Testing
Radon detector vs radar detector: not the same device
Short answer
They are unrelated devices with similar names. A radar detector is a receiver that signals the presence of the radio signals used to measure the speed of motor vehicles; a radon detector measures radon, a radioactive gas, in the air of a building, in pCi/L.
In brief
Radon and radar: one letter apart
Radon is a gas; radar is radio. Under the FCC's rules for radio devices, a radar detector is a receiver designed to signal the presence of the radio signals used to measure the speed of motor vehicles. It sits in a car. A radon detector sits in a home: radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas from the natural decay of uranium and radium found in nearly all rocks and soils, and it can build up in buildings.
| Radon detector | Radar detector | |
|---|---|---|
| What it detects | Radon, a radioactive gas in indoor air | Radio signals used to measure the speed of motor vehicles |
| Where it is used | In a home or building, on the lowest lived-in level | In a vehicle |
| What it reports | A radon level in pCi/L or Bq/m3 | An alert that speed radar signals are present |
| Who sets the rules | EPA guidance and state radon programs | The FCC, under its rules for radio devices |
What it detects
- Radon detector
- Radon, a radioactive gas in indoor air
- Radar detector
- Radio signals used to measure the speed of motor vehicles
Where it is used
- Radon detector
- In a home or building, on the lowest lived-in level
- Radar detector
- In a vehicle
What it reports
- Radon detector
- A radon level in pCi/L or Bq/m3
- Radar detector
- An alert that speed radar signals are present
Who sets the rules
- Radon detector
- EPA guidance and state radon programs
- Radar detector
- The FCC, under its rules for radio devices
In the home
What a radon detector is
In radon terms, a detector is any device that measures radon. The passive ones are charcoal canisters, alpha-track detectors, charcoal liquid scintillation devices and electret ion chamber detectors; the active ones are continuous radon monitors and continuous working level monitors. Active devices need power to run and usually give hourly readings and an average result for the test period.
What does measure radon
Short-term radon test
Stays in the home two to 90 days, depending on the device, then goes to a lab. The usual first test.
Short-term kitsLong-term radon test
Stays in the home more than 90 days, so it is more likely to show your year-round average.
Long-term kitsContinuous radon monitor
Runs on power and usually gives hourly readings and an average for the test period.
Radon monitorsProfessional radon test
A qualified radon tester, very often a home inspector, places the device and reports the result.
Find a tester
Not sure which? The test chooser picks one for your situation, and many states give kits away: see free and low-cost kits by state.
Why test
Why the radon level matters
4 pCi/L
EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is at or above 148 Bq/m3 (4 pCi/L).
EPA estimates that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and any building can have high levels of radon. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, so testing is the only way to know whether you and your family are at risk.
Buying
Before you buy anything called a detector
Product names do not settle it; the specifications do. A radon device names radon as what it measures and reports a level in pCi/L or Bq/m3. Use a radon measurement device from a qualified laboratory, and follow its instructions. A short-term radon test stays in the home two to 90 days, depending on the device, and every radon test should run for at least 48 hours.
FAQ
Radon detector questions
Is a radon detector the same as a radar detector?
No. A radar detector picks up the radio signals used to measure vehicle speed. A radon detector measures a radioactive gas in a building's air.
Can a radar detector find radon?
No. A radar detector is a receiver for the radio signals used to measure vehicle speed. Radon is a gas, measured with a radon test kit or monitor.
What should I buy to test my home for radon?
A radon test kit or a radon monitor. Compare test kits and detectors, or check for a free kit from your state.