Radon Testing & Mitigation in Media, PA
High radon risk from Wissahickon schist and associated Piedmont metamorphic rocks underlying Delaware County's upland plateau. Media, as the county seat, sits on Precambrian to early Paleozoic schist and gneiss with naturally elevated uranium content. The Wissahickon formation's foliated structure creates planar fracture pathways that channel radon gas efficiently toward the surface.
High Radon Risk Area
Media sits in EPA Zone 1 — testing is recommended for every home regardless of age or foundation type.
Radon Testing in Media
In Media-area ZIP codes, 28% of 14,026 basement tests reported to PA DEP measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher, with a median of 2.4 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
Media is located in an area with Piedmont Upland / Wissahickon Schist 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: $398,400 · Median year built: 1960
- Population: 5,868
- Foundation types: Basement (predominant in borough and suburban homes); Stone foundation (pre-1920 homes near State Street); Crawlspace
Delaware County Context
Media is a municipality of Delaware County, EPA Zone 1. Zone designation is assigned at the county level, so Media inherits its classification; countywide aggregate figures live on the county page.
See Delaware County radon aggregate data →Measured Radon Data for Media
These figures cover every test whose ZIP code is listed above. ZIP codes do not follow municipal lines, so the figures describe Media-area ZIP codes, not the municipal boundary of Media. 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 Media
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in Media typically cost $1,100–$2,700. 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 borough and suburban homes)
- Stone foundation (pre-1920 homes near State Street)
- Crawlspace
Systems used in the region
- Active sub-slab depressurization
- Block wall depressurization
- Radon-resistant new construction (RRNC)
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 Media, Delaware 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
What is Wissahickon schist and why does it produce radon in Media?
Wissahickon schist is a Precambrian to early Paleozoic metamorphic rock that underlies much of Delaware County. It formed from ocean-floor sediments compressed and heated during continental collisions. The metamorphic process concentrated trace uranium within the rock's mineral structure. The schist's foliated (layered) texture creates planar fracture networks that efficiently channel radon gas from bedrock to the surface, particularly where overlying soil is thin.
Is radon risk uniform across Media and surrounding Delaware County?
No. Radon levels vary significantly within short distances in Media because the Wissahickon schist's uranium content is not uniform — it depends on the specific mineral composition of local outcrops. Homes on ridgelines with thin soil cover over fractured schist tend to have higher concentrations than homes in valley bottoms with thicker weathered soil cover. Individual home testing is essential regardless of neighborhood averages.
What does radon mitigation cost in Media?
Media area radon mitigation typically costs $1,100–$2,700. Older stone-foundation borough homes cost more than standard suburban construction. Larger Delaware County homes require more extensive systems. Request quotes from DEP-certified Delaware County contractors.
What share of radon tests in Media-area ZIP codes are at or above the EPA action level?
28% of the 14,026 basement tests reported to PA DEP from Media-area ZIP codes measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher, 9 points below the 37% statewide share. The median result is 2.4 pCi/L. Of 1,824 first-floor tests, 15% 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 Media need to be tested for radon?
Delaware County is EPA Zone 1 — the highest radon-potential classification — so every home in Media 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 Media?
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in the Media area typically cost $1,100–$2,700. 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 Media?
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 Media, 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 Media radon data cover?
The Media radon dataset on this page covers ZIP code 19063. These are the ZCTAs assigned to Media 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 Media's municipal boundary.
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