A note before you read. This is general consumer information for Manitoba homeowners, buyers, sellers, landlords, and renters, drawn from publicly available Health Canada, Evict Radon / University of Calgary, Manitoba Health, Doctors Manitoba, the Manitoba Lung Association, and other sources. It is not medical, legal, or warranty advice. Radon results are reported against the Health Canada guideline of 200 Bq/m³; RadonTest.ca coordinates testing logistics and does not interpret individual results or provide health assessments.
Key facts: radon in Manitoba at a glance
- Manitoba has among the highest residential radon in Canada — and by the 2024 survey's measure, the highest provincial average. Health Canada's 2012 survey found about 19% of Manitoba homes above the 200 Bq/m³ guideline; the 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey put Manitoba's average around 169 Bq/m³ (the highest of any province) with roughly 1 in 3 homes above the guideline.
- Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Doctors Manitoba estimates radon causes over 200 lung-cancer cases and over 150 deaths a year in the province.
- The Health Canada guideline is 200 Bq/m³ (annual average). Above it, Health Canada recommends acting within one year — sooner the higher the level.
- Manitoba Hydro will finance your radon fix on your utility bill. Its Home Energy Efficiency Loan covers radon mitigation up to $5,000, repaid through your hydro bill with no down payment (a C-NRPP-certified contractor is required).
- There's no warranty backstop, though. Manitoba's new-home warranty is voluntary (not mandatory) and does not cover radon. New homes must include a radon rough-in under the building code.
- Manitoba's home-sale disclosure form explicitly asks about radon — so a known problem is hard to hide.
- A valid test takes at least 91 days. Fixing a home usually costs in the low thousands and installs in about a day.
How much radon is in Manitoba homes?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas — colourless, odourless, tasteless — produced as uranium in soil and rock breaks down, then seeping indoors. Manitoba's numbers are among the highest in the country, and by one recent measure the highest of any province.
- Health Canada's Cross-Canada Survey (2012) found that about 19% of Manitobans live in homes above the 200 Bq/m³ guideline — and up to 44% in certain regions. (The national figure was about 7%.)
- The 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey (Evict Radon / University of Calgary) found Manitoba's average home radon level around 169 Bq/m³ — the highest of any province — and roughly 1 in 3 Manitoba homes above the guideline (Doctors Manitoba, citing the survey, puts it as high as 43%). Both Winnipeg and Brandon appear on the survey's list of Canadian municipalities where between a quarter and half of homes are above the guideline.
These figures come from different studies, years, and methods (a randomized federal survey versus a newer, larger study), so they aren't directly comparable — but they point the same way: Manitoba is a high-radon province. Health Canada uses "1 in 5" as its national headline; Manitoba runs well above it. (For the national picture, see radon levels by province.)
What this means for you: a provincial average can't tell you about your house. Two homes on the same street can read very differently depending on soil, foundation, and ventilation. A long-term test is the only way to know your own number.
Community testing has shown how local it gets: community testing in 2019–2020 found about 30% of homes above the guideline in Winnipeg and 37% in Brandon — with some rural communities far higher still.
Find your city: we maintain detailed local guides for Winnipeg and Brandon, with more Manitoba communities on the way.
Why Manitoba has so much radon
Radon levels track the amount of uranium and thorium in the ground beneath a home, and southern Manitoba's prairie and sedimentary soils carry enough to produce high indoor levels. Health Canada notes radon is "usually higher in areas where there is a higher amount of uranium in underlying rock and soil." Manitoba's long, cold winters add to the problem: as Doctors Manitoba points out, Manitobans spend a lot of time indoors in tightly sealed homes during winter (and summer), which lets radon build up over months. The result is a province where high readings are common — but, as always, the picture varies house by house.
Is radon dangerous? The health risk in Manitoba
Radon is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen — the highest category, alongside tobacco smoke and asbestos. Health Canada's current figures:
- Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause overall after smoking.
- About 16% of lung-cancer deaths in Canada are estimated to be radon-related — more than 3,000 a year (Health Canada's fact sheet cites about 3,200).
- Health Canada estimates a non-smoker exposed to high radon over a lifetime has roughly a 1 in 20 chance of developing lung cancer from it; for a smoker, the combined risk rises to about 1 in 3.
For Manitoba specifically, Doctors Manitoba estimates radon causes over 200 lung-cancer cases and over 150 lung-cancer deaths in the province each year. With one of the highest radon prevalences in the country, the risk is province-wide.
Health Canada frames the risk proportionately, and so do we: there is no level of radon that is completely risk-free, the risk below the guideline is small, and it is ultimately each homeowner's choice what level of exposure they are willing to accept. Radon acts over the long term, with no immediate symptoms. The point isn't alarm — radon is measurable and fixable, and testing is inexpensive. (To separate fact from fiction, see our top radon misconceptions.)
