Radon Testing & Mitigation in Calgary, Alberta
Calgary homes of every age and type get the same careful approach: we place the test where it gives the most useful reading and design any fix around your house, not a template.
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 radon means for Calgary homeowners
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It seeps into homes through cracks, drains and gaps, you can’t see or smell it, and breathing it for many years raises your risk of lung cancer. Testing is the only way to know your level. Here is what matters for homes in Calgary.
Homes in Calgary
Calgary has houses, townhomes and condos from every era, and many have been renovated. Finished basements, moved sumps and changed drains can all affect how soil gas moves, so we look at your house instead of assuming.
What to know in Calgary
Radon in a house depends on its own foundation, soil contact and airflow, so neighbours can read very differently. The national radon survey is led by University of Calgary researchers. Condos and apartments above ground level generally have lower exposure, while ground-floor and below-grade units still need a test.
My neighbour tested low. Can I skip testing?
No. A neighbour’s result tells you nothing reliable about your foundation, renovations or ventilation. Only a long-term test in your own home does.
Other communities we serve nearby
Radon testing in Calgary: bungalows, infill and condos
More than one level
Radon is generally highest at the lowest level, so we start there. Any other level can be tested too, and several detectors show how levels compare across the house. Radon changes from day to day, so a proper test runs at least 91 days.
Renovated and finished basements
Finished walls and floors hide cracks, sumps and drain openings. We choose a spot that gives a representative reading, away from drafts, exterior walls and heat sources, not just the one that is easiest to reach. Every test is set up and read by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Buying, selling or listing a Calgary home
Radon is not part of a standard home inspection. Short-term tests are available if you need a quick answer during a sale, and buyers and sellers use them for a first reading. A short test is only a snapshot, so follow it with a 91-day test, which you can start before listing or right after possession. Health Canada’s guideline is 200 Bq/m³ (5.4 pCi/L), and 1 pCi/L equals 37 Bq/m³. Above that, it recommends reducing radon within one year, sooner if the level is higher.
Radon mitigation in Calgary homes with finished basements
Routing through finished space
We look for closets, utility rooms and existing chases so the pipe can run from the suction point to the side of the house without major drywall work. Every system is designed and installed by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Infill and new builds
Newer Calgary homes are built with a radon rough-in. If yours has one, activating it is usually the faster, lower-cost route than drilling a new suction point.
Sumps, floor drains and cracks
An open sump is a direct path to the soil, so a sealed sump lid and sealed slab openings are part of the design. They help the fan pull from under the whole slab. In most homes a system can reduce radon by up to 95%.
How much does radon testing and mitigation cost in Calgary?
Calgary prices depend mostly on whether a rough-in exists and how hard it is to route the pipe. Open basements with a rough-in are the simple end. Finished layouts with no stub need more planning. Your quote lists exactly what is included. Both services are done by C-NRPP certified professionals.
One price for a full 91-day radon test. 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 up
- 91-day test and pick up
- Your results, explained
- Honest next steps
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.
Your written quote lists exactly what’s included for your home.
What’s included
- Pre-install assessment
- Communication test
- Sub-slab depressurization system
- Sealing and electrical
- Gauge and post-mitigation test
Some homes need extras such as a crawlspace membrane, a second suction point, a radon dome sump lid or a fan upgrade. Most homes don’t.
Get a Mitigation QuoteRadon questions from Calgary homeowners
My neighbour tested low. Can I skip testing?
No. A neighbour’s result tells you nothing reliable about your foundation, renovations or ventilation. Only a long-term test in your own home does.
Are the radon professionals serving Calgary C-NRPP certified and licensed?
Yes. Our radon professionals are C-NRPP certified, the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program, which is the national standard for radon measurement and mitigation in Canada, and we are licensed to work in Alberta. Your test and your system in Calgary are handled by C-NRPP certified professionals, and you can ask to see our certification at any time.
Do you serve Calgary?
Yes. We are based in nearby Cochrane and book Calgary tests, quotes and installs across the city.
How much does a radon test cost in Calgary?
$99 for a 91-day test with set-up, pick-up and your results explained. The $99 is reimbursed on your mitigation quote if you choose us after the result.
Do Calgary condos and apartments need radon tests?
Ground-floor and below-grade units do. Radon is generally lower on higher floors, but the only way to know is to test your own unit.
Can I test more than one level of my house?
Yes. Radon is generally highest at the lowest level, so we start there, but any level can be tested.
Can you work around my finished basement?
Usually. We plan the pipe route through closets, mechanical rooms or existing chases and out through the side of the house, to avoid opening finished walls.
Are new Calgary homes radon-free?
No. New homes are built with a rough-in pipe, not a working system. The soil beneath them is the same, and airtight construction can hold radon in.
Want to learn more? Visit our radon articles and videos.