Radon

Hiring a qualified professional

Contact a Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) certified radon measurement professional in your area. The C-NRPP certified professional will advise you on what type of radon detection device best meets your current needs.

How long to test for radon

Long-term tests, lasting anywhere from 91 days to 365 days, will give you a dependable reading of your actual radon risk at home. If choosing to perform a long-term test less than the maximum of 365 days period, be sure that the test period includes the winter season, when the homes heating system is being used.

Short-term tests are useful at quickly assessing the possible long-term exposure level, and to confirm the successful installation of radon mitigation systems, when long-term testing has confirmed that radon was a problem. Depending on the device, it may be used anywhere from 2 to 90 days. Because radon levels can change from day to day, and season to season, a short-term result is less able to assess your long term, year-round average radon risk.  If you are using a short-term test device, Hamilton Public Health recommends testing for a minimum of 7 days, and keeping outside windows and doors closed as much as possible during the test period. For periods shorter than 7 days, it is recommended that you consult a C-NRPP certified professional to conduct the test. 

Where to test for radon

The test device should be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home, where people typically spend 4 or more hours per day.  For example, in an unfinished basement, with only a laundry room and storage area, the device should be placed on the first floor of the home. Lived-in areas of the home, such as family rooms, dens and bedrooms are suitable locations. Avoid placing the device in a kitchen or bathroom. Also, be sure to follow all of the instructions that come with your test kit (i.e. any specified distance away from the floor, ceiling, exterior walls, doors and windows, vents, or sources of heat).

What your test results mean

Lower radon levels are better. If you have conducted a short-term test (less than 91 days), you should still consider following up with a long-term test, before concluding that you do or do not have a radon problem in your home.

• For long-term test results over 100 Bq/m3, you may consider taking action to lower your radon level.
• Above 200 Bq/m3, it is recommended that you lower your radon levels within 2 years.
• Over 600 Bq/m3, it is recommended that you fix the problem with 1 year. 

For help interpreting your test results, you can contact Hamilton Public Health Services at 905-546-2489.

Should you discover that radon is a problem in your home, radon reduction systems are effective, and even very high radon averages can be reduced to safe background levels.

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) have published Radon - A Guide for Canadian Homeowners, which details various ways to reduce radon in your home. The right solution for your home depends on a number of factors, and some solutions require technical knowledge and special skills. The Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) lists contact information for contractors who are qualified radon mitigation professionals (search for “Mitigation Professionals” in the search bar).

The cost of reducing radon may vary depending on the extent of the problem, and between different contractors, so you may want to get more than one estimate. Most homes can be protected from radon for about the same cost as other common household repairs.