RadonCare
FAQ

The health risk of radon is considered a nonlinear non-threshold simply meaning that there is no amount of radon considered “safe”. While it is true that radon is present in some concentration in all geographic areas (including outdoors), it is agreed that the lower the concentration of radon and your cumulative exposure the better. For a radon mitigation system this means that the smallest additional steps can greatly improve health risk. Our systems are designed to achieve results comparable to outdoor levels of the area (generally from 10 - 40Bq/m3) or below the lowest level of detection.

Radon gas is a radioactive byproduct of uranium decay that exists naturally both inside and outside of man made structures. Certain properties of home construction can cause radon gas to concentrate to high levels inside homes. When you and your family are exposed to concentrated levels of radon gas over extended periods of time, your risk of developing cancer, specifically lung cancer, significantly increases. If you combine concentrated radon exposure with other known carcinogens such as smoking, you reach an even higher risk threshold.

The most widely accepted risk models present a linear correlation between radon exposure and risk. This means there is no level of exposure which is without risk, however, because the gas is found at very low concentrations in natural settings the risk is extremely low. Radon is only a concern when it concentrates to high levels inside of structures such as your home, where in extreme cases it may reach levels thousands of times higher than ambient levels outdoors.

No. Although studies do show certain regions and neighbourhoods have higher prevalence of radon than others, radon levels can vary widely over short distances and with small variations in building structure. The only way to know if your home is safe is to have it tested.

Yes. Infants and children are particularly sensitive to radon due to differences in lung shape, body size and breathing rates children have higher radiation doses than do adults. Since lung cancer risk from radon exposure is based on cumulative levels, the longer you live in a household with high levels the higher your risk. Reference: Chen, J. Canadian Lung Cancer relative Risk from Radon Exposure for Short Periods in Childhood Compared to a Lifetime. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 1916-1926.

Generally speaking, basements have slightly higher radon levels than other parts of a home. Since radon diffuses quickly in the air and most homes in Western Canada have centralized heating systems, radon levels are usually found to be similar on all levels of a home but may be marginally higher on the lowest levels. We typically see around a 30% reduction per floor (but not always!). For this reason we always recommend taking readings from your basement if you spend a significant amount of time there, which Health Canada defines as an average of 4 hours or more/per day.

Radon is everywhere and therefore radon exposure happens everywhere, from inside a residential or commercial building to outdoors at a park. While no one can make a building radon free, the average concentration, and therefore the risk from radon can be managed.

No. Radon has only been conclusively proven to cause lung cancer.

No. Radon has only been conclusively proven to cause lung cancer.

No. Radon has only been conclusively proven to cause lung cancer.

All RadonCare mitigation systems come with a 5 year performance guarantee *in addition* to the standard industry parts and performance warranty. If your levels are not below our guarantee we'll fix it or your money back!

Installation: For the most part, no. Our installations require some drilling and power tool usage but no need to cancel your zoom meetings. Our technicians can discuss your schedule with you to ensure the least amount of disruption as possible. System Operation Overall: Our mitigation systems are designed to be as quiet as possible. Our pressure field diagnostics ensure that the fan selected is not in excess of the power required for effective mitigation. We also utilize sound reduction techniques like fabric strapping and foam "mufflers" to reduce operational noise.

Most mitigation installations can be completed within one business day. We'll let you know if conditions are present which require more time prior to beginning the work. We know how important your time and space are!

We don't know yet! Without completing pressure field diagnostics we can not conclusively determine which fan is right for your home. Our systems are designed to work optimally with all the systems in your home meaning it must be precisely calculated to ensure adequate performance and reduce potential energy penalty and air leakage.

We use a mixture of RadonAway and Fantech fans depending on the individual requirements for the building(s).

Yes! All of our mitigations are completed by a currently active C-NRPP certified radon mitigation professional. We do not have one mitigation certified professional but many. Our installations will never be completed by an uncertified technician. Ask as many questions as you like during installation too, we all love to provide answers!

Health Canada recommends the use of a long term alpha track test kit to calculate an average of your radon exposure prior to a decision on mitigation action. Provided at least 91 days are used with a digital device, a short term equipped device may be used. Digital meters offer flexibility for multiple properties and in cases of diagnostic placement. Long term alpha tracks are very affordable.

Of course! Our technicians would be happy to answer any questions you have.

Health Canada's current guidelines state that measurements should be completed over at least 90 days during the heating season. Often, the way in which we operate and use our homes during the colder winter months can increase radon levels in the home. With windows closed less ventilation occurs and with the furnace operating, a greater potential exists to pull in soil gases such as radon. New research states that this is often not the case but can be. The important takeaway is to test over different seasons and varied weather conditions.

Health Canada guidelines state that the lowest lived-in (defined as occupied for 4 hours/per day or more on average) level of the home should be tested. We recommend testing rooms such as bedrooms, living rooms, offices or other common areas. *Do not* test the mechanical room, kitchens or bathrooms. Test devices should be placed away from windows, hallways and doors in regular breathing space - avoid directly on the floor or tacked up to the ceiling.

Many factors affect the levels of radon present in your home including, but not limited to, • The type of soil beneath the home, • The climate • Lifestyle trends (temperature home is kept at, local weather, wind, if windows are kept open or closed) Long term radon tests (recognized by Health Canada as 3 months or longer) are the only reliable methods of determining your home’s average radon level. The rigorous schedule of new home construction simply do not permit such a level of testing.

Radon is measured in Bq/m^3 (becquerels cubed) in Canada and much of the world and pCi/L (picocuries per liter) in the United States. If you're the type interested in conversions, 1pCi/L = 37 Bq/m^3.

A free radon test is designed to entice customers into allowing a company rep into the home and as far as we've seen, is never completed according to Health Canada guidance or best practices. We recommend testing over 3 months or longer with a reputable test, from a reputable manufacturer, under proper conditions, properly quality controlled. Short term tests often report higher on average leading you to consider fixing a problem you may not even have. Be suspicious, ask questions, follow up and get a second opinion. A good company should never discourage you from getting more than one quote.

RadonCare Return Policy: Unopened items may be returned in the original packaging within 30 days of your purchase, with receipt or proof of purchase. We cannot accept returns or exchanges after 30 days from time of purchase. Upon receipt of returned item, we will fully examine the product and notify you via email, within a 1 week, whether the item meets our standards for return. If you are entitled to a return, we will refund your purchase price and a credit will automatically be applied to your original method of payment.

All orders received before 5pm MST will ship out the same day via Canada Post.

You can find details of our privacy policy at https://radoncare.ca/privacy-policy/.