What is radon?
Radon gas is invisible, odourless, and tasteless. It comes from the ground when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. Uranium occurs naturally in many types of rock. Radon gas breaks down to form radioactive elements that can be inhaled and cause health risks. When radon gas is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted, so exposure to radon outdoors is not a concern. However, when radon enters your home or another enclosed building it can accumulate to high levels and become a health risk for the people who regularly occupy the building.
What are radon levels in Okotoks?
All homes in Canada have radon gas in them. Radon levels can be elevated if there is a high amount of uranium in the underlying rock and soil, but the level inside your home depends on how easy it is for radon to get in through openings where the house contacts the ground and how well interior spaces are ventilated. Radon concentrations vary from one house to the next, so even if your house is a similar design to your neighbour’s, the radon levels can be different. The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test.
Watch our online workshop on Indoor Air Quality presented by Colin Dumais of Radon West
How to test for Radon
When?
Testing should be conducted during the heating season when temperatures outside are colder. Radon levels are typically higher during the colder months because of the pressure difference between inside and outside, and because your windows and doors are kept closed to keep the heat in, allowing for radon gas to accumulate indoors. Testing during the heating season provides a more conservative estimate of exposure.
What?
You can purchase a do-it-yourself radon test kit or electronic monitor to test your home yourself. Find a local provider of radon test kits HERE.
You can also hire a professional to do radon testing for you. Find a qualified professional HERE.
Where?
Measurements should be made in the lowest lived-in level of the home (i.e., occupied more than 4 hours per day). Bedrooms on the main floor or basement should be prioritized. Tests should not be conducted in bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms. Place the device somewhere that will not be disturbed and where there is space for air flow around it (i.e., at least 30 cm from the floor, ceiling, or an exterior wall). See the Health Canada Guide below for more tips on device placement.
For how long?
Because radon levels in homes vary over time, testing should be conducted over a period of no less than 91 days. Longer tests give a more accurate estimate.
Health Canada Guide for Radon Measurements in Homes
*Note: The Town of Okotoks offers free electronic radon monitors that can be booked by Okotoks residents for a period of one week at no cost. This short duration measurement can give you a snapshot of radon levels in your home but should not replace long-term testing.
What do my test results mean?
The Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air for dwellings is 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3). Health Canada recommends taking action to reduce radon levels in your home if they exceed this value.
What should I do if my test results are high?
- If your testing was conducted over a period shorter than 91 days, repeat the testing over a longer period of time in accordance with the Health Canada Guide for Radon Measurements in Homes (link above).
- If your long-term test results are high, contact a qualified radon professional to review your test results and discuss solutions. The most common way to reduce radon levels is to install a system that sucks air (and radon gas) from beneath the foundation of your home and exhausts it outside.
- Find a qualified professional HERE.
For more information, visit the Health Canada resources below or contact a radon professional:
About Radon
Radon Gas: It's in Your Home