Radon can come out of the soil and water and seep into cracks and openings in your home, especially on the lower floor, basement, or crawlspace. Radon gas can get into your home through many openings, including:

• unfinished floors
• pipes
• windows
• sump pumps
• cracks in the basement floor or foundation

Radon can get trapped inside your home, especially in basements and crawlspaces that don’t have good ventilation (air flow).

The only way to know if your home has radon is to test for it. Be sure to get a long-term radon test.

You can purchase radon tests and monitors here. 

Follow the instructions that come with your radon test. In general, you:

• Put the test device on the lowest level of your house that you use regularly (the level where you spend four hours a day or more). This could be your basement or your main floor.
• Make sure the test device is in a safe place, where it won’t get knocked over.
• Leave the test device in place for at least three months.
• Mail the test device to the company’s laboratory. The test will come with a mailing label and package. All you have to do is put the test device in the package and drop it in a post box.
• The company will analyze test device in their laboratory and mail you the results.

It’s best to test for radon over the winter months, when there is less ventilation (less air movement) in your home.

What you do depends on how much radon there is. Radon is measured in becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3).

• If your home’s radon level is less than 200 Bq/m3, Health Canada radon guidelines say that no action is required. However, even low levels of radon can be harmful. It’s a good idea to try to lower your home’s radon level as much as possible, even if it’s already below 200 Bq/m3.
• If your home’s radon level is between 200 and 600 Bq/m3, you should repair your home in the next two years.
• If your home’s radon level is over 600 Bq/m3, you should repair your home within one year.

Lowering radon levels in a home requires specific technical knowledge and skills to ensure the job is done properly. Make sure to hire an experienced, reputable contractor to mitigate your home.

Contact Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP)  at 1-855-722-6777 or visit the Take Action on Radon website for a list of certified service providers who can help reduce the level of radon in your home.

The cost of mitigation varies across the country. The Lungs Matter: Home Radon Mitigation Grant Program provides up to $1,500 towards home radon mitigation for eligible applicants. 

If you offer home radon mitigation services, you can become a National Mitigation Sponsor of our LUNGS MATTER program.

As a Sponsor, every $1,500 you contribute helps cover the cost of radon mitigation for one deserving household anywhere in Canada or in a province or territory of your choice.

Find out more about LUNGS MATTER home mitigation sponsorship opportunities.