What is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium found in rocks and soil. This gas is odourless, colourless and has no taste, making it undetectable by human senses. Outdoors, the radioactive radon gas is diluted very quickly and is not a health concern. The only way to know if you have high radon levels is to do a simple test. You can buy a radon test kit for your home, daycare or office at Radon Controls Inc. or request professional radon testing. Do-it-yoursef radon testing is affordable and easy to do. If radon levels are high, research shows that hiring a certified radon mitigation professional to reduce the radon levels in your home can result in radon reductions up to 95%. Read on to learn more about radon science and radon testing. We are happy to provide a free quote to anyone in Alberta. Get a free quote.
Why should I be concerned about radon gas?
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As a radioactive gas, sustained exposure to elevated levels of radon have been proven to cause lung cancer by causing DNA damage in our lung tissue.
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Levels can be elevated in your home without you knowing.
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Radon induced lung cancer is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in Canada among non-smokers.
How does radon get into my home?
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The radon gas can enter structures through cracks in the floor, drains, sump pumps, exposed soil, construction joints and any place where the structure contacts the soil.
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The difference in negative pressure inside the home to positive pressure outside the home can draw radon into your breathing space.
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The age or quality of construction of your home or workplace is not necessarily an indication of whether you will have high radon levels or not.
How do I test for radon?
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It is not hard nor expensive to test for radon.
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You can do the test yourself.
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Read more about testing for radon on our testing page.
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Health Canada recommends fixing your home or workplace if your levels exceed 200 bq/m3.
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The World Health Organization has a lower acceptable threshold of 100 bq/m3.
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‘bq/m3‘ means “becquerel," which is a unit to measure radioactivity.
What if my radon levels are high?
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Health Canada recommends radon mitigation (taking steps to reduce your radon levels within 2 years if your test results are between 200 bq/m3 and 600 bq/m3.
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The World Health Organization recommends mitigation if test results are over 100 bq/m3.
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Fixing a typical home is less expensive than replacing your furnace or roof. The costs depends on each structure's unique characteristics and most systems can be installed in 1-2 days. Typically it is a one time fix, with a 5 year replacement guarantee on the fan.
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Installing a radon system could potentially make your home more attractive to prospective buyers concerned about their health. The most common radon reduction system is typically referred to as sub-slab depressurization.
