The Silent Threat Lurking in Your Home
When it comes to home safety, we often think about visible hazards—fires, carbon monoxide, mold, or even structural issues. However, one of the most dangerous and overlooked threats is something you can’t see, smell, or taste: radon gas.
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally as uranium in the soil, rock, and water breaks down over time. It seeps into homes through cracks in foundations, walls, floors, and even through well water, accumulating to dangerous levels without homeowners even realizing it.
Why Is Radon Gas Dangerous?
The biggest health risk of radon exposure is lung cancer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO):
☢️ Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for about 21,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
☢️ Smokers exposed to radon have an even higher risk of developing lung cancer.
☢️ Long-term exposure to high radon levels significantly increases the likelihood of lung disease.
Because radon can’t be detected by human senses, the only way to know if your home has high levels is through testing.
How Does Radon Enter Your Home?
Radon gas moves up from the ground into homes through:
✅ Cracks in foundations, basement floors, and walls
✅ Gaps around pipes, sump pumps, and drains
✅ Crawl spaces and poorly sealed construction joints
✅ Well water (in some cases, radon can be released from water into the air)
Since radon comes from soil and rock, any home—whether new or old, with or without a basement—can have radon issues.
How to Test for Radon in Your Home
The only way to detect radon is by testing your home. There are two main types of radon tests:
🏡 Short-Term Radon Tests (Quick Results)
Duration: 2 to 7 days
Best for: Getting a quick snapshot of radon levels
Availability: Found at home improvement stores, online retailers (Amazon), or local government health offices
Placement: Should be set up in the lowest livable area (basement or ground floor)
🏡 Long-Term Radon Tests (Most Accurate)
Duration: More than 90 days (several months)
Best for: Providing a more reliable average reading of radon exposure over time
Why it’s better: Since radon levels fluctuate due to weather, seasons, and ventilation, long-term testing gives the most accurate results
For peace of mind, many homeowners hire professional radon testers to conduct comprehensive inspections.
What to Do If Your Home Has High Radon Levels
If radon levels exceed 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter, the EPA action level), mitigation is necessary to reduce exposure. Here’s how:
1. Install a Radon Mitigation System
Radon mitigation involves redirecting radon gas from beneath your home to the outside before it can enter living spaces. The most common system is a sub-slab depressurization system, which uses a vent pipe and a fan to suck radon from the soil and release it outside.
2. Seal Entry Points
While sealing cracks alone won’t solve the problem, it complements a mitigation system by reducing radon entry points.
3. Improve Ventilation
Increasing air circulation with ventilation fans, air exchangers, or basement dehumidifiers can help dilute radon levels inside your home.
4. Test Again After Mitigation
Even after installing a radon mitigation system, it’s important to retest your home to ensure levels remain low and safe.
Can Radon Be Prevented in New Homes?
Yes! If you're building a new home, you can take preventative measures to ensure radon doesn't become a problem:
🏡 Install a Passive Radon Mitigation System – This includes a pipe extending from beneath the foundation to the roof, allowing radon to vent naturally.
🏡 Use Radon-Resistant Construction Materials – Certain construction techniques help block radon entry.
🏡 Pre-wire for a Radon Fan – If needed in the future, an active mitigation system can easily be installed.
Taking these steps before construction is cheaper and more effective than trying to fix radon issues later.
Final Thoughts: Protect Your Home & Health
Radon gas is a silent but serious threat, but testing and mitigation can greatly reduce your risk. Every homeowner should test for radon—especially in areas known for high radon levels.
🏡 Key Takeaways:
✔ Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that causes lung cancer.
✔ It seeps into homes from the ground through cracks, gaps, and foundation openings.
✔ Testing is simple and the only way to detect radon in your home.
✔ If levels are high, mitigation systems can safely redirect radon out of your house.
✔ Homeowners can prevent radon issues in new homes with proper construction techniques.
Your home should be a safe place. Take action today—test for radon and protect your family!
👉 Have you tested your home for radon? Share your experience or questions in the comments below!
Radon gas is a significant concern for homeowners in Calgary and its surrounding areas. Recent studies have highlighted that approximately one in five homes in Calgary have radon levels exceeding Health Canada's recommended safety threshold of 200 becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³).
This prevalence is notably higher than the national average, underscoring the importance of radon awareness and testing in the region.
In Alberta, the situation is equally pressing. Health Canada's Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes reported that 7% of homes in Alberta have radon levels above the 200 Bq/m³ guideline.
However, more recent data indicates that nearly 18% of Canadian homes now contain radon levels at or above this threshold, suggesting a potential increase in affected households over the past decade.
Given these statistics, it's crucial for residents in Calgary and Alberta to test their homes for radon. Testing is the only way to determine radon levels, as the gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. If elevated levels are detected, mitigation measures can effectively reduce radon concentrations, ensuring a safer living environment.
For more information on radon and testing resources, you can visit the City of Calgary's radon information page or consult Health Canada's guidelines.
Find out more:
https://www.arpis.com/indoor-air/radon/
https://www.calgary.ca/environment/programs/radon.html
https://www.airthings.com/resources
https://www.ucalgary.ca/risk/environment-health-safety/environment/radon
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