Should You Test Your Home for Radon? YES!

Should You Test Your Home for Radon? YES!

What is Radon?

It is a radioactive gas, formed by the breakdown of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in soil, rock and groundwater. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless. When radon is released from the ground into your home through the basement, it is diluted and low in concentration but some Alberta home have higher levels than recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection.

Radon is the Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers in Canada!

The risk is high. Radon exposure is nearly everywhere in the northwest corner of the continent. The scale of radon exposure in the Canadian Prairies is the second highest on Earth. A recent University of Calgary study, reported that one in eight Albertan homes tested over safe levels of radon gas. Results may not be seen for years but the damage to your DNA is a real concern. Exposure is estimated to be the cause of 16% of lung cancers.

Indoors - Radon can be a Big Problem

When radon mixes with the air outside, it is not a problem: the air outside dilutes the amount of radon. But when radon seeps into a closed-in space like a house, it can be harmful. You and your family can breathe in high levels of radon without knowing it. Every house in Alberta has a yearly freeze-thaw action due to the water underground. This movement causes continuous erosion. If your house is older there could be extensive gaps, fissures and cracks and many other holes allowing the gas to seep in. Testing should be done every five years or after major renovations or changes to the HVAC system. Even if neighbouring homes test low for radon, yours could still have high levels.

How Do You Test for Radon?

If your house is newly built you have to wait until the concrete cures. This takes 18 months. Then a proper radon test takes a minimum of 90 days and should be done in the winter. According to the Canadian Lung Association, web site, you should put the test device on the lowest level of your house that you use regularly at least four hours a day. Make sure it won't get knocked over. Then you mail the test device to the company’s laboratory according to package instructions. The company will analyze the test device in their laboratory and mail or email you the results.

What do I do if I have high radon levels?

Health Canada radon guidelines say that no action is required if radon is below 200 Bq/m3. However, even low levels of radon can be harmful. It is better to try to lower your home's radon level as much as possible. You need to repair your home if your home’s radon level is between 200 and 600 Bq/m3 within in the next two years and if over 600 Bq/m3 then you should repair your home within one year. You may need to hire a contractor to figure out where the radon is coming in so that you can make repairs to block the radon.

Government Mandated - Remediation.

The government has mandated that every home built since November, 2015 should have a sub-slab depressurization rough-in installation site. This allows for an effective form of radon reduction with reduced costs. Your Real Estate agent can tell you if a home that you are interested in has a rough-in depressurization site, has been recently tested, see the copy of the recorded test result and tell you if the necessary remediation has been done to make the home safe. If there is work that needs to be done to reduce radon, the estimated cost is around $2,000 to $3,000 but much less if you have a sub-slab rough-in.

Are Our Calgary Schools Safe? – They are On-To-It

You may soon receive a notice that the CBE will be conducting tests for radon gas in a number of schools across our system. Thankfully they are being proactive about our children's safety.

Christopher Ashby
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
100, 5810 2 STREET S.W.
CALGARY, AB T2H 0H2
Mobile: 403-680-4479
Office: 403-253-5305
Fax: 403-775-5156
E-mail: chris@yourhomeinalberta.com

Website: http://www.YourHomeInAlberta.com