What is it and where does it come from?

Radon is a radioactive noble gas. It has no taste or odour and is invisible. We express radon as Bq/m3, or becquerels per meter squared. Bq (becquerel) is the scientific term for one radioactive decay per second. 200 Bq/m3 indicates that for every cubic meter of air, 200 radioactive radon particles decay per second. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is present all over the world. Uranium is produced by the radioactive decay chain as it gradually decays into lead. Uranium is present almost everywhere in soil, rocks, and water. Nova Scotia's geology classifies us as a location with the potential for high levels of radon.

How do you test for radon?

Checking for radon is an effortless and affordable task. You may buy kits online or at your neighbourhood hardware store. You can also engage qualified experts to take the tests on your behalf. Various test types measure radon differently. Health Canada recommends three distinct test types: the E-PERM, an alpha track, or a commercial-grade continuous monitor. Both short-term and long-term tests are available. Health Canada advises long-term testing, which could take 91 days to a year and reveal your true exposure. For more reliable results, the best time to test is during the heating season. Additionally, one can conduct short-term testing to ascertain a home's radon potential. These exams can last up to 90 days, but they often take two to three days. Your home must remain "closed" for the whole twelve hours before and during short-term tests. This calls for shutting down fans, windows, doors, and several other kinds of air exchangers.

How does radon get into my home?

Any area of the structure that is in contact with the earth allows for radon gas to pass through apertures. Access points include cracks in your slab, the area surrounding foundations and interior footings, gaps around utility and plumbing penetrations, sump pits, cleanouts, and other openings. If the total area of these entry points is 1 cm2, there will be enough room for hazardous amounts of radon to enter your house. A negative pressure inside the house relative to the outside environment allows radon gas to enter. The pressure differential draws radon gas into your house like a tiny vacuum cleaner. This negative pressure is typically caused by the ventilation systems we use to heat and cool our homes, as well as the building's higher interior temperatures than its exterior. Water is another way for radon gas to infiltrate your house. 

If I have radon in my house how do I get rid of it?

The good news is that tried-and-true methods can lower the radon levels in your home. Subslab depressurization is the most common and successful technique. The objective is to change the negative pressure in respect to the area beneath your home to a positive pressure in order to reverse the flow of gas into your house. These mitigations typically cost less than having a new furnace installed. The age of the house and the type of construction used are unrelated to the presence of radon in your home. Even in homes built with the most recent radon-resistant systems, we advise radon testing every two years.

How do I find out if there's radon in my home?

The good news is that radon can be easily detected. Health Canada suggests a long-term test (91 days to 1 year) to evaluate the actual exposure, while there are many other test types available. If you find the long-term test too lengthy, you can complete short-term tests in less than three days. The positive news is that you can address radon contamination in your home. Today's mitigation techniques nearly always lower the levels in your home below 75–200 Bq/m3. Installing a new furnace is generally more expensive than mitigating your home's radon levels. Some people fear that discovering radon in their homes may lower the value of their property. Radon mitigation systems and testing can, in fact, increase your home's value. As consumers become more aware of the hazards, they will inquire about them during real estate transactions. If your home has already undergone testing at authorized standards, it will ease the buyer's mind. Radon testing is required for real estate transactions in numerous states in the United States and Canada.

Ventilation Kings process

1. Free Home Assessment

To develop a potential mitigation design that maximizes efficiency and minimizes cost, one of our experienced radon professionals will evaluate the basement foundation, potential radon entry points, the sub-slab granular material, and the use of the basement spaces. From there, we provide you with an estimate and a preferred system design.

2. Mitigation Diagnostics

Using specialized tools and detailed pressure measurements we follow a specific Health Canada process to demonstrate that our design is engineered to protect the entire foundation.

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3. Mitigation Installation

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This step involves the installation of the mitigation system in your home. We'll vent the system outside of your home and complete the piping, bracing, fan installation, sealing, system monitoring, and labelling. After installing everything, we will conduct another pressure test to ensure the system is effectively treating the entire foundation.