Radon testing in Rockford, IL

Testing is the only way to know your home's radon level. In Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, Cherry Valley, and the rest of Winnebago County, you can test yourself with a lab-analyzed kit or hire a measurement professional licensed by IEMA-OHS. This independent guide explains both options. It does not sell kits or perform tests.

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Why radon testing matters in Rockford and Winnebago County

Winnebago County is in EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest-potential category on EPA's county map.^[1] IEMA-OHS publishes measurements reported by its licensees. Our tally of that public data for Winnebago County (Nov 14, 2026) found 8,595 tests, with 3,140 (about 37%) at or above 4 pCi/L. The dataset does not say which years it covers, and it is not a random survey, so treat it as a sign that high results are common here, not as your home's odds.^[2]

Radon is a radioactive gas from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil. You can't see, smell, or taste it, and its health effect, lung cancer, usually shows up only after years of exposure.^[3] EPA says the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking, and that smokers in high-radon homes face an especially high risk.^[4] IEMA-OHS estimates the lung cancer risk at the 4.0 pCi/L action level at about 7 deaths per 1,000 people.^[3]

How radon gets into Rockford homes

EPA lists the usual entry points: cracks in solid floors, construction joints, cracks in walls, gaps in suspended floors, gaps around service pipes, cavities inside walls, and the water supply. It stresses that any home can have a problem: new and old, well sealed and drafty, with or without a basement.^[4] That is why a result from the house next door, or from a different foundation area of your own house, doesn't tell you much.

Option 1: test your Rockford home yourself

Winnebago County Health Department sells test kits. Call 815-720-4100. The health department says each kit's price includes return postage and certified lab analysis.^[5]
The health department also notes that kits are available at many local hardware and building stores.^[5]

How to place a kit (EPA)

Put it in the lowest lived-in level: the basement if it is used often, otherwise the first floor.
Choose a room you use regularly, such as a living room, den, playroom, or bedroom, but not the kitchen or bathroom.
Set it at least 20 inches above the floor, where it won't be disturbed, away from drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior walls.
For a 2- or 3-day test, close windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before starting, and don't run a short test during unusually severe storms or high winds.
Leave it as long as the package says, then reseal it and mail it to the lab promptly.^[4]

Option 2: hire a licensed radon tester in Rockford

In Illinois, anyone who tests for radon for pay must hold an IEMA-OHS license.^[6] IEMA-OHS recommends professional testing for real-estate transactions.^[3] Professional measurement licensees must post "Radon Measurement in Progress" notices at every building entry during a test.^[7] To find one, open the IEMA-OHS licensee lookup, choose a measurement license type, and set the service county to "Winnebago."

Questions worth asking: What is your IEMA-OHS license number? What device will you use, and for how long? Which lab analyzes it? Will you test each foundation area separately? When will I get the written report?

Short-term vs long-term radon tests

EPA says short-term tests stay in the home for 2 to 90 days. Charcoal canisters, alpha track, electret ion chambers, continuous monitors, and charcoal liquid scintillation detectors are common. Long-term tests stay more than 90 days, usually alpha track or electret detectors. Because radon changes from day to day and season to season, a long-term test is more likely to show your year-round average.^[4]

Step (EPA)	What to do
1	Take a short-term test. If the result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test.
2	Follow up with a long-term test (better year-round picture) or a second short-term test (faster).
3	Fix the home if the long-term result, or the average of the two short-term results, is 4 pCi/L or more.

Summarized from EPA's Citizen's Guide.^[4]

What your Rockford radon test result means

The U.S. EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L, and IEMA-OHS and EPA recommend reducing radon at or above it.^[3] EPA also says levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk, that there is no known safe level, and it suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L.^[4] If your result is high, see how mitigation works and published cost ranges.

Radon in well water and new Rockford homes

If your air test is high and your home uses a private well, EPA suggests testing the water too. Most of the risk from radon in water comes from radon released into the air during showering and other household use.^[4] For new construction, IEMA-OHS says the Radon Resistant Construction Act has required passive radon-reduction features in new Illinois homes since June 2013.^[3] A passive system is not a guarantee. EPA says every new home should be tested after occupancy and the system activated with a fan if levels are still high.^[4]

Interfering with a radon test, for example by opening windows or moving the detector, is illegal in Illinois.^[7]

Radon testing questions from Rockford homeowners

How long does a radon test take?

EPA says short-term tests stay in the home for 2 to 90 days depending on the device, and long-term tests stay more than 90 days.^[4] Most real-estate tests run 2 to 7 days.^[7]

Which room should the kit go in?

EPA says the lowest lived-in level, in a room you use regularly, not the kitchen or bathroom, at least 20 inches above the floor and away from drafts, heat, humidity, and exterior walls.^[4]

My neighbor's result was low. Do I still need to test?

Yes. Radon depends on the soil and how each house is built, and EPA says any home can have a problem: new or old, drafty or well sealed, with or without a basement.^[4]

Do new homes in Illinois need a radon test?

IEMA-OHS says Illinois has required passive radon-resistant features in new homes since June 2013.^[3] EPA still says every new home should be tested after people move in, even if it was built radon-resistant.^[4]

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