Radon Testing & Mitigation in Cochrane, Alberta
Protect your home with professional, C-NRPP certified radon testing and radon mitigation systems. We’re based in Cochrane, Alberta, and serve Calgary and surrounding communities.
What does your test say?
Enter your radon result to see where you stand.
Health Canada recommends action when the long-term average is above 200 Bq/m³. Short tests are only a snapshot. 1 pCi/L ≈ 37 Bq/m³.
What is radon, and why should you test your home?
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that forms when uranium in the soil breaks down. It seeps into homes through cracks and drains, and breathing it for many years raises your risk of lung cancer. You can’t see or smell it, so the only way to know your level is to test. For more information about radon, see our frequently asked questions.
Cancer risk
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. With no smell, no colour and no taste, it is dangerous to everyone.
Family first
Nothing is more important than keeping your family safe from the threat of radon. Early detection and reduction are the best course of action.
1 in 5 Prairie homes
were at or above 200 Bq/m³ in the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey, and so were 15.5% of homes in Greater Calgary. Levels vary from house to house across Cochrane and the surrounding area, so only a test shows yours.
Radon testing in Cochrane and surrounding areas
A radon test measures how much radon is in your home. Radon levels change by day and by season, so our C-NRPP certified professionals set up the right test for you and explain your result in plain language.
Detector placement
Health Canada’s placement rules: the lowest level of your home that you use, at least 30 cm above the floor and 30 cm from walls, and about 1 m from windows, doors and vents. Never in a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or storage room.
Test conditions
Radon levels shift from day to day, so a long test gives you a reliable average. Live as you normally do, leave the detector where we put it, and don’t cover it or move it until we pick it up. You can test any time of year.
Short-term test
About 2 to 7 days. A quick screening, useful when you’re buying a home. Health Canada says short tests only give a rough idea, so a result near or above 200 should be confirmed with a long-term test.
Long-term test
At least 91 days. Health Canada recommends testing for 3 to 12 months, because the guideline is based on your yearly average.
Your result in Bq/m³
Health Canada’s guideline is 200 Bq/m³ (5.4 pCi/L) as a yearly average. Many labs report pCi/L, and 1 pCi/L equals 37 Bq/m³. No level is risk free, so the lower the better. We explain your number and when to retest.
If your result is high
Health Canada recommends corrective action within one year when the average is above 200 Bq/m³, and sooner if it’s higher. In most homes a mitigation system can reduce radon by up to 95%. Learn how radon mitigation works and what it costs.
Radon mitigation in Cochrane and surrounding areas
Mitigation installs a system that pulls radon from under your home and vents it outside. Our systems are designed and installed by C-NRPP certified professionals, and most standard installs take about one day.
Site assessment
Before anything is drilled, we inspect your foundation, slab, sump pit and layout. We choose the best spot for the suction point and plan a pipe route that stays neat and out of the way.
Communication test
We check how far suction spreads under your slab. This tells us how many suction points you need and which radon fan size is right, so the system works without being oversized.
Suction point and pipe
A small hole is core-drilled through the slab and a sealed pipe is connected to the soil or gravel beneath it. The pipe runs up from the hole and out through the side of the house. If your home already has a rough-in pipe, we can often connect to it.
Radon fan
An inline radon fan is mounted on the pipe, usually right above the suction point. It runs continuously so the pressure under your slab stays lower than the air inside, which stops soil gas from being drawn into the house.
Sealing and electrical
Major slab cracks, control joints and openings are sealed so the fan pulls from the soil, not your house air. The fan is wired and the exhaust is vented outside, away from windows, doors and air intakes.
Verification
A manometer (a small gauge) on the pipe shows the system is running. Health Canada advises retesting after installation to confirm it works, and every five years after that. We recommend testing about every two years where needed.
How much does First Choice Radon testing and mitigation cost?
Every home is different, so the final price depends on your home. Here’s exactly what you pay for, what’s included, and what can change the price.
One price for a full 91-day radon test, including set up, pick up and your results. If your results show you need mitigation and you choose First Choice Radon, the $99 is reimbursed on your mitigation quote.
