The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designated January as national Radon Action Month, and encourages homeowners to test their dwellings for the gas.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can cause lung cancer. Winter is an especially good time to test because windows and doors are closed and families tend to spend more time inside where radon can be trapped, EPA says.
The mid-Atlantic region had a reminder earlier this year about just how important it is to get homes tested for radon when a home in Lehigh County, Pa. recorded the highest radon level ever in Pennsylvania, according to the agency.