The first edition of this book was written in 1993, to assist what was thought to be an occasional do-it-yourself homeowner. In reality, the number of individuals wanting to reduce radon levels themselves was much higher than anticipated. In addition, the manual was being utilized to better understand the radon mitigation process prior to hiring a contractor, and to design systems installed into homes during construction.

The overwhelming success of the book led to the distribution of several thousand copies to individuals and libraries. Its popularity identified the need to address the process of hiring contractors and installing passive and active systems in new home construction. The second edition, now readily available, has these two substantive additions.

This detailed manual describes the most common methods for reliably reducing radon in a home. Written in a non-technical format, the book includes step-by-step instructions and illustrations to guide homeowners through the radon mitigation process.