Ensuring the safety and health of your home goes beyond regular maintenance—it involves identifying invisible risks like radon gas. Testing for radon in your home is an essential step that every homeowner should take, particularly in regions like the Okanagan Valley where radon levels can be higher than anticipated. The dedicated team from Synergy Radon is here to help you understand the importance of testing and to help guide you through the process. Radon, a colourless and odourless gas, can seep into your home without warning, and the only way to know if your family is at risk is through proper testing. By taking this crucial step, you can protect your household from potential health hazards.
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms from the breakdown of uranium found in water, soil, and rocks. As uranium decays, radon is released into the air, where it can move freely through the ground and enter homes. This gas can enter buildings through cracks in the foundation, gaps around service pipes, construction joints, or even through the water supply. Once inside, radon can accumulate to harmful levels, particularly in areas with poor ventilation or airtight structures.
What makes radon especially dangerous is that it is completely invisible—you cannot see it, smell it, or taste it. Despite its stealthy nature, radon can pose a serious health risk. Long-term exposure to elevated levels of radon is a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. The risk is even higher for those who smoke and live in homes with high radon levels. Over time, inhaling radon gas increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer, which makes it essential for homeowners to be aware of its presence and take proactive steps to mitigate the risks.
Why Should You Test for Radon?
The risks of long-term radon exposure are well-documented, yet many homeowners remain unaware of the threat that radon can pose. Because it is invisible, odourless, and tasteless, there is no way to detect radon without testing. This makes regular radon testing essential to ensure that your home is a safe environment. Without testing, you could be living with elevated radon levels for years without knowing it, unknowingly exposing yourself and your family to a preventable health risk.
Radon levels vary depending on geography, and certain areas are known to have higher-than-average radon concentrations. In fact, across Canada, homes in colder climates often experience higher radon levels because of how buildings are constructed to conserve heat, which can inadvertently trap radon gas indoors.
The Canadian government, alongside organizations like Synergy Radon, actively promotes radon awareness and encourages homeowners to test their homes regularly. Health Canada suggests testing your home for radon at least every two years, and even more frequently if your home has recently undergone renovations or if you have moved into a new property. Taking the time to test for radon is a small step that could make a significant difference in the long-term health of your family.
When and How to Test for Radon
Testing for radon in your home is an essential step that should be done at the right time to get the most accurate results. Ideally, radon testing is best conducted during colder months, typically from November to April, when homes are sealed to retain heat. During this time, less ventilation occurs, allowing radon to accumulate indoors, giving you a better understanding of the potential exposure levels in your home. Additionally, testing should be considered during major life changes, such as when purchasing a new home or after completing significant renovations. Renovations can disturb the foundation and create new entry points for radon, so it is a good idea to retest afterward.
There are two main types of radon tests: short and long-term tests. When it comes to short-term tests, they last between 2 and 90 days, using devices like alpha track detectors and digital radon detectors, can provide a snapshot of radon levels. While quick and convenient, short-term tests may not give a complete picture since radon levels fluctuate daily. Long-term tests, on the other hand, are conducted over a period of 91 days to a full year. These tests are far more reliable, as they measure radon levels over time, accounting for fluctuations due to changes in weather or ventilation.
A Certified Radon Measurement Professional, such as at Synergy Radon, will ensure the test is conducted properly, using C-NRPP Listed (“certified”) radon detectors. Professional testing is particularly beneficial if you need precise measurements or are purchasing a new home or building.
The Radon Testing Process
When you decide to use a Certified Radon Measurement Professional, the process begins with an initial phone consultation, during which our team will assess your needs and determine the best test method and duration of time. Once on site at the customer’s home or building, the Professional will determine the best place to place the radon detector(s). These detectors should be placed in the lowest lived-in area of the home, such as the basement or ground floor, where radon levels are most likely to be highest.
Once the detectors are placed, they will remain in place for a predetermined period (depending on whether it is a short or long-term test), as not all detectors are capable of both short and long-term testing. Here at Synergy Radon, we only use C-NRPP Listed detectors for initial radon measurements, and strongly advise homeowners do the same if they choose a DIY option. Certified Professionals must follow strict quality control protocols that ensure customers receive fresh detectors, having been stored in low radon environments and batches have been checked for accuracy, including blank tests, and duplicate tests.
