Discover how Ramsey County residents can access free home environmental testing resources, including water quality reports, lead testing kits, and radon test kits, to protect their family's health without spending hundreds on professional testing.
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Ramsey County's Healthy Homes initiative addresses environmental health hazards that affect families, particularly children. The program uses a team approach combining Environmental Health Specialists with Public Health Nurses to conduct comprehensive home assessments.
The program differs from typical home inspections by addressing multiple environmental factors simultaneously rather than focusing on single issues. Teams assess asthma triggers, lead hazards, moisture problems, and other environmental health concerns during a single visit.
Ramsey County sells Air Chek brand short-term radon test kits to county residents for $2. The kits test for 3-7 days and are available via mail order only. The program serves Ramsey County residents exclusively and is not available to realtors or businesses.
The county does not sell long-term radon kits. The $2 price point makes radon testing accessible, given that professional testing typically costs $150-300 and retail test kits cost $15-25.
How to access radon testing:
Why radon testing matters: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause among non-smokers. Nearly half of Minnesota homes have radon levels that pose health risks. The invisible, odorless gas enters homes through small cracks or holes in basement floors.
Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) provides free lead testing for customers in its service area, which includes Saint Paul, Maplewood, Falcon Heights, and Lauderdale. Lead testing kits are available at no cost and include laboratory analysis of results.
How to obtain free lead testing:
Why lead testing matters: Water leaving the SPRWS treatment plant does not contain lead, but lead can enter drinking water through lead service lines, lead solder, or brass fixtures in home plumbing. Lead service lines were primarily installed in Saint Paul homes built before 1926 and in some homes built between 1927 and 1948.
Additional SPRWS services:
For residents outside the SPRWS service area, the Minnesota Department of Health provides a list of certified laboratories for private water testing.
The program provides free home lead inspections, focusing on window components and peeling paint. For qualifying households, lead removal grants cover 80% of replacement and abatement costs.
Grant eligibility requirements:
Grant process:
The financial assistance makes professional lead remediation accessible to income-qualified families with young children.
Why lead hazard prevention matters: Lead paint in older homes poses serious risks, especially to children under 6. Even small amounts of lead dust from deteriorating paint can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
The program provides free home assessments for families in Ramsey County with children aged 0-17 who have diagnosed asthma or asthma-like symptoms. Home visits include both an Environmental Health Specialist and a Public Health Nurse who assess common triggers, including dust, mold, pet dander, pests, and tobacco smoke.
The program provides supplies at no cost to address identified issues. Available supplies include:
The program targets specific environmental factors that trigger asthma symptoms rather than providing general recommendations.
Why asthma support matters: Environmental triggers in the home can significantly worsen asthma symptoms. Professional assessment and targeted interventions can reduce triggers and improve respiratory health for children with asthma.
Home assessments conducted by the program cover multiple environmental factors:
The public health nurse component examines how environmental factors may contribute to health symptoms. The program identifies connections between home environment conditions and respiratory or allergic symptoms.
The program provides community-wide education and testing services. A free soil lead screening event is scheduled for July 15, 2025, from 3-7 p.m. at Eastside YMCA (875 Arcade Street).
Event services include:
The event provides professional soil testing and expert consultation at no cost to participants.
Ramsey County's Healthy Homes program offers comprehensive environmental health resources for county residents. The program addresses radon exposure, lead hazards in water and homes, and asthma triggers through professional assessment and practical solutions.
Key services include $2 radon testing kits for county residents, free lead-in-water testing through SPRWS, lead removal grants covering 80% of costs for qualifying households, and free home assessments with supplies for families with children who have asthma.
Action steps for interested residents:
These environmental health resources Ramsey County provides are just the beginning of understanding your home air quality basics. While municipal testing covers water quality, a comprehensive home health assessment requires looking at additional factors that affect your indoor environment.
These free city resources are an excellent starting point, but they only scratch the surface. Our comprehensive Hunter's House home health assessment tests 30+ additional factors, including EMF exposure, light quality, detailed air chemistry, and chemical contamination that municipal programs don't cover.
