Radon Testing & Mitigation in Canmore, Alberta
Canmore has condos, townhomes, duplexes and houses on steep lots. Attached buildings change how a fix is approved, and steep lots change how it is designed.
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 Canmore 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 Canmore.
Homes in Canmore
Canmore has condos and townhomes, duplexes and houses, some on steep lots with walkout or finished lower levels.
What to know in Canmore
Radon depends on how a building meets the soil. In condos and townhomes, we look at which unit levels touch soil, and mitigation in shared buildings may need board approval. Radon is generally lower on upper floors.
Do condos and townhomes need radon testing?
Ground-level and below-grade units can, because they are in contact with soil. Any unit can be tested, and upper floors are generally lower but not guaranteed.
Other communities we serve nearby
Radon testing in Canmore: condos, townhomes and steep-lot homes
Walkouts and steep lots
On a steep lot, the lowest level may be partly above grade and partly buried. We test the lowest level, 30 cm or more above the floor and away from exterior walls, doors and windows. Radon changes from day to day, so a proper test runs at least 91 days.
Condos and townhomes
Ground-level and below-grade units are the ones in contact with soil. We look at which levels apply, and radon is generally lower on upper floors. Every test is set up and read by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Duplexes and attached homes
Each unit has its own contact with the soil and its own airflow, so each is tested separately. A neighbour’s result does not describe your side of the building. 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 Canmore: steep lots, townhomes and condos
Steep lots
The lowest level may be partly above grade, so we plan the suction point toward the buried side and choose the pipe route and exit wall that suit the grade. Every system is designed and installed by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Attached homes
We design for your unit without disturbing neighbours. In a strata or condo, exterior vents or common areas may need approval from the board, and we explain what is likely to be required.
Gauge, label and retest
A manometer shows the system is working and a label tells the next owner what it is. A 91-day retest confirms the number dropped, and strata or condo owners can share the result with the board. In most homes a system can reduce radon by up to 95%.
How much does radon testing and mitigation cost in Canmore?
Canmore quotes follow a site assessment because layouts vary so much. A townhome and a walkout each have a different route for the pipe. 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 Canmore homeowners
Do condos and townhomes need radon testing?
Ground-level and below-grade units can, because they are in contact with soil. Any unit can be tested, and upper floors are generally lower but not guaranteed.
Are the radon professionals serving Canmore 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 Canmore are handled by C-NRPP certified professionals, and you can ask to see our certification at any time.
Do you serve Canmore?
Yes. Canmore is in the Bow Valley and we travel there from Cochrane.
How much does radon testing cost in Canmore?
$99 for a 91-day test with set-up, pick-up and your results explained, reimbursed on a mitigation quote if you choose First Choice Radon.
Is mountain geology higher in radon?
It varies over short distances, so we do not guess. A neighbour’s result does not tell you yours, and only a test of your own home does.
Does a steep lot change radon testing?
It changes placement and system design. On a steep lot the lowest level may be partly above grade, so we place the detector away from doors and windows and plan the suction point toward the buried side.
Can I test more than one unit or level?
Yes. Each unit or level can be tested separately, and any space can be tested. In an attached home, we design mitigation for your unit without disturbing neighbours.
Do you serve Exshaw, Dead Man’s Flats and Banff?
Yes. See Exshaw and Dead Man’s Flats and Banff.
Want to learn more? Visit our radon articles and videos.