PA DEP certificationTesting #1631
Continuous radon monitor testing in York County
Continuous radon monitor testing uses an electronic monitor that records radon every hour for at least 48 hours, and averages the readings for your result. 4 PA DEP-certified testers in or near York County list it on their websites.
Which Radon Testers Use Continuous Monitors in York County?
These PA DEP-certified testers list continuous monitor testing on their websites. Check where each is based and ask whether it serves your town.
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Sorted by number of Google reviews.
PA DEP certificationMitigation #2760 · Testing #2760
Also offers: post-mitigation re-testingPA DEP certificationMitigation #0275 · Testing #0275
PA DEP certificationTesting #3013
How Is a Continuous Monitor Different From a Test Kit?
A monitor records radon hour by hour; a kit gives one result for the whole test.
Active device
Continuous monitor
Needs power and records radon throughout the test. PA DEP's consumer guide says active devices usually give hourly readings and an average, and may cost more.
Passive device
Test kit
Collects radon over the test period and gives one result. Needs no power and is generally inexpensive. Charcoal canisters, alpha track detectors and electret ion chambers are passive.
When Should You Use a Continuous Radon Monitor?
When you want a short-term test that records radon hour by hour.
Home sales
When results are needed quickly, DEP's home buyer's and seller's guide lists it as one of three short-term options: at least 48 hours, and fix the home if the average is 4 pCi/L or more. See radon in a home sale.
After a radon system is installed
The test after install follows the same rules, so a certified tester may use a monitor for it. See post-mitigation radon testing.
What Happens During a Continuous Radon Monitor Test?
The tester places the monitor, the house stays closed, and you get a report within 10 business days. Pennsylvania's testing rules (25 Pa. Code § 240.310) include:
Where it goes
The lowest livable level that touches the soil, 20 inches to 6 feet off the floor, at least 3 feet from outside doors, windows and vents, and at least 4 feet from heat sources. Not in a kitchen, bathroom, closet or crawlspace.
Closed house
Windows shut and outside doors closed except for coming and going for the whole test, starting at least 12 hours before if the test is under 96 hours. Heating and air conditioning run normally. No whole-house fans.
How long
At least 48 hours, with at least 44 hours in a row of usable readings. A test under 96 hours can't run during severe storms or winds of 30 mph or more.
For a home sale
Anti-tampering devices, a "Radon Testing in Progress" notice, and a signed non-interference agreement.
Your report
Within 10 business days: the average, the hourly printout, the monitor's serial number and the date its calibration expires.
What Should You Ask a Continuous Monitor Tester?
Their certification number, when the monitor's calibration expires, and whether you'll get the hourly printout.
What's your PA DEP certification number?
Check it on PA DEP's Radon Services Directory. Anyone testing a home for someone else must be certified.
When does your monitor's calibration expire?
The rules say the date goes on your report.
Will I get the hourly printout?
The rules say a copy must come with your results.
For a home sale, how will you show the test wasn't disturbed?
The rules require anti-tampering devices, a posted notice and a signed agreement.
Common Questions About Continuous Radon Monitor Testing
How long does a continuous radon test take?
At least 48 hours. The first 4 hours may be left out of the result, and for a test under 96 hours the house must be closed for at least 12 hours before it starts.
Is a continuous monitor more accurate than a test kit?
PA DEP doesn't rank them on accuracy. Its home buyer's and seller's guide says some advanced active devices have anti-interference features and may give a more reliable result, though they may cost more.
Do I get the hourly readings?
Yes. Pennsylvania's testing rules say a copy of the monitor's hourly printout must be given to you with the results.
Keep Reading About Radon Testing
Sources
- 25 Pa. Code § 240.310, Testing protocols
- 25 Pa. Code § 240.303, Reporting of information
- PA DEP: Pennsylvania Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction
- PA DEP: Pennsylvania Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon
- PA DEP: Pennsylvania Citizen's Guide to Radon (2900-BK-DEP0375)
- PA DEP Radon Services Directory
Page last updated Oct 2026.