November is Radon Awareness Month in Canada. This is what you need to know.
- Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste.
- The gas can enter a building through cracks in the foundation or seep into your home with groundwater.
- Behind smoking, Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer accounting for approximately 16% of lung cancer deaths each year in Canada.
- Dangerous levels of Radon may be found in any enclosed space such as a home, office building or school.
- The only way to determine if there is Radon in your home is to test for it.
Where can I get one? How do the tests work?
- The Windsor Essex County Health Unit is giving away 1,000 free test kits to successful applicants this month.
- You can learn more and apply here.
- Test kits cost approximately $45 and can be purchased at your local hardware store, or from a Radon gas mitigation contractor.
- The best time to test for Radon in your home is when windows are closed and airflow from the outdoors is minimal; during the late fall, winter and early spring.
- To obtain an accurate analysis, the testing period is approximately 3 months in length.
- Follow the directions exactly on your test kit, then return the kit to the laboratory related to the product. Shortly thereafter you will receive the results of the Radon test.
What if Radon is present in my home?
What is Radon mitigation?
Radon mitigation is the process to remove the dangerous gas from your home.
Here’s what is done:
- PVC pipe collects soil gasses
- Radon is piped upwards in the building
- A radon depressurization vent forces radon out from your house
With Radon causing approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year in Canada, and a simple test can determine if your home is at risk; there’s no reason to not protect your family. Add “radon test kit” to your shopping list today.