Best Radon Monitors for Home Inspectors (2022)

Determining which radon gas detector is best for your business depends on your specific operation. All of the above units will deliver accurate readings. However, my favorite is the Radon eye rd200 (Radon eye Pro). It is the best radon monitor for home inspectors. Although it has the shortest battery life, it has the most straightforward mobile app and the highest sensitivity. As a home inspector, accurate results are the most critical factor, and the Radon Eye Pro has the most accurate and reliable results.

Ecosense Radon Eye Pro Radon Monitor Review

The pros.

The most eye-catching thing about the Radon Eye pro is its price. Notably, it’s about $300-$500 cheaper than the competition. That might make you think it’s a lower-quality unit. But it’s not. On the contrary, it is the most sensitive and reliable of the three radon monitors. Additionally, it has Bluetooth connectivity to a mobile app that allows you to schedule your inspections and send the results from your phone. Plus, you can view the first reading from its LCD screen before you leave your inspection.

The RadonEye Pro uses an accelerometer for tampering resistance and detection instead of a motion sensor. This is far more valuable data. Therefore, it will only alert you if someone picks up and/or moves the unit.

The Cons.

By and large, the only real con with the Radon Eye Pro is the battery life. In particular, a separate battery pack will allow the unit to run for 105 hours. That might be fine for one test. However, if you have a second test right after, you will need a second battery pack.

Alternatively, you can use the 12v power source. A house needs to have the power on for the radon test to be valid. As a result, I have not had any issues finding a working plug.

Second, it does not have pre-written comments like the corentium pro. However, it’s not hard to save your preferred comments in your phone and copy and paste them when needed.

Lastly, there is no customer service number. So if you have an issue, you have to email them, and they are slow to respond.

Overall.

Overall, the RadonEye Pro is the best unit and has the best price. If, however, you absolutely need a radon monitor with long battery life, this is not the unit for you.

Air Things Corentium Pro Radon Monitor Review

The pros.

The real claim to fame for the Corentium Pro is its battery life. Specifically, three standard aaa batteries will power the unit for over a year of continuous monitoring. In other words, you will never need to worry about where to plug it in. Like all of the best radon detectors, it has Bluetooth connectivity to its airthings app. You can view and send the test results to your client directly from your smartphone.

Another thing I love about the Corentium Pro is its pre-written comments. It has all the comments pre-written for all result scenarios. So, for instance, if the results are less than 2 pCi/L, there is already a comment to select for that result.

The cons.

The biggest con of the Corentium Pro is its price. It is almost double the cost of the RadonEye Pro.

Although I have gotten good at using the app, it is not as user-friendly as the RadonEye Pro.

Another issue I encountered with my units was that the motion sensors were too sensitive. Every test would record motion. I had to remove the tampering statement from every report making the tampering resistance feature pretty much worthless.

Another massive con for the Corentium pro is they don’t allow third-party calibration. Third-party calibration is crucial for a company that values integrity and customer service. Their monopoly on calibration is very disturbing and problematic. No home inspectors should use a radon monitor that does not allow third-party testing.

Also, buying a used Corentium pro is a bit of a hassle. They lock the monitor to a user, and if the user doesn’t unlock it before they sell it (and they probably won’t), then you can’t use it. You will need to contact customer service to open it, bringing me to my next con.

And Finally, customer service is atrocious. Getting someone on the phone is easier at the IRS. I called several times to ask questions for this blog and never was able to get anyone on the phone.

Overall

Overall, the Corentium Pro is a fantastic radon monitor. I absolutely loved the battery life and not needing to worry about placement near an outlet.

SunRadon 1028xp Review

The Pros.

First, SunRadon has exceptional cloud service and LTE service. This allows you to keep track of your units and remotely view, start, stop, and send results. But, unfortunately, it is a bit pricey at $199/year per monitor. And although it’s a nice perk, it is certainly not needed to have a thriving radon testing business.

Other than that, the 1028xp has all the modern features you’d expect. It has an app that connects via blue tooth to schedule, start, and send your results directly from your phone.

It is heavier, more rigid, and more durable than the other units.

There is a touch screen LCD touch screen which is nice but not a determining factor.

The Cons.

First, the biggest con of the 1028xp is that the temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors are not included. It is a separate module you have to buy. This piecemeal pricing is a red flag for any company. These sensors should be standard equipment and reflected in the actual price of the unit. It felt like a bait and switch to me. They advertise one price, but to have a ready-to-go unit, it’s an additional $199.

Second, the report is more “scientific” looking and not user-friendly.

Lastly, customer service is a disaster, just like the other companies. I tried calling sun nuclear several times and never got through to anyone.

Summary of Evaluated Radon Monitors

All of these units are great for home inspectors and short-term tests. Although the Radon Eye Pro has a slight edge as the best radon monitor for home inspectors, they will all report accurate radon levels. The most significant differences are in price and ease of use features. You can use the chart and reviews above to determine the most important thing for your radon business.

Certification for professional use

Most states regulate radon testing professionals and which equipment can be used. Whichever radon testing method you employ, you should ensure it is AARST-NRPP or NRSB-approved.

Smart Radon Detector

Home inspectors specialize in short-term tests. Real estate transactions are fast-paced, and buyers and Realtors expect quick results. It will be hard to successfully use a passive radon test kit that does not give immediate results. Continuous radon monitors with instant results and instant reports are becoming the standard in the industry.

Calibration

All radon monitors need yearly calibration. Only a few companies in the United States offer this service. Third-party calibration is essential for the integrity of the industry and benefits home inspectors and their clients.

Tamper Detection

As certified Radon testers, we have an obligation and a duty to ensure accurate results. Unfortunately, since most of our testing gets done during real estate transactions, there is an incentive for homeowners to try to alter the results. Modern radon monitors have motion sensors and accelerometers to help prevent tampering.

Temperature, air pressure, and humidity are not only helpful in analyzing the results. Weather conditions can change the amount of Radon in a home, and it’s essential to be able to assess this. Home inspectors can also use them to detect tampering. These sensors are an absolute must for anyone offering professional testing.

Certainty

All radon test kits have a margin of error. Therefore, we used the data provided by the manufacturers for the comparison.

What is Radon?

According to the EPA (environmental protection agency), Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. It is a gas that decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer throughout your lifetime. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

It is an odorless gas and a colorless gas. Therefore, the only way to know if a home has high levels of Radon is to have it tested.