The Health Canada guideline — and what your number means
Canada's guideline is 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³), measured as an annual average in a normally occupied area of the home. It's a health-based guideline, not a hard legal limit for private homes. Health Canada's guidance:
- At or above 200 Bq/m³: take corrective action to reduce the level, within one year — and sooner the higher the result.
- Below 200 Bq/m³: no corrective action is recommended, though no level is risk-free; some households (especially where someone smokes) choose to act toward the WHO's more protective 100 Bq/m³ reference level.
Your result is a concentration, not a pass/fail — it sits on a spectrum. For what each range means and what Health Canada recommends at each, see how to read your radon test results and our comparison of the Health Canada, WHO, and US thresholds.
How to test for radon in Manitoba
With this much radon in the province, testing is essential — and it's straightforward:
- Use a long-term test of at least 91 days (three months). Radon swings day to day and season to season; a 91+ day average reflects your real exposure. Short-term tests are only for checking a mitigation system, never for deciding whether to act.
- The heating season (roughly October–April) is ideal, because Health Canada recommends that at least 91 days of the test fall within it; a test that runs largely outside the heating season can underestimate your annual average. You can start any time of year — just plan to run it long enough.
- Place the detector in the lowest lived-in level (often the basement if it's used), in a room occupied more than four hours a day, about 30 cm off the floor and away from drafts, vents, and direct sun. Not the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room.
- Use a C-NRPP-approved test. RadonTest.ca kits use an alpha-track detector analysed by a C-NRPP-certified laboratory. (For how long-term kits compare with continuous digital monitors, see our guide.)
Where to get your test: order a RadonTest.ca kit — the detector, analysis by a C-NRPP-certified laboratory (with an all-in-Canada analysis option), tracked shipping both ways, and your result delivered with clear Health Canada context are all included. One caution about cheaper retail kits: not every hardware-store kit is analysed by a C-NRPP-certified lab — see our comparison of hardware-store radon test kits.
When to retest. Health Canada recommends testing again after any renovation that affects your home's structure or ventilation (a finished basement, new furnace, added bathroom), after energy retrofits (new windows, insulation, air sealing), or after excavation near the foundation. If you install a mitigation system, retest every five years to confirm it's still working. There's no blanket "every five years" rule for an unmitigated home — the trigger is change. (See when is radon testing season in Canada.)
If your radon is high: mitigation in Manitoba
A result above 200 Bq/m³ is a solvable problem (here's what to do if your radon is above 200 Bq/m³). Health Canada recommends hiring a C-NRPP-certified radon mitigation professional — and Manitoba, as one of Canada's highest-radon provinces, has an established mitigation industry.
How it works. The standard, most effective method is active soil depressurization (ASD), also called sub-slab depressurization: a pipe through the foundation slab and a continuously running fan draw radon from beneath the home and vent it outside before it can enter your living space. In most homes this reduces radon by more than 80% (Manitoba Health puts it at 90% or greater), and a system often installs in about a day. A good contractor will run the fan continuously (never off), check that the system doesn't cause "back-drafting" of a furnace, water heater, or fireplace, and verify the work with a short-term test after activation plus a long-term test the following heating season — ideally not the company that installed it.
What it costs. There's no authoritative Manitoba-only average, but Health Canada estimates $2,000–$3,000 for a typical sub-slab system, and national data from Take Action on Radon averages about $2,700 (complex buildings cost more). Running the fan adds roughly $50–$75 a year in electricity — and in Manitoba you can finance the work on your hydro bill (see below). (See radon mitigation cost in Canada.)
Find a certified professional. The Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) — run by the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists with Health Canada oversight — certifies radon measurement professionals, mitigation professionals, and labs. Search the directory at c-nrpp.ca/find-a-professional. RadonTest.ca does not perform mitigation or recommend specific companies. (See also how to choose a licensed radon mitigator.)
Manitoba's radon rules and protections
Manitoba's distinctive feature is how you can pay for a fix — its building and warranty rules are lighter, but it's the one province where you can finance mitigation on your utility bill.
Manitoba Hydro: finance your radon fix on your bill
Manitoba's standout is Manitoba Hydro's Home Energy Efficiency Loan, which lets homeowners finance radon mitigation up to $5,000 (within an overall $12,500-per-home limit), over a five-year term, with no down payment — Hydro pays the contractor directly and you repay on your monthly energy bill. The work must be done by a C-NRPP-certified contractor, and the home must be a primary residence (yours or a tenant's). It's a genuinely useful lever that few other provinces offer. (Two national grant options can help too: the Canadian Lung Association's Lungs Matter grant of up to $1,500, prioritizing people with a lung-cancer diagnosis and lower-income households.)
New-home warranty: voluntary, and no radon coverage
Unlike Ontario, Alberta, and BC, a new-home warranty is not mandatory in Manitoba — a New Home Warranty Act was passed in 2013 but never brought into force, and was repealed. Coverage is voluntary and market-driven, and no Manitoba warranty covers radon. This contrasts with Ontario, where the Tarion warranty explicitly covers radon mitigation up to $50,000 — so in Manitoba, fixing radon in a new home falls to the owner (helped by the Hydro financing and grants above). (For the cross-country picture, see does your new home warranty cover radon?)
