Where to Put a Radon Detector in Your Home

Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps into homes through foundation cracks and openings. It's the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Testing your home is critical, but getting accurate results isn't just about owning a radon detector for the home. It's about placing it correctly and having enough coverage to catch the full picture.

Most homeowners plug in one device, get a reading, and think they are done. But radon levels may vary between floors and even between rooms on the same level. Your living room could be perfectly safe, while the bedroom is sitting at dangerous levels. A single device can easily miss those hotspots, leaving your family exposed without you ever knowing it.

General Guidelines: Where to Place Your Radon Monitor

Placement matters. Put your radon monitor in the wrong spot, and you'll get readings that are falsely low or completely misleading.

Start with the lowest lived-in level, typically the basement, ground level, first floor, or first floor above the crawl space. Radon enters from the ground, so levels are highest near the foundation. Choose a room where people actually spend time, like a family room, playroom, or bedroom. Testing a storage corner doesn't tell you much about real exposure.

Keep your monitor at least 20 inches above the floor. Place it a few feet away from exterior walls, windows, and doors because drafts blow radon away from the sensor. Stay away from high heat and humidity. No kitchens, bathrooms, or spots near radiators. These conditions throw off sensors.

Best Spots For Radon Testing in Typical Homes

Finished Basement

Place your detector near the main sitting or play area, not in a storage corner. Avoid HVAC vents or open windows.

First Floor/ Ground Level (Slab Homes)

Your living room or a frequently used bedroom works well. Follow the same distance and height rules. Don't place your device on a windowsill. Fresh air from outside dilutes radon levels, and your reading won't reflect what's happening in the rest of the room.

First Floor Above a Crawl Space

Place the detector in a commonly used room, such as a living room, home office, or bedroom.

This is the lowest lived-in level and the most representative location for radon testing in crawl space homes.

Why One Detector May Not Be Enough

You test the basement, get a low reading, and assume the whole house is safe. But radon detectors don't work that way.

Radon levels can differ dramatically between floors. Your basement might read 6 pCi/L while your bedroom sits at 2 pCi/L. A single monitor only tells you about one spot.

Moving your detector sounds like a solution, but every time you relocate it, you reset the device and start collecting your continuous data all over again. You lose long-term trend information and have gaps in coverage. Radon fluctuates daily and seasonally, so those gaps matter.

Home radon detectors work best when they monitor continuously in multiple locations. Each monitor covers about 1,000 square feet,  making multiple devices a great solution for larger homes, multi-level layouts, or houses with complex airflow patterns. Using two monitors gives you side-by-side data from different areas without interruption. You can see how radon behaves in your basement and bedroom at the same time, catching daily fluctuations and seasonal changes.

Best Setup: How to Place Two EcoQube Monitors

Place your first EcoQube in the lowest lived-in level, typically the basement. Choose a spot where your family spends time. Keep it at least 20 inches off the floor, a few feet from walls, windows, and vents.

Put your second EcoQube in a frequently used bedroom or your main living space. Follow the same placement guidelines. This two-device setup monitors the areas where your family is most exposed.

You get real-time updates every 10 minutes from both locations, and the EcoQube app tracks long-term trends separately. Since EcoQube is Wi-Fi connected, you can check both devices from anywhere - without physically going to each detector to view readings. No moving. No resetting. No gaps.

During Radon Action Month (through January 26), the EcoQube 2-pack is on sale at 15% OFF. It's Ecosense's most popular bundle, giving you comprehensive whole-home coverage at the best value.

Case Study: Why Two Monitors Beat One

One EcoQube customer shared an experience that highlights why monitoring multiple locations matters - even in homes with mitigation systems installed.

After purchasing a home in New Jersey with a professionally installed radon mitigation system, the customer brought their EcoQube from their previous home and decided to keep monitoring, just to be safe.

They initially placed the EcoQube in one area of the basement and monitored radon levels for a few weeks. The readings looked normal and within safe levels.

Out of curiosity, they then moved the same EcoQube to the opposite side of the basement - and were surprised to see significantly higher radon readings in that area.

This revealed that the mitigation system was not effectively reducing radon levels across the entire basement. In other words, radon distribution wasn’t uniform, and a single testing location had given them a false sense of security.

The customer ended up purchasing a second EcoQube so they could monitor both areas simultaneously and see how radon behaved within the same floor in real time.

With two monitors running side by side, they were able to:

• Identify a radon hotspot
  
  

• Understand airflow and pressure differences
  
  

• Verify whether mitigation was working consistently
  
  

The takeaway: One monitor shows you a point. Two monitors show you the full picture.

Frequently asked questions

1. Why is it important to place a radon detector in the right location?

Radon levels can vary significantly between rooms and floors in your home. Placing the detector in the wrong location could lead to inaccurate readings, potentially leaving your family exposed to unsafe levels of radon. Correct placement ensures reliable data and effective monitoring.

2. Where is the best place to put my radon detector?

The best place to install your radon detector is on the lowest lived-in level of your home (usually the basement or first floor). It should be positioned about 20 inches above the floor and away from exterior walls, windows, and vents. Avoid placing it near high-humidity areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

3. Can one radon detector monitor my entire home?

No, a single radon detector can only monitor one spot at a time. Radon levels can vary significantly between different rooms and floors. To get accurate and continuous monitoring, it’s best to use at least two detectors.

4. Why do I need more than one radon detector in my home?

Since radon levels fluctuate between floors and rooms, having more than one detector ensures you're covering multiple areas for potential radon exposure. A two-device setup allows you to track trends in real-time, monitor different rooms simultaneously, and avoid gaps in coverage.

5. What’s the advantage of using the EcoQube 2-pack for radon monitoring?

The EcoQube 2-pack offers whole-home coverage. It provides continuous, real-time updates from two different locations, helping you monitor both the basement and a frequently used living space or bedroom. This ensures you don’t miss spikes or seasonal fluctuations in radon levels, giving you comprehensive protection.

6. How do I set up two EcoQube monitors in my home?

Place your first EcoQube in your basement or the lowest lived-in level, keeping it 20 inches off the floor and away from walls and vents. For the second EcoQube, place it in a frequently used bedroom or living space. Both monitors will work simultaneously, providing real-time updates and continuous trend tracking.

7. Why is the EcoQube 2-pack currently on sale?

In honor of Radon Action Month, Ecosense is offering a 15% discount on the EcoQube 2-pack, giving you the best value for comprehensive home radon coverage. This sale is valid until January 26, so now is the perfect time to protect your home.

8. Can I move my radon detector to different rooms if I don’t have two monitors?

While it might seem like a solution, moving your detector resets its data, erasing long-term trend information. This means you won’t have consistent data to track fluctuations over time, which is crucial for understanding your home’s radon levels. Using two monitors ensures uninterrupted data collection.

9. How does the EcoQube monitor track radon levels?

The EcoQube provides real-time updates every 10 minutes, helping you monitor radon levels continuously. The data is stored and tracked in the EcoQube app, so you can view long-term trends and receive alerts when levels change.=

10. What makes EcoQube the best radon detector for my home?

EcoQube is designed for accuracy, ease of use, and continuous monitoring. It’s portable, reliable, and easy to set up. Plus, with its 2-pack bundle on sale for Radon Action Month, it’s the most cost-effective solution for whole-home protection.