Radon levels in Pierce County, Washington

LowEPA Zone 3

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L (model estimate) across 49 ZIP codes - about 18% below the US average of 1.8, close to the Washington average of 1.6. Ranked #31 of 39 Washington counties.

Test Pierce County, WA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.5 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.

1.5 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.7 ± 0.09

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.3-1.8

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the county

What this means for Pierce

The typical Pierce 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 1.3 to 1.8 pCi/L.

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

Comparable Washington counties: Thurston County (1.5), Wahkiakum County (1.5), Island County (1.5), Jefferson County (1.5). The state's highest is Pend Oreille County at 3.1 pCi/L.

ZIP codes in Pierce County

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

ZIPBasementUpstairsGrade
983911.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983871.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983741.4 ± 0.060.7Low
984441.6 ± 0.070.7Low
984041.5 ± 0.070.7Low
984991.5 ± 0.070.7Low
984451.5 ± 0.060.7Low
984981.6 ± 0.060.7Low
984661.4 ± 0.060.6Low
983751.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983351.4 ± 0.060.7Low
983381.6 ± 0.070.6Low
984091.6 ± 0.070.6Low
984051.4 ± 0.070.6Low
983721.5 ± 0.060.6Low
983731.5 ± 0.060.6Low
984061.4 ± 0.070.6Low
983711.6 ± 0.070.7Low
984221.3 ± 0.070.6Low
984071.3 ± 0.070.6Low
984081.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983321.4 ± 0.070.7Low
983211.5 ± 0.060.9Low
984671.4 ± 0.070.6Low
984331.4 ± 0.060.7Low
983601.5 ± 0.070.7Low
985801.6 ± 0.050.7Low
983291.5 ± 0.060.8Low
983901.5 ± 0.060.6Low
983281.7 ± 0.060.8Low
984461.5 ± 0.060.6Low
984241.4 ± 0.060.6Low
984181.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983271.5 ± 0.060.7Low
984031.3 ± 0.070.6Low
983881.5 ± 0.070.7Low
983541.3 ± 0.070.5Low
984021.3 ± 0.060.7Low
984651.4 ± 0.070.6Low
984431.6 ± 0.060.8Low
984391.4 ± 0.070.7Low
983491.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983331.4 ± 0.060.7Low
983511.5 ± 0.060.7Low
983941.5 ± 0.060.8Low
983031.5 ± 0.070.8Low
983041.6 ± 0.080.7Low
983231.8 ± 0.070.9Low
983301.6 ± 0.090.8Low

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.

Pierce County radon questions

Is radon high in Pierce County, Washington?
Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L in Pierce County (about 18% below the US average of 1.8 and close to the Washington average of 1.6). That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Ranked 31 of 39 Washington counties.
Should I test for radon in Pierce County?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in Pierce County already range from 1.3 to 1.8 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.
What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Pierce 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 Pierce County?
A standard active sub-slab depressurization system typically runs $800-$2,500 installed nationally; Washington 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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