Dewey-Humboldt sits in the Agua Fria River valley, about 15 miles east of Prescott. If you want to know what is in the air inside your home, a radon test is the only way to find out. Prescott Radon connects callers with licensed and insured local radon testing and mitigation professionals.
The town is roughly 18.4 miles and a 30-minute drive from Prescott. Help is available across Dewey-Humboldt, from the homes near State Route 69 to the quieter streets along the river valley.
Why radon is worth checking here
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil and rock breaks down naturally. You cannot see, smell or taste it. It can seep into a house through floor cracks, gaps around pipes and wires, sump pits, crawl spaces and other foundation openings.
The Arizona Geological Survey notes that the granite around Prescott has an unusually high uranium content. Dewey-Humboldt was formed in 2004 from the communities of Dewey and Humboldt, and it has a long mining history that began with the 1863 gold discovery on Lynx Creek. Any home can have a radon problem, whether it is new or old, and whether or not it has a basement. That is why testing matters more than guessing.
How testing works
EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor. A short-term test stays in place from 2 to 90 days. A long-term test stays more than 90 days and better shows the year-round average.
For a short-term test, keep windows and outside doors closed except for normal coming and going. The device goes in the lowest lived-in level. Results are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or higher and says to consider fixing it between 2 and 4.
What mitigation looks like
One main method is active soil depressurization. A vent pipe and fan draw radon from beneath the foundation and release it above the roof line. For a crawl space, a contractor usually covers the ground with a plastic membrane and vents from beneath it.
EPA does not recommend sealing cracks as the only fix. Sealing is used as part of a larger system. The right design depends on your foundation, home size and layout, so a professional quotes the work after looking at the house.
Wells, home sales and retesting
If your home uses a private well, radon in the water can be released into the air when you use it. Water is tested separately from air. For most homes, radon in the air is the larger concern.
Buyers and sellers often schedule a radon test during the inspection period. An older result may not reflect current conditions, especially after renovations. EPA also recommends retesting after a system is installed and about every two years.
EPA suggests hiring a radon professional certified through NRPP or NRSB. Arizona does not run its own radon certification program. To be connected with a local professional, call (928) 582-8914.