Radon Testing & Mitigation in Olds, Alberta
Olds has town homes and surrounding farms and acreages, with foundations that range from older basements to newer slabs. We start with how yours was built, then test it for 91 days.
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 Olds 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 Olds.
Homes in Olds
Town homes range from older bungalows to newer builds with sumps. Farms and acreages around town include older houses, additions and outbuildings.
What to know in Olds
Older foundations, additions and outbuildings can each read differently from the main house, so one result may not describe the whole property. A 91-day test gives the average for each space you test.
Can I test an outbuilding or an addition?
Yes. Any space can be tested. Each foundation can read differently, so testing an addition or outbuilding separately shows its own number.
Other communities we serve nearby
Radon testing in Olds: town homes, farms and acreages
Town homes
We test the lowest level, finished or not, 30 cm or more above the floor and away from exterior walls, windows and doors. If the home has a sump or a rough-in pipe, we note it, since a rough-in can be activated if the result is high. Radon changes from day to day, so a proper test runs at least 91 days.
Older foundations and additions
Older foundations can have cracks, patched floors, old drains and gaps around pipes, and an addition may sit on a different foundation. We test the lowest level and discuss whether the addition needs its own detector. Every test is set up and read by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Farms and outbuildings
Detached buildings have their own slabs and can read differently from the house. We assess the property and place detectors to match. 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 Olds homes and farms
Slab and basement systems
We core the slab, form a suction pit and run a pipe up from it, with the fan mounted on the pipe right above the suction point and a manometer showing it is working. The pipe exits through the side of the house. Every system is designed and installed by C-NRPP certified professionals.
Crawlspaces and older foundations
Where soil is exposed, we cover it with a sealed membrane and apply suction beneath it. Older slabs are sealed at cracks, drains and gaps before the fan goes in.
Farms and acreages
We plan pipe routes, drilling points and fan locations around wells, septic and buried lines. In most homes a system can reduce radon by up to 95%.
How much does radon testing and mitigation cost in Olds?
Olds prices depend on the foundation type and how many foundations need work. 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 Olds homeowners
Can I test an outbuilding or an addition?
Yes. Any space can be tested. Each foundation can read differently, so testing an addition or outbuilding separately shows its own number.
Are the radon professionals serving Olds 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 Olds are handled by C-NRPP certified professionals, and you can ask to see our certification at any time.
Do you serve Olds?
Yes. We book Olds jobs from our Cochrane base.
How much does radon testing cost in Olds?
$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.
Do older homes need testing?
Yes. Age does not predict radon. Foundation condition, soil contact and airflow matter more than the year the house was built.
Can you work around a well and septic?
Yes. We plan routes and drilling points so wells, septic fields and buried lines are not disturbed.
Do farm homes need testing?
Yes. Older foundations and additions can hold radon, and outbuildings can be tested too.
Want to learn more? Visit our radon articles and videos.