same street.

Test the lowest level of your home that you use as living space. The colder months are the best time to test. You can order a discounted short-term kit through radon.utah.gov, or borrow a professional continuous monitor from the Utah County Health Department's Provo office from October through March for a small fee.

What your result means

Below 4 pCi/L: below the EPA and Utah action level. Retest every two to five years.
4 to 6 pCi/L: Utah DEQ suggests a long-term test to confirm.
Above 4 pCi/L: EPA and Utah suggest mitigation. Contact a certified professional.

How radon mitigation works in Salem

According to Utah DEQ, a typical system uses a roughly five-inch hole in the foundation, four-inch PVC pipe and an exhaust fan outside or in the attic to pull radon from under the home and vent it away. DEQ estimates the cost at around $2,000, plus about $8 to $10 a month in electricity, with a fan replacement after about 15 years. Get a retest after the system has run for at least 24 hours, and check the manometer gauge regularly. See our radon mitigation cost guide for what changes the price.

Choosing a contractor

Utah requires mitigation to be done by a licensed contractor with NRPP or NRSB certification. Utah DEQ suggests getting three bids and looking for diagnostic testing, a warning device, a post-install retest and a written guarantee to reach 4 pCi/L or below. When you request a quote, we pass it to an independent, licensed, certified contractor who serves Salem.

Nearby service areas

We also connect homeowners near Salem in Payson, Spanish Fork, Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge. See all Utah County service areas.