Once the testing period is complete, the radon detectors are collected and shipped to a C-NRPP Certified Lab for analysis, and will send the lab results to the client, and/or Professional. If radon levels are proved to be elevated, Synergy Radon will recommend Professional Radon Mitigation, as per Canada’s National Standard: Radon mitigation options for existing low-rise residential buildings.
A general rule of thumb: do not purchase a passive radon detector from a big box store that requires the customer to send the detector to a lab. Those passive detectors do not follow any standard, are not C-NRPP Listed, and their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Understanding Radon Test Results
Once you have received the results, it is important to know how to interpret them. Radon levels are measured in Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). Health Canada’s action level is 200 Bq/m³; however, the World Health Organization recommends a guideline of 100 Bq/m³ and less, as “the risk of lung cancer increases by about 16% per 100 Bq/m3 increase in long time average radon concentration” (W.H.O. 2023, January 25. Radon. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/radon-and-health).
If your home’s radon levels are high, mitigation is necessary to reduce radon exposure. Our team can help you understand your results in detail, answer any questions, and guide you through the next steps.
By understanding your radon test results and taking the right actions, you can protect your family from the long-term health risks of radon exposure. At Synergy Radon, we are committed to helping homeowners create safer, healthier living environments through radon testing and radon mitigation services.
What to Do If Your Home Has High Radon Levels
If your home tests high for radon gas, it is best to begin the process of mitigation as soon as one is able, rather than wait and prolong increased radiation exposure. Contact a Certified Radon Mitigation Professional that is trained and has been certified nationally by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). Here at Synergy Radon, we are one of BC’s original Certified Radon Professionals. We have the expertise and experience to help you mitigate your home.
The source of the radon problem is a high pressure beneath the building that pushes radon inside. This pressure difference is due to building stack effect (convection) in which warm air rises inside the home and exits the top of the building like a chimney and creates a low pressure in the lower level of the home.
The most effective radon mitigation method is Active Soil Depressurization (ASD). It is the process of addressing the high pressure below the building. This method includes sealing what readily accessible concrete floor cracks/openings, or sealing exposed earth, which by itself won’t resolve the radon issue, but aids in creating a more airtight membrane from which we can more effectively draw air from below the home. Next, we conduct “diagnostics” in which we measure the air pressure and available air flow below the home. We use this data to design an effective radon mitigation system that will draw air from below the footprint of the building, thus changing the pressure below the home, and preventing the glut of radon from entering the home in the first place. These systems are known to see reductions in radon of 99%. ASD is recognized as the premier radon mitigation option over ventilation. Although ventilation methods can be helpful, such as Heat Recover Ventilators, Other options include sealing cracks in the foundation or improving ventilation in crawl spaces and basements to reduce radon accumulation.
At Synergy Radon, we specialize in providing customized radon mitigation solutions based on the specific needs of your home. Our experts will assess your property and recommend the best course of action to bring radon levels below the safe threshold. With years of experience in radon mitigation, we use the latest technology and proven techniques to ensure effective results.
Acting quickly is essential when it comes to radon mitigation. Prolonged exposure to high radon levels can increase the risk of lung cancer, and the sooner you address the issue, the better it is for your long-term health and safety. We are here to help you take control of your indoor environment by offering professional radon mitigation services designed to keep your home safe for years to come.
Take Action and Protect Your Home and Family from Radon
Regular radon testing is an essential part of maintaining a healthy and safe home environment. With radon being a silent but serious health risk, especially in areas like the Okanagan Valley, testing for radon in your home is a crucial step in safeguarding your family’s well-being. By being proactive about testing and addressing any elevated radon levels promptly, you can significantly reduce the long-term health risks associated with radon exposure.
If you have not tested your home for radon or are unsure of the current radon levels, now is the time to act. Synergy Radon offers professional radon testing and mitigation services designed to provide peace of mind and ensure your home remains a safe place to live. Our team is ready to help you understand your results and take the necessary steps to lower radon levels if needed.
Contact Synergy Radon today to schedule a radon test or to learn more about our radon mitigation solutions by calling 250-462-8946. Let us help you protect what matters—your health and your home.
