Radon Testing & Mitigation in Hershey, PA
Elevated radon risk from the Ordovician Hershey Limestone and surrounding Great Valley carbonate bedrock — fractured, locally karstic rock that opens groundwater and gas pathways into overlying homes. Hershey sits within Dauphin County's EPA Zone 1 classification — the highest-risk tier, where predicted indoor radon averages exceed 4 pCi/L — making testing essential for every home regardless of construction era.
High Radon Risk Area
Hershey sits in EPA Zone 1 — testing is recommended for every home regardless of age or foundation type.
Radon Testing in Hershey
In Hershey-area ZIP codes, 54% of 23,300 basement tests reported to PA DEP measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher, with a median of 4.7 pCi/L. Readings differ from house to house, so each home needs its own test. Start with a short-term test of 48–96 hours on the lowest lived-in level. A long-term test of 90 days or more averages out seasonal swings.
A result at or above EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level calls for a confirming test or mitigation. Retest after a mitigation system goes in, and at least every two years from then on. Pennsylvania requires DEP certification for anyone who tests as a paid service; you may test your own home with a kit from a DEP-certified laboratory. For a home sale, read the Pennsylvania real estate radon testing guide.
Local Geology & Risk Factors
Hershey is located in an area with Great Valley Carbonate Belt / Hershey Limestone geology, which contributes to elevated radon levels. The Pennsylvania DEP identifies this region as having significant radon potential due to uranium-bearing rock formations.
Testing is essential because radon levels can vary significantly between neighboring homes based on construction, soil permeability, and ventilation.
See Pennsylvania radon levels and EPA radon zone classifications →
Quick Facts
- Median home value: $339,300 · Median year built: 1970
- Population: 14,334
- Foundation types: Basement (predominant in Hershey's single-family residential stock); Slab-on-grade (newer developments near Penn State Health); Crawlspace (older properties)
Dauphin County Context
Hershey is a municipality of Dauphin County, EPA Zone 1. Zone designation is assigned at the county level, so Hershey inherits its classification; countywide aggregate figures live on the county page.
See Dauphin County radon aggregate data →Measured Radon Data for Hershey
These figures cover every test whose ZIP code is listed above. ZIP codes do not follow municipal lines, so the figures describe Hershey-area ZIP codes, not the municipal boundary of Hershey. They count tests, not homes.
Source: PA Department of Environmental Protection, Radon Test Results, data.pa.gov. Tests through July 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
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Radon Mitigation Cost in Hershey
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in Hershey typically cost $900–$2,300. Standard basement installs on modern poured concrete fall at the lower end; historic foundations, block-wall depressurization, multi-point suction, and crawlspace encapsulation push costs higher.
Foundations covered locally
- Basement (predominant in Hershey's single-family residential stock)
- Slab-on-grade (newer developments near Penn State Health)
- Crawlspace (older properties)
Systems used in the region
- Active sub-slab depressurization
- Sump pit depressurization
- Passive venting systems
Certification & Compliance
All Pennsylvania radon testing and mitigation professionals must hold active PA DEP certification. Ask any contractor for their certification number and verify it before signing.
Pennsylvania's Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law (68 Pa.C.S. §§ 7301–7315) requires sellers to disclose known material defects to buyers under § 7303; the mandated disclosure form records radon under § 7304(b)(14). Sellers who have never tested are not compelled to test — § 7308 imposes no affirmative duty to investigate — but pre-listing testing is standard practice across most PA markets.
Under 25 Pa. Code § 240 — the Pennsylvania chapter governing radon certification — every radon service provider working in the Commonwealth must hold current DEP certification. Verify the contractor's status via the DEP Radon Services Directory before hiring.
Verify Contractor Certification — PA DEP Official Directory for Hershey, Dauphin County
View PA DEP Certified Contractor DirectoryThe PA Department of Environmental Protection maintains the official list of certified radon testers and mitigators, sorted by county and updated monthly. Always verify certification before hiring any contractor.
Directory resource provided by PA DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection, Radon Division.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is radon a concern in Hershey, PA?
Yes. Hershey sits on the Ordovician Hershey Limestone and surrounding Great Valley carbonate bedrock — locally karstic rock that opens groundwater and gas pathways into overlying homes. Dauphin County's EPA Zone 1 classification places Hershey in Pennsylvania's highest radon potential tier, and 54% of the 23,300 basement tests reported to PA DEP from Hershey-area ZIP codes measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher. DEP recommends testing all Pennsylvania homes regardless of zone classification.
Do Penn State Hershey Medical Center employees need radon testing in their homes?
DEP recommends testing for all Dauphin County residents, including those relocating for Penn State Health positions. Hershey's high-turnover medical and academic housing market means many homes change occupants frequently without radon testing history. Testing before occupancy establishes a baseline and identifies actionable risk.
What does radon mitigation cost in Hershey?
Hershey area ASD systems typically cost $900–$2,300. Hershey's predominantly post-1950 single-family residential construction often falls at the lower end of this range, as poured concrete basements are more amenable to standard ASD than stone or block foundations. Request quotes from DEP-certified Dauphin County contractors.
What share of radon tests in Hershey-area ZIP codes are at or above the EPA action level?
54% of the 23,300 basement tests reported to PA DEP from Hershey-area ZIP codes measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher, 17 points above the 37% statewide share. The median result is 4.7 pCi/L. Of 4,778 first-floor tests, 31% measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher. The figures cover the ZIP codes listed on this page, not the municipal boundary, and they count tests, not homes.
Do homes in Hershey need to be tested for radon?
Dauphin County is EPA Zone 1 — the highest radon-potential classification — so every home in Hershey should be tested regardless of age, foundation type, or neighborhood. Short-term charcoal or continuous monitor tests take 48–96 hours and cost $15–$50; long-term alpha-track tests run 90 days and better represent annual averages. If the result meets or exceeds 4.0 pCi/L, mitigation by a DEP-certified professional is recommended.
How much does radon mitigation cost in Hershey?
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in the Hershey area typically cost $900–$2,300. Standard basement installations on modern poured-concrete foundations fall at the lower end; historic foundations, block-wall depressurization, multi-point suction, and crawlspace encapsulation push costs toward the upper end. All work must be performed by a DEP-certified mitigation professional under 25 Pa. Code § 240.
Is radon disclosure required when selling a home in Hershey?
Pennsylvania's Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law (68 Pa.C.S. §§ 7301–7315) requires residential sellers to disclose known material defects to buyers (§ 7303). The state-mandated disclosure form covers 'presence of hazardous substances' at § 7304(b)(14) — where any known elevated radon test result or existing mitigation system is recorded. Sellers who have never tested are not required to test: § 7308 imposes no affirmative duty to investigate. In Hershey, the practical reality is that most buyers request radon testing during the inspection contingency period. Sellers who test and mitigate before listing eliminate the most common contract contingency and preserve negotiating position.
Which ZIP codes does the Hershey radon data cover?
The Hershey radon dataset on this page covers ZIP codes 17033, 17036, and 17078. These are the ZCTAs assigned to Hershey in the Census 2020 ZCTA-to-Place relationship file, and the page counts every test in the PA DEP record on data.pa.gov that carries one of them. A ZIP code can reach into a neighboring municipality, so the figures describe these ZIP codes rather than Hershey's municipal boundary.
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