November marks the beginning of the heating season, which is when we turn on the heat and close the windows tightly. November to March is the ideal time to test for radon.
This is the time when your home is most airtight. During this period, radon concentrations accumulate in a significant way having no way to escape.
With the reality of telework and the approaching winter, the Quebec population tends to be more homebound. Those who have radon in their homes increase their exposure to radon.
From April to September, it is usual to open the doors and windows to air your house during the summer. Radon levels are often lower because contaminated air can escape.
Radon is undetectable with the senses. At too high a concentration, radon is dangerous for lung health. Two methods are available to detect the presence of radon in your home: the long-term radon test and the short-term radon test.
Long-Term Test
The AlphaTrack AT-100 dosimeters, recommended by Health Canada and the NCRP-C, measure radon over a period of 90 days or more. To facilitate the process, Radon XPro will arrange for your radon test to be mailed to the independent U.S. laboratory Accustar Labs in Massachusetts. We also offer courteous assistance and interpretation of the test results.
Short-Term Test
You can also perform a short-term radon test which will allow you to know if you have a too high radon concentration. The test lasts 72 hours and the test report is approved by a NCCRP-C professional.
Radon Thresholds
Radon concentrations are measured in becquerels per cubic meter. This measurement indicates the radioactive decay of radon per second (Health Canada 2021). The higher this concentration, the more dangerous the environment you are in for your lung health.
Health Canada has set the threshold of acceptable radon for health at 200 Bq/m3. However, the World Health Organization has set the average reference concentration at 100 Bq/m3 (WHO 2021).
What to do if you have radon in your home after your radon test?
In Canada, radon gas mitigation solutions have been designed and tested to the highest standards of quality and effectiveness. By dealing with a NCCP-C certified professional, Quebecers with radon in their homes can be confident that their mitigation system will reduce the radon concentration to the lowest possible level.
If you have a radon level you are not comfortable with, Radon XPro offers radon mitigation system solutions.
