Radon Testing & Mitigation in Cochrane, Alberta
Based in Cochrane, our C-NRPP certified professionals test and fix radon in homes of every age. Whether yours is brand new with a capped pipe or decades old, we start with how it is actually built.
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 Cochrane 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 Cochrane.
Homes in Cochrane
Cochrane has grown fast, so you may own a recent build, an older home or something in between. Each is handled differently: a newer home may have a radon rough-in to activate, a walkout or sloped lot changes where we test, and an older home may have additions or a crawlspace.
What to know in Cochrane
Newer homes are built with a radon rough-in, a capped pipe that runs from under the basement slab to the mechanical area. It is only a stub: radon stays in the soil gas until a fan and gauge are added. Activating a rough-in is usually quicker and cheaper than retrofitting a home with no pipe.
My Cochrane home has a capped pipe in the basement. Am I protected?
Not yet. The pipe makes a future system cheaper, but it does not move radon on its own. Test first. If the result is above 200 Bq/m³, we add a fan, seal the slab and retest.
Other communities we serve nearby
Radon testing in Cochrane that follows Health Canada guidelines
Walkouts and developed basements
In a walkout, the lowest level is often partly above grade, and the exterior door and windows can affect the reading. We test the lowest level, finished or not, at least 30 cm off the floor and 30 cm from exterior walls, and away from doors and windows. Radon changes from day to day, so a proper test runs at least 91 days.
Older homes and crawlspaces
Homes in the older core can have partial basements, additions on a different foundation or a crawlspace. One result may not describe the whole house, so we decide which foundation types need their own detector. Every test is set up and read by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Buying or selling in Cochrane
Short-term tests are available if you need a quick answer during a sale, and buyers and sellers use them to get a first reading before closing. A short test is only a snapshot, so a 91-day test is still what confirms your real average. You can start one 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 Cochrane for new builds and older homes
Activating a rough-in
If your home has the stub, we confirm it reaches the gravel under the slab with a communication test, then fit an in-line fan right on the stub, add a manometer and a label, and seal the slab openings. It is the lowest-cost route and often a one-day job. Every system is designed and installed by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Homes without a rough-in
We core a hole through the slab, form a suction pit underneath and run a pipe up from it. The fan mounts on the pipe right above the hole, and the pipe exits through the side of the house, clear of windows, doors and air intakes.
Reading the gauge after install
The manometer on the pipe shows the fan is pulling. If the two sides of the gauge ever read level, the fan has stopped and you should call us. We retest with a 91-day test after install to confirm the number dropped. In most homes a system can reduce radon by up to 95%.
How much does radon testing and mitigation cost in Cochrane?
Cochrane homes with a rough-in are usually the lowest-cost jobs, because the pipe is already under the slab. Homes without one need a core drill and a new pipe route. Your written quote sets the price before any work starts. 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 Cochrane homeowners
My Cochrane home has a capped pipe in the basement. Am I protected?
Not yet. The pipe makes a future system cheaper, but it does not move radon on its own. Test first. If the result is above 200 Bq/m³, we add a fan, seal the slab and retest.
Are the radon professionals serving Cochrane 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 Cochrane are handled by C-NRPP certified professionals, and you can ask to see our certification at any time.
Do you serve Cochrane?
Yes. Cochrane is our home base, so tests, quotes and post-install retests are booked locally.
How much does a radon test cost in Cochrane?
$99 for a 91-day test, including set-up, pick-up and your results explained. If you choose First Choice Radon for mitigation after the result, the $99 comes off your quote.
Do I need a radon test if my Cochrane home is new?
Yes. A rough-in prepares a home for mitigation but does not reduce radon. Airtight new homes can hold radon in, so test once you are living in the house.
How do I find the rough-in in my home?
Look for a capped plastic pipe, often 3 or 4 inches wide, coming out of the slab in the mechanical room, a utility area or beside the sump. Some are labelled. If you are unsure, send us a photo.
How long does a Cochrane radon mitigation take?
Most installs take about one day. We then recommend a retest to confirm the new number.
Do you also serve Cochrane Lakes and the acreages around town?
Yes. See our Rocky View County page for acreages with wells, septic and multiple foundations.
Want to learn more? Visit our radon articles and videos.