Radon Mitigation in York, PA: Test Data by Zip Code, Costs, and Certified Contractors
York County has some of the highest indoor radon readings in the country. The state's own test data shows basement averages two to five times the EPA action level in every York zip code but one. This guide gives you those numbers, what a mitigation system costs here, how the work is done, and how to confirm a contractor is actually certified by PA DEP, which is required by law.
Sources: PA DEP Radon Test Data by ZIP Code report server (pulled Sept. 15, 2026); York Builders Association; U.S. EPA Map of Radon Zones.
What the state's test data says about York
PA DEP publishes every closed-house short-term radon test reported by certified testers and labs since 1990, by zip code. Here is York.
| ZIP | Area | Basement tests | Basement average | Highest reading | 1st-floor average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17401 | Downtown York | 206 | 4.3 pCi/L | 23.1 | 1.9 |
| 17402 | East York | 6,377 | 11.7 | 260.0 | 6.4 |
| 17403 | South / southeast York | 5,052 | 12.3 | 434.6 | 9.0 |
| 17404 | North / west York | 5,124 | 7.7 | 534.0 | 4.4 |
| 17406 | Northeast York | 2,145 | 13.5 | 409.5 | 4.8 |
| 17408 | West York | 2,122 | 10.0 | 203.1 | 6.2 |
Source: PA DEP, Radon Test Data by ZIP Code (cedatareporting.pa.gov, RadonZip report), closed-house short-term tests, January 1990 to present. The EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L; the EPA says to consider fixing between 2 and 4.
Two things stand out. First, the only zip below the action level on average is downtown 17401, and that is from 206 tests, the smallest sample in the county. Second, the surrounding boroughs are worse than the city: Spring Grove averages 21.0, Dallastown 16.7, and Red Lion 16.3. Statewide, DEP says about 40% of tested homes exceed 4.0. In York County it is plainly higher than that.
The geology explains it. York sits on the Piedmont carbonate belt: limestone and dolomite, with the Peach Bottom slate to the south. Uranium in that rock decays to radon, and the gas moves up through fractured bedrock and into any basement with a crack, a sump pit, or an unsealed pipe penetration. That is every basement.
Pennsylvania requires certified mitigators. Here is how to check.
Unlike mold, radon work in Pennsylvania is regulated. The Radon Certification Act (Act 43 of 1987) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240 require anyone other than the homeowner who tests, mitigates, or analyzes radon to be certified by DEP. That has been the law since September 21, 1988.
- Look them up. DEP publishes the Radon Services Directory monthly, with mitigators listed by county and by name. The current lists are dated September 1, 2026.
- Ask for the DEP ID card. DEP's advice is to check for a current DEP ID card or certification certificate. Both the firm and the individual doing the work should hold one.
- Check the system label. Every installed system must carry a label with the installer's name, phone, and DEP certification number. No label means no certified install.
Only one mitigation firm in DEP's September 2026 list is based in York County proper: Absolute Radon Mitigation LLC on Locust Grove Road (firm #1966). SWAT's York phone number rings to SWAT of PA, certified out of Allentown. Nearly everyone else drives in from Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Lancaster, or Gettysburg. That is fine, but ask about it. Our certified contractor list shows who holds what.
What radon mitigation costs in York County
| Item | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard sub-slab system, statewide | $800–$1,200 | PA DEP fact sheet, rev. March 2025 |
| Typical York County install | $800–$2,500 | York Builders Association, July 2026 |
| Crawl space (sub-membrane) system | $1,500–$2,500 | Contractor pricing, PA |
| Activating a builder's passive rough-in | $300–$500 | Contractor pricing, PA |
| Post-mitigation test | $150–$300, often bundled | Contractor pricing |
| Fan electricity | $30–$100+ per year | PA DEP |
| Fan replacement (every 5–10 years) | $200–$600 | Angi, 2026 |
National averages line up: HomeAdvisor's 2026 figure is $1,028, with most jobs between $786 and $1,274. Old stone foundations in York's historic district cost more because they are harder to seal and may need a second suction point. Full breakdown on the York radon mitigation cost page.
How a mitigation system works
Almost every York County install is active sub-slab depressurization. A certified crew will:
- Seal accessible cracks, the sump lid, and pipe penetrations.
- Core a hole through the basement slab and dig out a small suction pit beneath it.
- Run 3- or 4-inch PVC from the pit to an in-line fan. DEP rules put the fan in the attic, the garage, or outside the living space, never in the basement.
- Exhaust above the roof edge so the gas disperses.
- Install a manometer (a U-shaped gauge) on the pipe so you can see at a glance that the fan is pulling.
- Label the system with the installer's DEP number.
Most installs finish in a day, often in two to four hours. Levels typically drop within 24 to 48 hours. DEP says to retest no sooner than 24 hours after the fan is switched on, then test again in the opposite season, then every two years. DEP will send you a free long-term test kit after mitigation if you show proof of installation.