What’s included
- Set upWe place the radon detector in the lowest lived-in level, in the breathing zone, away from drafts, exterior walls, sumps and humid areas.
- 91-day test and pick upThe detector runs for 91 days, the long-term test Health Canada recommends, so your reading reflects your real average. We come back to pick it up when the test is done.
- Your results, explainedYour concentration compared with Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline, in plain language.
- Honest next stepsIf it’s above the guideline, we confirm it and plan mitigation. If it’s low, we tell you when to retest.
Thinking about a DIY radon test?What to know before you buy a kit
- Choose a long-term testHealth Canada recommends testing for at least 91 days, ideally 3 to 12 months. Short-term kits, including many library kits, only give a rough idea and aren’t appropriate for deciding on mitigation.
- Use an approved deviceHealth Canada recommends long-term devices that have passed C-NRPP performance testing. For electronic monitors, it strongly recommends only devices on the C-NRPP consumer list.
- Know the kit typesAlpha track detectors and electret ion chambers are sent to a lab for results. Electronic radon monitors show readings on a screen or app, but check that they store at least three months of data.
- Place it correctlyUse a bedroom, living room or office on the lowest lived-in level, at least 30 cm above the floor and 30 cm from walls, and 1 m from windows, doors and vents. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, sump holes and foundation cracks. One detector is enough.
- Follow the instructions exactlyDon’t move or tamper with the device. Mail lab kits back promptly and before the expiry date. If a device is dropped or damaged, repeat the test with a new one.
Most installs take about one day. You get your exact price in writing before any work starts.
What’s included
- Pre-install assessmentWe inspect your foundation, slab, sump and layout, then plan the suction point and pipe route.
- Communication testChecks how far suction spreads under your slab, so the fan is sized correctly for your home.
- Sub-slab depressurization systemA suction point through the slab, sealed piping and an inline radon fan that keeps the soil gas under your home at lower pressure than the air inside.
- Sealing and electricalMajor slab cracks and openings are sealed, the fan is wired, and the exhaust is vented outside away from windows and doors.
- Gauge and post-mitigation testA manometer shows the system is running, and we retest to confirm your radon level has dropped.
What can raise the priceMost homes don’t need any of these upgrades
- Sealing hole in concrete floor under furnaceSeals an existing opening in the slab under the furnace.
- Crawlspace membraneA sealed plastic cover over exposed soil, with suction beneath it. Only for homes with a crawlspace.
- Extra suction pointLarger or more complex slabs sometimes need a second point to cover the whole floor.
- Radon dome sump lidAn airtight lid for a sump pit. Only needed in certain homes.
- Fan upgradeOur communication test sizes the fan. Larger or more complex homes may need a stronger one.
Radon questions, answered
Are you based in Cochrane?
Yes. We’re based in Cochrane, so we’re close by for testing, installs and follow-up retests. Most radon companies serving this area are based in Calgary. We also serve Calgary and the surrounding communities.
Are your radon professionals C-NRPP certified and licensed?
Yes. Our radon professionals are certified through C-NRPP, the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program, which is the national standard for radon measurement and mitigation in Canada. We are also licensed to work in Alberta. Certification means we follow approved testing and installation standards, so your test results and your system are done properly. You can ask to see our certification at any time, and you can confirm it with C-NRPP directly.
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It forms when uranium in soil and rock slowly breaks down, then rises through the ground and can seep into your home through cracks in the floor, sump pits, floor drains and gaps around pipes. You can’t see, smell or taste it, so a test is the only way to know your level.
Is radon dangerous?
Yes. Long-term exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, after smoking, and the leading cause for people who have never smoked. When radon gas breaks down it releases tiny radioactive particles. You breathe them in, and they lodge in your lungs and damage the cells lining your airways over time. That damage can lead to lung cancer years later, often with no warning signs until the disease is advanced. The risk builds with the level of radon and how long you breathe it, which is why time spent at home matters most. Smokers exposed to radon face a much higher risk than either factor alone. The good news is that radon is easy to test for and fixable: lowering your level reduces your risk.
