Radon is the one home hazard in Durango that you cannot see, smell or taste, and local health officials say it runs high here. This page sticks to what Colorado's health department, the EPA and La Plata Public Health publish. It covers the county's own average, how to test, where the free kits are and what to do with a result. For medical questions about lung health, ask a doctor.
Is radon a problem in Durango?
La Plata Public Health says the average radon level in La Plata County homes is 5.5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The EPA recommends fixing a home at 4.0 pCi/L or higher. The county's radon page puts that next to two reference points: 0.4 pCi/L is the average U.S. outdoor level and 1.3 pCi/L is the average U.S. indoor level. The county also says that, because of Southwest Colorado's geology, many local homes read above the national average (KSUT).
The state health department, CDPHE, frames it like this:
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and shows up at elevated levels in one out of every two Colorado homes (CDPHE)
- It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and CDPHE ties it to roughly 500 lung cancer deaths a year in Colorado
- The gas is natural. It comes from uranium breaking down in the soil and can seep into a house from the ground below (CDPHE radon page)
An average is not your house. The EPA's map of radon zones says it should not be used to decide whether a single home needs testing, and that homes with high levels turn up in every zone. Colorado's environmental health tracking site gives the same warning: radon can vary widely between homes next door to each other (Colorado EPHT).
How do you test your home in Durango?
The first step is a short-term screening test. La Plata Public Health describes it this way:
- Hang the kit in the center of a room on the lowest living level, which includes a finished basement you use regularly
- Leave it for three to seven days
- Write down the kit's serial number so you can look up the results
- Mail it to the lab in the self-addressed, stamped envelope after removing the hanging hook
- Time it so the kit reaches the post office before Monday's mail leaves, because the lab kit expires on Thursday
Winter is the best season, since closed-up houses give higher and more accurate readings. Since July 1, 2022, Colorado has required radon testing to be done by a licensed professional, with an exception for owners testing a home they own and live in and for tenants testing a home they lease and live in (La Plata County). If you want a pro, ask to see a state license. A directory listing such as Adaptive Solutions, Radon Testing & Mitigation is not an endorsement of anyone's license, and the Colorado Office of Radon Professionals at 303-894-7800 handles license questions.
Where can you get a free radon test kit?
La Plata Public Health offers free test kits to county homeowners. You pick one up at its office at 185 Suttle Street, Durango, where it asks you to watch a 3-minute radon video first. Staff run education sessions each winter, and each one includes a free kit. The 2026 series ran from Jan. 13 to Feb. 14 at the Durango Public Library, the La Plata County Fairgrounds, and libraries in Ignacio and Bayfield. No 2027 dates were posted on Oct. 22, so call 970-828-8832 or email eh@lpcgov.org before you assume anything. The state also sells discounted kits and lists a low-income radon mitigation assistance program on its testing page.
What do the results mean?
The county gives this guidance, which follows EPA's 4 pCi/L level:
| Short-term result | County guidance |
|---|---|
| Below 4 pCi/L | File the result and test again in four to five years |
| 4 to 8 pCi/L | CSU Extension recommends a follow-up long-term test of three to twelve months |
| Over 4 pCi/L on a long-term test | Consider a mitigation system |
The EPA adds that you should consider fixing a home between 2 and 4 pCi/L. The county stresses that 4.0 is a level you can reach with mitigation. It is not a line your home must pass.
What is radon mitigation?
The county explains that a system redirects air from the soil under your house into a vent pipe that reaches above the roof, so the gas never enters your living space. All mitigation in Colorado must be done by a licensed radon professional, per the county. One sentence on its page says owner-occupants may install a system in their own home. The next sentence says the contractor must be licensed by the state even in owner-occupied homes. Because those lines conflict, call the state Office of Radon Professionals before you hire or start a DIY job.
Buying or selling? CDPHE keeps a real estate resources section on its radon page. Our guide to Durango home services lists related trades, and the answer on looking up property records helps when you check a house's history. For smoke and ozone rather than indoor gas, see air quality in Durango.