Homes on a dirt crawl space get a sub-membrane system instead: heavy polyethylene sealed over the soil, with suction drawn beneath it. Block-wall and drain-tile variants exist for specific foundations.
Contractors certified to serve York County
Verified against DEP's September 1, 2026 mitigator lists. Listing is not an endorsement; no one pays to be here.
- Absolute Radon Mitigation LLC, 800 Locust Grove Rd, York. DEP firm #1966. The only York-based certified firm. Established 1999; BBB A+. (717) 755-5398.
- SWAT Environmental (SWAT of PA), DEP firm #3567. National company; York line (717) 755-7110, West York (717) 252-0781.
- Central Penn Radon, Wellsville (York County). Robert Meyer Jr., DEP #1800. Installing since 1997. (717) 432-9575.
- Enviroquest, Harrisburg. DEP firm #1725. Over 20,000 systems; seven-year guarantee to hold below 4.0. (717) 233-6144.
- Precision Inspections & Radon Solutions, Mechanicsburg. DEP firm #3355. Serves York and Adams. (717) 763-1373.
The full list with certification numbers, plus who is not currently certified, is on the certified contractors page.
Buying or selling a house in York
Pennsylvania does not require a radon test in a sale, but it does require sellers to disclose known results. Radon has its own line on the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement under 68 Pa.C.S. § 7304. Who pays for mitigation is negotiated. In York County, where most basements test high, a buyer's inspector will almost always run a test, and a $1,200 system is a small concession compared to a busted deal. If a passive system was roughed in by the builder, budget $300 to $500 to activate it; new construction in PA is not required to include radon-resistant features unless the municipality adopted them.
Free testing, no free mitigation
Every Pennsylvania household can get one free short-term test kit from the American Lung Association at lungradonkits.org while supplies last. Hardware-store kits run $20 to $30. A professional continuous-monitor test costs $150 to $300 and is what a real-estate transaction uses. No state or county program pays for the mitigation itself, and homeowners insurance excludes it.
Areas covered
York city and the county, with town pages for Red Lion · Dover · Dallastown · Hanover · Spring Grove. Our sister site covers mold remediation in Gettysburg and Adams County; the same foundation openings that admit radon admit moisture.
Frequently asked questions
How much does radon mitigation cost in Pennsylvania?
PA DEP's own fact sheet says most installations fall between $800 and $1,200. In York County, the York Builders Association puts the local range at $800 to $2,500, with stone-foundation homes in the historic district at the top end. Add $30 to $100 a year to run the fan and $150 to $300 for a post-mitigation test if it is not bundled.
What time of year is worse for radon?
Usually winter. Closed windows, a running furnace, and frozen ground push more soil gas into the house. But a University of Calgary study found about a quarter of homes actually read higher in summer, when air conditioning seals the house. That is why PA DEP tells you to retest in the opposite season after a system goes in.
Will insurance pay for radon mitigation?
No. Standard homeowners policies exclude radon under the pollution and maintenance exclusions, and home warranties exclude it too. No Pennsylvania or York County program pays for mitigation either. What is free: a test kit from the American Lung Association at lungradonkits.org, and a long-term follow-up kit from DEP after you install a system.
What type of home is more likely to have radon?
In York County, any home with a basement. The DEP data shows basement averages of 7.7 to 13.5 pCi/L across York's zip codes versus 1.9 to 9.0 on the first floor. Age and construction matter less than people assume; brand-new slab homes test high here too, which is why the EPA says the zone map should never be used to decide whether to test.
Can lungs heal from radon exposure?
Partly. Radon's damage is cumulative, and the risk of lung cancer drops after exposure ends, but it does not reset to zero. The practical answer is to stop the exposure: a working mitigation system cuts indoor radon within 24 to 48 hours.
Is there free radon mitigation in York, PA?
Not that we can find. Free testing exists (see above). Mitigation is paid by the homeowner, or negotiated between buyer and seller during a sale. Several contractors offer financing, and at $800 to $2,500 it is one of the cheaper health fixes a house can get.
Sources
- PA DEP, Radon Test Data by ZIP Code (RadonZip report, cedatareporting.pa.gov), zips 17401–17408, 17313, 17315, 17331, 17356, 17362.
- PA DEP, "Radon in the Home"; Radon Certification page; Radon Services Directory lists dated 09/01/2026; fact sheet 2940-FS-DEP4430 (rev. 3/2025).
- Radon Certification Act, Act 43 of 1987; 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240.
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones (Pennsylvania); technical bulletin on activating passive radon systems (2020).
- York Builders Association, "How to find a trusted radon mitigation company in York County, PA," July 20, 2026.
- HomeAdvisor and Angi radon mitigation and fan replacement cost guides (2026).
- 68 Pa.C.S. § 7301 et seq. (Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law).
- Evict Radon (University of Calgary), winter vs. summer radon study.
Last reviewed September 15, 2026.
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