Radon Mitigation in Smethport
Moderate radon potential. Glaciated Northern Tier highlands carry Pleistocene till over Devonian shale, producing baseline indoor radon with elevated readings in older basement homes.
Moderate Radon Risk Area
Smethport sits in EPA Zone 2 — testing is recommended for every home regardless of age or foundation type.
Local Geology & Risk Factors
Smethport is located in an area with Allegheny Plateau / Glaciated Northern Tier Highlands 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: $115,000 · Median year built: 1941
- Population: 1,516
- Foundation types: Basement (most common); Crawlspace (moderate); Slab-on-grade (varies)
McKean County Context
Smethport is a municipality of McKean County, EPA Zone 2. Zone designation is assigned at the county level, so Smethport inherits its classification; countywide aggregate figures live on the county page.
See McKean County radon aggregate data →Measured Radon Data for Smethport
Source: PA DEP RadonZip Tool, January 1990 – December 2025 · Updated 2026-05-20
Radon Mitigation Cost in Smethport
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in Smethport typically cost $950–$2,100. 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 (most common)
- Crawlspace (moderate)
- Slab-on-grade (varies)
Systems used in the region
- Active sub-slab depressurization
- Sump pit depressurization
- Passive soil depressurization
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 Smethport, McKean 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 Smethport, PA?
Yes — even at Zone 2 baseline. Smethport sits in the glaciated Northern Tier highlands, where Pleistocene till caps Devonian shale. Approximately 28% of tested McKean County homes exceed 4.0 pCi/L. Older basement homes around Smethport and Bradford show particular elevation.
What does radon mitigation cost in McKean County?
Most McKean County mitigation systems run $950–$2,100 installed. Active sub-slab depressurization is the standard approach. Remote rural locations sometimes incur travel surcharges from contractors based in Warren or Erie.
Does the Allegheny National Forest area affect radon levels?
Forest cover does not directly affect indoor radon. But the underlying Allegheny Plateau shale produces baseline soil-gas radon throughout the region. Test every home individually — EPA zone is a population average, and Allegheny Plateau geology produces variable results.
What's the average radon level in Smethport?
Smethport's DEP-recorded basement average is 4.73 pCi/L across 89 tests. The EPA action level for mitigation is 4.0 pCi/L, so a sizable share of Smethport homes exceed the threshold. The highest single result in the local dataset is 107.7 pCi/L.
Do homes in Smethport need to be tested for radon?
McKean County is EPA Zone 2, meaning the county has moderate radon potential and elevated readings are common enough that all Smethport homes should be tested. 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 Smethport?
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in the Smethport area typically cost $950–$2,100. 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 Smethport?
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 Smethport, 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 Smethport radon data cover?
The Smethport radon dataset on this page covers ZIP code 16749. These are the ZCTAs assigned to Smethport in the Census 2020 ZCTA-to-Place relationship file and used for the PA DEP RadonZip Tool aggregation. Neighboring ZIP codes belong to adjacent municipalities and appear on their own PA Radon Hub pages.
Are Smethport Area School District buildings subject to SB 760?
McKean County is in EPA Zone 2 and is served by 6 school districts, including Smethport Area School District. Pennsylvania Senate Bill 760, if enacted as drafted, would apply to all public school buildings in McKean County regardless of which district operates them. The bill remains in committee. Buildings in Zone 2 counties like McKean County would be included in the proposed framework. If SB 760 is enacted, mitigation timelines, thresholds, and qualifying buildings would be set by the final bill text and any subsequent DEP implementing regulations. PA Radon Hub tracks this legislation; specific deadlines remain pending.
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