Radon Testing & Mitigation in Scranton, PA
Moderate radon risk amplified by extensive anthracite coal mining history. Abandoned mine voids and fractured Pennsylvanian-age shale create subsurface radon migration pathways throughout the Wyoming Valley.
High Radon Risk Area
Scranton sits in EPA Zone 1 — testing is recommended for every home regardless of age or foundation type.
Radon Testing in Scranton
In Scranton-area ZIP codes, 27% of 20,184 basement tests reported to PA DEP measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher, with a median of 2.2 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
Scranton is located in an area with Appalachian Plateau / Anthracite Coal Basin 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 →
Lackawanna County sits in the Northern Anthracite Field — one of four anthracite coal basins in Pennsylvania. From the 1840s through the 1960s, deep mining operations extracted coal from multiple seams within the Pennsylvanian-age Llewellyn Formation, creating an extensive network of underground workings at depths ranging from near-surface to over 1,000 feet. When the mines closed, the workings were largely abandoned in place. Over the following decades, partial collapses, roof falls, and subsidence events created a complex, partially connected void system beneath the city. The hillside neighborhoods north of downtown — including the Hill Section, Green Ridge, and upper Dunmore — sit on terrain that was extensively mined in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Quick Facts
- Median home value: $141,700 · Median year built: 1938
- Population: 76,074
- Foundation types: Basement (predominant); Stone foundation (older homes); Crawlspace
Lackawanna County Context
Scranton is a municipality of Lackawanna County, EPA Zone 1. Zone designation is assigned at the county level, so Scranton inherits its classification; countywide aggregate figures live on the county page.
See Lackawanna County radon aggregate data →Measured Radon Data for Scranton
9 ZIP codes
18411 (Clarks Summit), 18503 (Scranton), 18504 (Scranton), 18505 (Scranton), 18507 (Moosic), 18508 (Scranton), 18509 (Scranton), 18510 (Scranton), 18519 (Dickson City)
These figures cover every test whose ZIP code is listed above. ZIP codes do not follow municipal lines, so the figures describe Scranton-area ZIP codes, not the municipal boundary of Scranton. 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.
Ready to move forward? Talk to a DEP-certified pro.
Radon Mitigation Cost in Scranton
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in Scranton typically cost $900–$2,250. 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)
- Stone foundation (older homes)
- Crawlspace
Systems used in the region
- Active sub-slab depressurization
- Block wall depressurization
- Sump encapsulation
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 Scranton, Lackawanna 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
Does Scranton's coal mining history affect radon levels?
Yes. Scranton's extensive anthracite coal mining legacy created underground void networks and fractured shale throughout Lackawanna County. These abandoned mine voids act as subsurface channels that can accelerate radon gas migration from uranium-bearing rock into homes. Properties near historical mine sites warrant priority testing.
What radon mitigation approaches are used for Scranton's older homes?
Scranton's pre-1960 housing stock frequently has stone or hollow concrete block foundations. These require block wall depressurization in addition to or instead of standard sub-slab systems. DEP-certified contractors perform diagnostic pressure field extension tests to determine the correct system type for each foundation configuration.
What does radon mitigation cost in Scranton?
Scranton area radon mitigation typically costs $900–$2,250. Stone foundation homes and properties with complex mine-influenced subsurface conditions may cost more. Standard ASD installations in post-1970 homes with poured concrete basements fall at the lower end of this range. Get quotes from DEP-certified contractors.
What share of radon tests in Scranton-area ZIP codes are at or above the EPA action level?
27% of the 20,184 basement tests reported to PA DEP from Scranton-area ZIP codes measured 4.0 pCi/L or higher, 10 points below the 37% statewide share. The median result is 2.2 pCi/L. Of 2,582 first-floor tests, 8% 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 Scranton need to be tested for radon?
Lackawanna County is EPA Zone 1 — the highest radon-potential classification — so every home in Scranton 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 Scranton?
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in the Scranton area typically cost $900–$2,250. 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 Scranton?
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 Scranton, 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 Scranton radon data cover?
The Scranton radon dataset on this page covers ZIP codes 18411, 18503, 18504, 18505, 18507, 18508, 18509, 18510, and 18519. These are the ZCTAs assigned to Scranton 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 Scranton's municipal boundary.
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