Radon Testing & Mitigation in Foothills County, Alberta
Foothills County covers a large area south of Calgary, including Priddis, Millarville and De Winton. With sloped land, acreages and wells and septic, the right test and fix start with how your home meets the ground.
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 Foothills County 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 Foothills County.
Homes in Foothills County
Properties in Foothills County can include walkouts on sloped land, crawlspaces, additions, detached shops and garages, and private wells and septic systems. Newer homes may have a radon rough-in, and older ones may not.
What to know in Foothills County
The county is large and varied, so we assess each property instead of generalizing. The 2024 Cross-Canada survey found about one in five Prairie homes at or above 200 Bq/m³, but that cannot say where a specific house falls. Only a test can.
Does living in the foothills mean higher radon?
Not necessarily, and not necessarily lower. Radon varies from house to house even on the same road, so the only way to know is a long-term test of your own home.
Other communities we serve nearby
Radon testing across Foothills County acreages and rural homes
Walkouts and sloped lots
On sloped land the lowest level may be partly above grade and partly buried. We test the lowest level, away from doors and windows, 30 cm or more above the floor and 30 cm from exterior walls. Radon changes from day to day, so a proper test runs at least 91 days.
Crawlspaces and additions
We test the lowest level above any crawlspace and consider the soil beneath it. An addition on a different foundation may need its own detector, and we decide that when we assess the home. Every test is set up and read by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Detached buildings
Shops, garages and other detached buildings have their own foundations and can read differently from the house. We place detectors to match what we find. 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 across Foothills County: slabs, crawlspaces and sloped lots
Slab and walkout systems
We core the slab and place the suction pit toward the buried side of a walkout, where soil contact is greatest. The fan mounts on the pipe right above the hole and the pipe exits through the side of the house. Every system is designed and installed by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Crawlspace membranes
Where soil is exposed, we cover it with a sealed membrane and apply suction beneath it. It is a different system from a slab, and some homes need both.
Wells, septic and long driveways
We plan drilling points, pipe routes and the exit wall around wells, septic fields and buried lines, so nothing on the property is disturbed. In most homes a system can reduce radon by up to 95%.
How much does radon testing and mitigation cost in Foothills County?
Foothills County quotes depend on the foundation type, the slope and whether the home has a rough-in. Crawlspace and mixed-foundation properties take more planning. Your written 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 Foothills County homeowners
Does living in the foothills mean higher radon?
Not necessarily, and not necessarily lower. Radon varies from house to house even on the same road, so the only way to know is a long-term test of your own home.
Are the radon professionals serving Foothills County 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 Foothills County are handled by C-NRPP certified professionals, and you can ask to see our certification at any time.
Do you serve Foothills County?
Yes. We book tests and installs across Foothills County from our Cochrane base.
Which areas does Foothills County include?
We serve the county including Priddis, Millarville and De Winton, and the rural land around Okotoks, High River and Black Diamond. See Okotoks and High River for the towns.
How much does radon testing cost in Foothills County?
$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.
Can mitigation work on a sloped lot?
Yes. We choose the suction point and the exit wall to suit the grade, and the pipe exits clear of windows, doors and air intakes.
Do I need to test a detached shop or garage?
You can. Each has its own foundation and can read differently from the house. We decide placement when we assess the property.
What if my home has both a crawlspace and a basement?
We can design for both: a slab system for the basement and a sealed membrane with suction for the crawlspace, each checked with a communication test.
Want to learn more? Visit our radon articles and videos.