Radon Gas Testing

Radon Gas Testing – Winter Is the Ideal Time to Test Your Home

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Better late than never! Last month was Radon Action Month in Canada – but any time this winter is a great time to test for Radon Gas.

A colourless, odourless, radioactive gas found in Canadian homes across the country, Radon Gas exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. And while we’re a little behind – November is National Radon Action Month in Canada – we’d still like to remind you of how important it is to test your home for Radon so that you can be proactive, do as much as you can to protect the health of yourself and your family.

Depending on the Radon gas levels in your home and the length of exposure to this radioactive gas indoors, you could be at increased risk of developing lung cancer.

Make sure your home is safe! And Radon gas testing is inexpensive and pretty easy – winter is a perfect time! We seal our homes against the winter weather and cold, providing better conditions for accurate testing than in milder seasons.

What exactly is Radon Gas?

As mentioned, Radon gas has no odour or colour. It’s a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the earth and is created through the natural breakdown of uranium, a heavy metal that occurs in most rocks. Consequently, Radon gas is in soil, igneous rock – surrounding the foundation of your home – and even well water. From the ground, it seeps up into your home through any cracks and holes in the foundation.

RADON gas in our homes canada

Radon gas levels vary significantly across Canada. Some regions are more prone to higher levels of indoor radon than others. Surveys identified that Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and the Yukon experienced the highest percentages of homes testing above the recommended radon guideline. Yes, perhaps BC isn’t on the list as one of these zones. But, it’s still important to test your home as Radon gas exists at dangerous levels throughout all regions of Canada.

When you inhale Radon, you expose lung tissue to its ionizing radiation. This can damage the DNA in lung tissue and lead to lung cancer. More than 3,200 lung cancer deaths each year in Canada can be attributed to exposure to Radon gas.

One way to detect Radon in your home – testing!

Invisible and without an odour, the only way to detect Radon in your home is with a test. Fortunately, the testing is easy, effortless, and cheap – no excuses NOT to do it! And well worth it to protect your home and family.
Radon testing is simple:
1. Purchase a DIY Radon test kit. Radon gas levels often vary from day to day, week to week, and season to season.  You have the choice to test short-term, from two to 90 days or longer, more than three months. The longer-term tests, however, will offer more thorough information about the average Radon levels year-round.
2. Follow the directions included in your testing packet. The test devices are best placed in the lowest possible occupied level of your house.
3. Once the test has been in your basement for the required time, send it away to receive your results. If you’d prefer more specialized and expert care, you can hire a professional Radon measurement specialist to conduct the Radon test and provide your results.

Positive Radon test results? Next steps

If your test results indicate a high level of Radon in your home, mitigation is the next step to reduce or eliminate any Radon gas present. A certified Radon gas mitigation specialist can analyze your home. They’ll install and initiate the necessary radon mitigation.
The mitigation system will draw the gas out of your home and expel it safely outdoors. Sealing cracks and holes in the foundation is also a standard approach to radon reduction.