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 recommends that radon testing be conducted during the heating season from approximately October to April for a minimum period of 91 days.
Choose The Radon Detector That's Right For You
If you are a building owner, facility manager or in real-estate, and would like to purchase radon detectors in larger quantities, contact us at radonlab@pinchin.com for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in our kits?
Test radon kits include:
• Radon detector
• Detailed instruction sheet
• Chain of custody form
• Pre-addressed return envelope to be used to mail the detector in for analysis at the end of the testing period.
Note that postage on the pre-addressed return envelopes is not prepaid.
Are there additional lab fees?
All lab fees are included in your initial purchase. The only outstanding cost is the cost of mailing your pre-addressed return envelope to Radonova in Lombard, IL at the end of the test for analysis.
Can I pick up my kit at a Pinchin office in order to save on shipping?
Currently we are only able to accommodate pick up orders at our Mississauga location. If you are interested in picking up a kit, please e-mail us at radonlab@pinchin.com to
coordinate.
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 to get a meaningful radon reading for your home. As such, it is not necessary to have a technician visit your home.
Should I order a short-term test or a long-term test?
In order to get a reliable radon measurement, Health Canada recommends 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 measurements capture a more meaningful average reading. If a short-term radon test reveals you have low radon levels, particularly outside of the winter heating season, it is still possible that you may have elevated radon levels during the winter season when radon levels tend to be higher. Regardless, a homeowner may still opt to conduct a short-term test either for peace of mind or to get an approximation of their radon levels ahead of a long-term test in the winter. We offer a combo detector bundle if you are interested in going this route.
How many test kits should I purchase?
Health Canada recommend placing one detector in the lowest lived-in level of your home, in which you occupy an average of four hours per day. This is considered to be a guideline, and 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 on multiple concrete slabs then conducting additional tests on occupied areas on each slab would provide you with a more conclusive and comprehensive idea of radon levels throughout your home.
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 you may 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 large volume of test kits - is there a larger 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 between one and three weeks, depending on the destination.
How do I get my results and how long will it take?
After mailing your detector to Radonova, results will typically take a minimum of three weeks: one week in transit and two weeks for analysis. Results will be distributed to, and reviewed by Pinchin, and then forwarded to you at the e-mail address(es) provided when purchasing the detector. When you receive your results, you will be put in contact with a Pinchin representative that can answer any questions you might have, including mitigation solutions if necessary.
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.”