Radon levels in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

LowEPA Zone 3

Predicted long-term basement average of 0.9 pCi/L (model estimate) across 46 ZIP codes - about 49% below the US average of 1.8, about 59% below the Pennsylvania average of 2.3. Ranked #67 of 67 Pennsylvania counties.

Test Philadelphia County, PA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 0.9 pCi/L, below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold. That's good news for the area - but the EPA still recommends every home be tested, because foundation cracks, soil pockets and ventilation make one house very different from its neighbor. One inexpensive kit settles it.

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Predicted (model estimate). The pCi/L figures on this page are long-term area averages from a peer-reviewed national model built on millions of real radon tests (2001-2021). They describe the typical home in this area - not your home, which can be several times higher or lower. The EPA radon zone is a separate, 1993 county-level classification. How the numbers work.

0.9 ± 0.11

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.7 ± 0.09

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

0.6-1.4

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the county

What this means for Philadelphia

The typical Philadelphia County home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That is the best case an area can show - but it describes the average house, and the ZIP-level predictions within the county still span 0.6 to 1.4 pCi/L.

The 1993 EPA zone (3) and the 2001-2021 model agree for Philadelphia. County figures weight each ZIP by its 2010 Census population, so they describe where people live rather than empty land.

Comparable Pennsylvania counties: Delaware County (1.2), Montgomery County (1.5), Bucks County (1.5), Chester County (1.7). The state's highest is Lebanon County at 4.8 pCi/L.

ZIP codes in Philadelphia County

Predicted basement and upstairs means by ZIP (model estimate). ZIPs whose land is mostly in this county.

ZIPBasementUpstairsGrade
191200.9 ± 0.140.6Low
191240.8 ± 0.110.7Low
191430.7 ± 0.100.7Low
191111.1 ± 0.200.6Low
191340.7 ± 0.100.6Low
191490.8 ± 0.090.6Low
191400.8 ± 0.090.6Low
191040.9 ± 0.090.7Low
191480.9 ± 0.080.6Low
191450.6 ± 0.140.7Low
191441.1 ± 0.160.7Low
191311.2 ± 0.100.8Low
191390.6 ± 0.200.6Low
191360.9 ± 0.070.7Low
191210.8 ± 0.130.7Low
191321.1 ± 0.120.6Low
191470.8 ± 0.150.7Low
191281.2 ± 0.101.0Low
191461.0 ± 0.090.7Low
191541.1 ± 0.060.9Low
191520.9 ± 0.080.7Low
191151.4 ± 0.101.1Low
191161.0 ± 0.130.9Low
191350.8 ± 0.080.7Low
191381.1 ± 0.100.7Low
191411.1 ± 0.130.7Low
191141.2 ± 0.060.8Low
191511.1 ± 0.100.8Low
191420.7 ± 0.100.6Low
191191.1 ± 0.090.8Low
191330.8 ± 0.100.7Low
191300.9 ± 0.150.7Low
191501.1 ± 0.110.8Low
191251.0 ± 0.070.7Low
191030.8 ± 0.100.6Low
191221.0 ± 0.070.7Low
191261.2 ± 0.090.7Low
191070.7 ± 0.130.5Low
191230.9 ± 0.080.7Low
191531.1 ± 0.070.8Low
191060.8 ± 0.070.6Low
191291.3 ± 0.080.9Low
191181.4 ± 0.081.0Low
191370.9 ± 0.080.7Low
191271.2 ± 0.070.9Low
191020.8 ± 0.090.6Low

If your test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher

Mitigation is a routine job: a fan-driven pipe that vents soil gas from under the slab to above the roofline, typically $800-$2,500 installed (typical range; local quotes vary). Use certified professionals: EPA find-a-professional. Read the full mitigation guide.

Philadelphia County radon questions

Is radon high in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania?
Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 0.9 pCi/L in Philadelphia County (about 49% below the US average of 1.8 and about 59% below the Pennsylvania average of 2.3). That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Ranked 67 of 67 Pennsylvania counties.
Should I test for radon in Philadelphia County?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in Philadelphia County already range from 0.6 to 1.4 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.
What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Philadelphia County?
Zone 3 - low potential (< 2 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and classifies whole counties. The 2001-2021 model agrees with the zone here. Neither replaces a test of your own home.
How much does radon mitigation cost in Philadelphia County?
A standard active sub-slab depressurization system typically runs $800-$2,500 installed nationally; Pennsylvania quotes vary with foundation type (slab, crawlspace, basement), home size and local labor. Get two or three bids from certified mitigators listed by your state radon program or the EPA's find-a-professional page.

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