Radon Mitigation in Tionesta
Moderate radon potential. Allegheny National Forest uplands underlain by Devonian shale produce baseline indoor radon, with elevated readings in older basement homes and seasonal cabins.
Moderate Radon Risk Area
Tionesta sits in EPA Zone 2 — testing is recommended for every home regardless of age or foundation type.
Local Geology & Risk Factors
Tionesta is located in an area with Allegheny Plateau / Allegheny National Forest Uplands 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: $114,300 · Median year built: 1946
- Population: 343
- Foundation types: Basement (most common); Crawlspace (moderate); Slab-on-grade (varies)
Forest County Context
Tionesta is a municipality of Forest County, EPA Zone 2. Zone designation is assigned at the county level, so Tionesta inherits its classification; countywide aggregate figures live on the county page.
See Forest County radon aggregate data →Measured Radon Data for Tionesta
This unusually high reading may reflect a source data anomaly or a single-home outlier; individual home results vary widely.
Source: PA DEP RadonZip Tool, January 1990 – December 2025 · Updated 2026-05-20
Radon Mitigation Cost in Tionesta
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in Tionesta typically cost $950–$2,050. 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 Tionesta, Forest 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 Tionesta, PA?
Yes — even at Zone 2 baseline. Tionesta sits in the Allegheny National Forest uplands, where Devonian shale formations produce baseline soil-gas radon. Approximately 27% of tested Forest County homes exceed 4.0 pCi/L. Older basement homes and seasonal cabins show particular elevation.
What does radon mitigation cost in Forest County?
Most Forest County mitigation systems run $950–$2,050 installed. Active sub-slab depressurization is the standard approach. Forest County's remote location often incurs travel surcharges from DEP-certified contractors based in Warren, Oil City, or Clarion.
Should hunting and seasonal cabins be tested in the Allegheny National Forest area?
Yes — seasonal occupancy produces higher peak radon concentrations because cabins sit closed and unventilated for extended periods. EPA recommends testing all dwelling units regardless of seasonal use, using long-term devices to capture variable occupancy patterns.
What's the average radon level in Tionesta?
Tionesta's DEP-recorded basement average is 15.81 pCi/L across 98 tests. The EPA action level for mitigation is 4.0 pCi/L, so a sizable share of Tionesta homes exceed the threshold. The highest single result in the local dataset is 206.9 pCi/L; this unusually high reading may reflect a source data anomaly or a single-home outlier — individual home results vary widely.
Do homes in Tionesta need to be tested for radon?
Forest County is EPA Zone 2, meaning the county has moderate radon potential and elevated readings are common enough that all Tionesta 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 Tionesta?
Active sub-slab depressurization (ASD) systems in the Tionesta area typically cost $950–$2,050. 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 Tionesta?
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 Tionesta, 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 Tionesta radon data cover?
The Tionesta radon dataset on this page covers ZIP code 16353. These are the ZCTAs assigned to Tionesta 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 Tionesta-area public schools subject to SB 760?
Forest County is in EPA Zone 2, and Forest Area School District is the single school district serving the county. Pennsylvania Senate Bill 760, if enacted as drafted, would mandate radon testing in all public school buildings by the 2026–2027 academic year. As of the current legislative session, the bill remains in committee. Buildings in Zone 2 counties like Forest 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.
Connect with a DEP-Certified Radon Pro in Tionesta
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