What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which results from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water, and is present outdoors and within every home & building. The problem arises when too much radon concentrates inside a building and becomes an indoor air quality issue and a health hazard.
Health Canada, the World Health Organization, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and many other respected international authorities all agree – Radon is the number 1 cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.
You cannot see, smell or taste radon and as a result, elevated levels could be present inside your home or building and you would never know without testing for it. The good news, is that testing your home & building for radon is a relatively simple procedure that you can do yourself with a radon detector kit.
Testing Your Home & Building For Radon
Radon concentrations in our homes & buildings can vary significantly from hour to hour, day to day, and even more so from season to season. As a result, long-term tests are the best way of estimating the annual average radon concentration in your home or building. Long-term radon tests range from 91 days to 1 year in length, and are minimally invasive, taking up no more room than a cup of coffee.
Health Canada recommend radon testing be conducted during the winter heating season (between October and April) for a minimum period of 91 days.
Choose The Radon Detector That's Right For You
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a technician to come to my home to test for radon?
Our kits include a detailed instruction sheet that will guide you in placing your detector in order to get a meaningful radon measurement for your home. As such it is not necessary to have a technician visit your home.
What is included in our kits?
Radon test kits include:
• Radon detector
• Detailed instruction sheet
• Chain of custody form
• Pre-addressed return envelope
Please note that postage on the pre-addressed return envelope is not prepaid.
Are there any additional laboratory fees?
All lab fees are included in your initial purchase. The only outstanding expense is the postage cost of mailing your pre-addressed envelope in for analysis at the end of the testing period. Radonova's facility is located in Lombard, IL.
Should I order a short-term test or a long-term test?
As a general guideline Health Canada recommend testing your home with a long-term (90 day) detector during the winter heating season (October to April) before making any decisions concerning mitigation.
In the short-term radon levels tend to fluctuate, so long-term radon measurements capture a more meaningful average reading. If a short-term radon test reveals that a building has low radon levels, particularly outside of the winter heating season, it is still possible that the building may have elevated radon levels during the winter season when radon levels tend to be higher.
Generally, a short-term radon measurement can be useful when a time-sensitive approximation of a home's radon levels is required, or when evaluating the efficacy of a newly installed radon mitigation system. In both of these instances however it is strongly recommended that the results be confirmed with a long-term measurement preferably during the following winter heating season.
How many test kits should I purchase?
Health Canada recommend placing one detector in an occupied space on the lowest level of your home that is occupied for an average of four hours per day or more. This will often be a living room, bedroom, or home office in a finished basement.
This is considered to be a guideline. As such, if you are curious as to what the radon levels are like in other parts of your home, then additional tests can be conducted at your discretion.
If your home was constructed in multiple phases over multiple concrete slabs or over multiple foundation types then conducting additional tests in occupied areas on each slab or foundation type would provide you with a more comprehensive idea of radon levels throughout your home.
How much are your shipping costs?
For a single, long-term radon test kit we charge $5 for shipping, plus applicable taxes.
For orders with multiple detectors we charge Canada Post's Expedited Parcel rate, which will vary depending on your location.
I'm ordering a long-term bundle of three detectors. Can I use it to test three separate addresses?
Yes. When completing the provided chain of custody paperwork please ensure you record a separate measurement location for each detector. You will however receive one single report with all three measurements.
I’m interested in purchasing a larger number of kits. Do you offer a bulk discount?
Please contact us at radonlab@pinchin.com if you are interested in a bulk discount.
How long will it take me to receive my test kit(s)?
Our radon kits are mailed from Mississauga via Canada Post. Typically orders will arrive within one to three weeks depending on your location.
How do I get my results and how long will it take?
After mailing your detector in to Radonova's laboratory you will receive a report with your radon measurement from Pinchin via e-mail approximately two weeks after receipt of your detector by Radonova.
Please retain a copy of your tracking information until you have received your report via e-mail.
Can I pick up a kit my local Pinchin office?
Currently we are only able to accommodate pick up orders at our Mississauga Laboratory location. If you are interested in picking up a kit from this location, please e-mail us at radonlab@pinchin.com to coordinate.
Is my radon level safe?
Health Canada recommends radon be mitigated at levels of 200 Bq/m3 or higher. The World Health Organization more conservatively recommends mitigation at levels of 100 Bq/m3 or higher.
Health Canada’s action level is in place to provide Canadians with guidance on when remedial action should be taken to reduce radon levels. However, they also state, “while the health risk from radon exposure below the Canadian Guideline is small, there is no safe level of radon. It is the choice of each homeowner to decide what level of radon exposure they are willing to accept.”