Home Ownership: Radon Gas Awareness

Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, and is tasteless, colourless, odourless and is present due to the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock.

Red Door / Red Door Realty Lunenburg / Jessica Josenhans REALTOR®

Here in Nova Scotia we can have high concentrations of radon gas due to it's naturally occurring prominence, which isn't a problem outdoors as the air dilutes it to safe levels, but when trapped in a basement with no ventilation and/or proper radon barriers it can become a serious health risk.

Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. You may be at risk, and you should get your home tested.

Radon can enter your home wherever your house comes in contact with the ground - if there are gaps around service pipes, posts, window casements, floor drains, construction joists, as well as cracks in the foundation slabs or walls.

To test for radon gas, there are two main ways. Purchase a DIY radon gas kit from your local hardware store or the internet, for something like 30-60$. The tests will come with an instruction manual for their proper use. You can also hire a professional to test for radon for you, and if you need any recommendations I'd be happy to help.

When testing, you should always do it from the lowest lived in level of your home, as in a space that is occupied for more than 4 hours a day, and the best test to use is one that is active for at least 3 months.

For more radon testing resources, check out> www.takeactiononradon.ca

If your home has radon gas levels above what is recommended by Health Canada, which is currently 200 Bq/m3, you still have options! Health Canada recommends that you hire a "mitigation professional certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) ) to help you find the best way to reduce the radon level in your home" > https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/radiation/radon-your-home-health-canada-2009.html who can be reached through www.c-nrpp.ca or by calling 1-855-722-6777.

The most common way to mitigate radon is through a process known as sub-soil depressurization, this system constantly sucks air from underneath your foundation and exhausts the radon heavy air outside and may cost anywhere from $2,000-4,000.

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction and get you in touch with the best industry professionals to assist you!

Red Door / Red Door Realty Lunenburg / Jessica Josenhans REALTOR®