What radon level is too high in Canada?
Health Canada’s guideline is 200 Bq/m³, measured as a long-term average. At or above 200, you should take steps to lower your radon. The World Health Organization recommends an even lower reference level of 100 Bq/m³, so lower is always better.
How long does a radon test take?
A short-term test takes about 2 to 7 days and gives a quick first look. A long-term test takes at least 91 days and shows your true average, because radon levels rise and fall from day to day. You can test any time of year.
What if my radon test is above 200?
Don’t panic. The risk comes from breathing radon over many years, not from one day. We confirm the result, usually with a long-term test unless the number is very high, then explain your options. Health Canada recommends corrective action within one year when your average is above 200 Bq/m³, and sooner if it’s higher. A mitigation system can lower your level.
How much does radon mitigation cost?
Radon mitigation starts at $1,799. The final price depends on your foundation, layout and system design. Extras like a crawlspace membrane, an extra suction point or a sump lid only apply to some homes, and most homes need none of them. See the cost section or request a quote and we’ll give you your exact price in writing.
How long does installation take?
Most standard systems take about one day. That covers the assessment, drilling the suction point, running the pipe, mounting the fan, sealing and the electrical work. Larger or more complex homes can take longer, and we confirm timing before we start.
How often should I retest?
Retest after any renovation or change to your heating or ventilation. After a mitigation install, Health Canada advises retesting after installation, and every five years after that to confirm the system still works. Where needed, we recommend testing about every two years, because radon levels can change over time with the weather, settling of the foundation and changes to your home.
Is radon common in Alberta?
Radon is found in homes across Alberta, and levels differ from house to house, even on the same street. In the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey, about 1 in 5 Prairie homes and 15.5% of Greater Calgary homes were at or above 200 Bq/m³. Those are regional numbers. Only a test shows your home’s level.
Should I test my home for radon?
Yes. Health Canada recommends testing every home. You can’t tell a home’s radon level from its age, size, foundation or neighbours, and a result of one home says nothing about the next one.
How much does a radon test cost?
A 91-day radon test is $99. That includes set up, pick up and your results, explained in Bq/m³ with clear next steps. If your results show you need mitigation and you choose First Choice Radon, the $99 is reimbursed on your mitigation quote.
Can I test for radon myself?
Yes. DIY kits can work if you follow the instructions exactly. The main risks are poor placement, a test that’s too short and misreading the result. A professional test is placed in the right spot, run under proper conditions and explained in plain language, with a direct path to mitigation if you need it.
Can radon get in through a basement floor?
Yes. Basements and other low areas are the most common entry points. Radon can enter through cracks in the slab, control joints, sump pits, floor drains and gaps around pipes and wiring. Your home also acts like a weak vacuum, drawing soil gas up from below.
Do new homes have radon?
Yes. Newer homes can have radon too, and tighter construction can hold it in. Many new homes have a capped pipe called a rough-in, but it doesn’t lower radon until a fan is added and the slab is sealed properly. Test any new home once you’re living in it.
Should I test before buying a house?
Yes. Ask the seller for past results and consider testing during the sale. A short-term test can give you a quick answer before closing. If the result is close to 200, plan a longer follow-up test.
Will the fan be noisy?
No. Radon fans are quiet. The fan sits on the pipe, usually right above the suction point, so you barely hear it. You may hear faint airflow near the pipe.
Will it raise my electricity bill?
Only a little. The fan runs all day, every day, but most radon fans use about as much power as a few light bulbs. Ask for the fan’s wattage in your quote to estimate the yearly cost.
Does a radon system need maintenance?
Very little. Check the gauge (called a manometer) now and then to confirm the system is running. The fan won’t last forever, so plan to replace it eventually, and test about every two years to confirm your radon level stays low.
How much can mitigation lower my radon?
Results depend on your home, so we don’t promise a percentage. Health Canada says that in most situations a final level below 200 Bq/m³ can be readily achieved. After installation we retest, so you see your new number for yourself.
Want to learn more? Visit our radon articles and videos.