Long-term tests are also available , which average out the highs and lows of reading levels across three months , painting a more accurate picture , Burns said .
Once someone detects radon in their home , they should hire a mitigation specialist , Burns said . South Dakota does not require mitigation specialists to be certified , though Burns is nationally certified for home and multi-family mitigation and is a member of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists .
State requires seller disclosure
Mike Austad , owner of Dakota Radon Mitigation in Sioux Falls , is seeing an increase in people testing and hiring him to install radon mitigation systems in their homes . He typically sees radon levels between 8 and 10 pCi / L .
Austad is starting to see radon resistant homes “ gain traction ” in East River as well .
“ There ’ s still room for more growth in that area of building in-phase radon resistant construction ,” Austad said . “ It doesn ’ t cost much , and I ’ ve been an advocate of that from the get-go .”
Part of a radon mitigation system in a Rapid City home . ( Seth Tupper / South Dakota Searchlight )
Despite high levels of radon across the state , South Dakota doesn ’ t have legal requirements to test homes or build “ radon resistant ” homes . Such homes use materials and “ passive radon system ” techniques that prevent radon from entering a home . All new homes built in Minnesota are required to be built radon-resistant since 2009 .
South Dakota only has a law requiring sellers to disclose known radon levels in the sale of a home . It does not require radon testing and does not require landlords to disclose radon levels to tenants .