Radon Testing in Murfreesboro

Tennessee makes the first radon test easy: the state will mail you one for free. So the real questions for a Murfreesboro homeowner are which test fits your situation, when a free kit is enough, and when it's worth bringing in a certified professional. Here's a practical rundown.

Why bother testing in Rutherford County?

On the EPA's Map of Radon Zones, Rutherford County is Zone 1, the category with the highest predicted indoor radon. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) says the state's geology makes dangerous radon levels common, and that about one in four homes that request the state's free test kit come back above 4 pCi/L.

Radon has no smell or color, and you can't feel it. It's a radioactive gas released as uranium in soil and rock decays, and it seeps into houses through the foundation. The EPA estimates it's linked to about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year nationwide. Testing is the only way to know your level.

Your three options

1. The free TDEC kit

The Tennessee Radon Program mails a short-term test kit, a few days long with lab analysis included, to residents for free, one per household. TDEC says it sends out about 6,000 a year. For most homeowners who've never tested, this is the right first step.

2. A store-bought or online kit

These are functionally similar: short-term charcoal or passive devices, or long-term alpha-track detectors. They're useful if you want a second test, a long-term test, or a test in a second home.

3. A certified professional test

A radon measurement professional typically uses a calibrated continuous radon monitor that logs hourly readings for 48 hours or more. You'll want one when:

• You're buying or selling and need a defensible result fast.
• A kit came back near or above 4 pCi/L and you want confirmation before installing anything.
• A system was just installed and you need a post-mitigation test.
• You've got a mixed foundation, such as a crawl space plus a slab addition or bonus room over the garage, and want to understand where radon is entering.

Tennessee doesn't license radon contractors. Look for certification from the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB), and verify it.

Short-term versus long-term

Radon levels rise and fall with the weather, the season, and how you run your house. A two-to-seven-day test is a snapshot. A test of 90 days or more is closer to your real annual exposure. Middle Tennessee's swing between muggy summers with the AC on and chilly winters with the heat running shifts how much soil air a house pulls in, so a long-term test that covers winter is the most representative.

A common approach: start with a short-term test. If it's at or above 4 pCi/L, follow up with either a second short-term test or a long-term test, as the EPA suggests, and decide from there. If it's very high, don't wait months to act.

Doing it right

Kits are only as accurate as the setup:

• Keep windows and exterior doors closed, apart from normal use, for 12 hours before and throughout a short-term test.
• Keep the HVAC on normal settings, but don't run attic fans or window fans that pull in outdoor air.
• Place the kit in the lowest lived-in level. In a crawl space ranch, that's usually a main-floor bedroom or living room, not the crawl space itself.
• Set it at breathing height, away from exterior doors, vents, the kitchen, and bathrooms.
• Write down start and end times and mail the kit the day you finish. Lab results depend on fast shipping.

Reading the result

• Below 2 pCi/L: Low. Retest every few years and after renovations.
• 2 to 4 pCi/L: The EPA suggests considering a fix. A long-term test helps you decide.
• 4 pCi/L or above: The EPA's action level. Confirm, then plan mitigation.

Remember that the result reflects the room and the days tested. A crawl space home and its neighbor's slab-on-grade house can be very different even if they're next door.

What testing costs

The state kit is free. For professional testing, a typical national range from Angi's 2026 data is about $150 to $700. That's a national figure, not a Murfreesboro quote; each professional sets their own price.

If your number is high

Don't panic. High radon is common across Middle Tennessee and very fixable. For crawl space homes, see crawl space radon mitigation. For slabs and basements, see radon mitigation. Or call and we'll connect you with a certified pro.

Testing different kinds of Murfreesboro homes

• Crawl space ranches, common in older neighborhoods near downtown and MTSU, are tested in a main-floor living area, since that's the lowest lived-in level.
• Newer slab and crawl space homes in Blackman, Rockvale, and the subdivisions off Highway 96 should still be tested, even when brand new. Tight construction can let radon build up.
• Homes with bonus rooms over garages should be tested on the main living level, not the bonus room.
• Homes with partial basements on sloped lots should be tested in the basement if it's a lived-in space.

Testing questions

Does Middle Tennessee humidity affect radon kits?

Some passive charcoal kits can be affected by very high humidity, which is one more reason to follow the kit's placement instructions and avoid kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

Should I test again after encapsulating my crawl space?

Yes. Sealing a crawl space changes how air moves under the house. Test after any crawl space work, even if it wasn't done for radon.

How long should I wait to mail the free kit?

Mail it the day you finish. The lab analysis depends on the kit arriving promptly, so check the kit's instructions for the maximum shipping time.

Where this information comes from

• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation: Tennessee Radon Program
• Tennessee Radon Program free test kit request (TDEC)
• EPA Map of Radon Zones, county data (Rutherford County, TN: Zone 1)
• EPA: Radon Frequently Asked Questions
• EPA: Health Risk of Radon
• EPA: Find a Radon Test Kit or Measurement and Mitigation Professional
• Angi: How Much Does a Radon Mitigation System Cost? (2026 national data)