Dunmore sits in EPA Zone 1, Pennsylvania's highest radon risk classification, with geological conditions that create exceptional radon hazards. As Scranton's eastern neighbor, Dunmore shares the Lackawanna Valley's uranium-bearing Pocono sandstone formations while experiencing even more concentrated radon risks due to its position in the valley basin. The borough's bedrock contains natural uranium deposits from ancient mountain-building events over 300 million years ago, creating a perpetual source of radon gas beneath every Dunmore home and business.
The area's anthracite coal mining legacy dramatically intensifies radon risks throughout Dunmore. From the 1850s through the 1950s, extensive deep mining operations beneath the borough created vast networks of underground voids and fractured bedrock. The Dunmore Mine, Continental Mine, and numerous smaller operations left behind mine shafts, tunnels, and collapsed areas that now serve as superhighways for radon migration. Where intact bedrock once provided natural barriers, mining disruption created pathways allowing radon to travel from uranium-bearing formations directly into home foundations.
Dunmore's housing stock compounds the geological risk factors. Many homes were constructed during the coal boom era (1880-1930) with stone foundations and minimal vapor barriers - building methods that inadvertently facilitate radon intrusion. The borough's mix of older row homes in downtown areas, mid-century construction throughout residential neighborhoods, and newer developments near the Scranton border all share exposure to the same uranium-bearing geology and mining-disrupted subsurface. The Lackawanna Valley's bowl-like topography further concentrates radon gas in the valley basin where Dunmore sits.
Professional making certified radon mitigation systems essential for home safety. Our systems are specifically designed for Lackawanna County's coal region geology and the varied foundation types common throughout Dunmore's neighborhoods.