FAQ
Some helpful information about radon gas testing in Winnipeg
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is caused by the breakdown of rock and soil. During the breakdown process, radon gas decays to form radioactive elements that can be inhaled into the lungs and decay lung tissue. Long-term exposure to radon in indoor spaces like your home can increase your risk of lung cancer.
What are the health risks of radon?
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, after smoking tobacco.
Long-term exposure to radon in enclosed spaces (like the inside of your Winnipeg home) increases your risk of lung cancer. When radon breaks down, radon forms radioactive elements which can be inhaled and absorbed into your lungs.
If you use tobacco, radon exposure is even more dangerous. If you’re a lifelong smoker and have long-term exposure to high levels of radon, your risk of getting lung cancer is 1 in 3.
Your risk depends on the level of radon and how long you’ve been exposed to it.
How does radon get into my home?
Radon is produced naturally when rock and soil break down. Radon is drawn into your home because your house has lower air pressure than the soil that surrounds it.
Radon enters the home through any opening where the house touches the soil. Common areas of radon entry include cracks in the foundation, construction joints, spaces around pipes, floor drains, sumps, basement windows, or any other structural gap that meets the soil.
How do I tell if there is radon in my home?
You can’t see or smell radon because it is a colourless, odourless, and invisible radioactive gas. Radon cannot be detected without testing.
We offer affordable, reliable options for radon testing. If you would like a radon test, we will send a trained technician to install the testing kit in your Winnipeg home. After the testing period is over, our technician will collect the results and send them to a testing lab.
Want to know if your home in Winnipeg is safe? For testing options, click here.
Who should test for radon in their homes?
The Canadian Cancer society urges all Winnipeggers to test their home for radon. In Manitoba, nearly 1 in 4 houses have higher than acceptable levels of radon. Even though everyone should get their homes tested for radon, tobacco smokers are at a higher risk.
Are older homes at higher risk?
Old or new, your Winnipeg home rests in soil that naturally produces radon gas. In Manitoba, 1 in 4 Manitoban homes having higher than acceptable radon levels because of our uranium-rich soil.
No matter the age of your home, it is still important to get your radon levels tested. Many new builds come equipped with a radon mitigation pipe, but this does not mean the pipe is in use or that your radon levels are safe.
The only way to know if your radon levels are safe is through testing.
How do I test for radon?
Health Canada recommends a long-term radon test of no less than 3 months.
If you would like a radon test, we will send a trained technician to install the testing kit. After the 3-month testing period is over, our technician will collect the results and send them to a testing lab. For more on our rates, click here.
How do I lower radon levels?
It is easy and affordable to lower your home’s radon levels. Here are a few quick tips:
Seal cracks and gaps in your foundation, which is where radon is commonly drawn into the home. Watch out for common problem areas, like basement windows, service pipe entries, drains, and construction joints
Improve air circulation by installing mechanical ventilation
While sealing gaps and increasing ventilation are great DIY options, only a specialist can provide professional advice on a radon mitigation plan.
We offer radon mitigation services in Winnipeg to keep your home safe. To work with us in a custom mitigation system and follow-up radon testing, click here.