Building Code: a radon rough-in
New Manitoba homes are built with radon protection. The Manitoba Building Code (which adopted the National Building Code of Canada 2020, in force January 1, 2024) requires new small (Part 9) homes to include a radon rough-in — a sealed soil-gas barrier under the slab and a capped, labelled pipe ready for a fan. It's a passive rough-in: if a later test shows elevated radon, a fan is added to complete the system. The code governs new construction only and requires no testing — and inspectors and mitigators note the rough-in isn't always installed correctly, so a new home still needs to be tested. (More detail: Canadian building codes and radon.)
Selling a home: radon is on the disclosure form
Manitoba's standard home-sale disclosure form is unusually explicit about radon. The Manitoba Real Estate Association's Property Disclosure Statement — built into the offer-to-purchase form used by real-estate agents since 2011 — specifically asks the seller whether the property contains radon gas (alongside asbestos, mould, and other hazards). The form is optional for a seller to complete, but Manitoba's general rule still applies: while buyers beware of visible defects, a seller must disclose a known material latent (hidden) defect — and a known, unmitigated high radon result is exactly that. So if you've tested and know your level is high, it should be disclosed; if you're buying, make radon part of your due diligence. (See radon when buying or selling a home in Canada.)
Workplaces and rentals
Manitoba's workplace safety rules set no binding radon limit for general workplaces. Separately, federally regulated workplaces in Manitoba (banks, telecom, interprovincial transport, federal operations) fall under the new federal rule SOR/2026-10, which sets a binding limit of 200 Bq/m³ (replacing the old 800 Bq/m³), coming into force around February 2027. For rental housing, see our guides for landlords and renters.
In November 2025, Manitoba radon organizations released a five-year "Made-in-Manitoba Radon Action Plan" aimed at testing schools and homes and improving the built environment — a sign of how seriously the province's high radon levels are being taken (though the plan is a framework, not a law).
Financial help in Manitoba
- Manitoba Hydro Home Energy Efficiency Loan — finance radon mitigation up to $5,000 (within a $12,500 home limit), five-year term, no down payment, repaid on your hydro bill; C-NRPP-certified contractor required. The standout Manitoba option.
- Lungs Matter (Canadian Lung Association) — a national grant of up to $1,500 toward mitigation, prioritizing people diagnosed with lung cancer and lower-income households (a long-term C-NRPP test result at or above 200 Bq/m³ is required).
- No dedicated Manitoba provincial radon grant or tax credit exists, and there is currently no open federal radon-mitigation grant for the general public.
Frequently asked questions
What is a risk-free radon level in Manitoba? No level is completely risk-free. Health Canada's guideline is 200 Bq/m³, the level above which it recommends acting within a year. The risk below the guideline is small but not zero, and the WHO references a more protective 100 Bq/m³.
How common is high radon in Manitoba? Among the highest in Canada. Health Canada's 2012 survey found about 19% of Manitobans above the guideline; the 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey (Evict Radon / University of Calgary) put Manitoba's average the highest of any province (~169 Bq/m³), with roughly 1 in 3 homes above the guideline.
Can I get help paying for radon mitigation in Manitoba? Yes. Manitoba Hydro's Home Energy Efficiency Loan finances radon mitigation up to $5,000, repaid on your hydro bill with no down payment (C-NRPP contractor required), and the national Lungs Matter grant offers up to $1,500. Confirm current terms with each program.
Does Manitoba's new-home warranty cover radon? No. Manitoba's new-home warranty is voluntary (not mandatory) and does not cover radon — unlike Ontario's Tarion warranty.
Do I have to disclose radon when selling a home in Manitoba? The standard property disclosure form specifically asks about radon, and a known, unmitigated high result is a latent defect a seller is generally expected to disclose. There's no obligation to test before selling.
Do new Manitoba homes have radon protection built in? Yes — the building code requires a radon rough-in in new homes. It's a passive rough-in; a fan is added if a later test shows elevated radon, and it's worth testing a new home to confirm the rough-in was done right.
How long does a radon test take? At least 91 days (three months) for a valid long-term result. Short-term tests aren't suitable for deciding whether to act.
Test your Manitoba home
Manitoba has among the highest radon in the country — and one of the easiest ways to finance a fix. But the only way to know your home's level is a long-term test.
Order your RadonTest.ca kit → — lab analysis by a C-NRPP-certified laboratory (with an all-in-Canada analysis option), tracked shipping both ways, and your result delivered with clear Health Canada context.
Sources
- Health Canada — Radon: What you need to know ("1 in 5 homes," 16% of lung cancers, ~3,200 deaths, >80% reduction), 2025. https://radontest.ca/links/hc-what-you-need-to-know
- Health Canada — About radon / Radon guideline (200 Bq/m³; corrective action within 1 year), modified 2025-09-24. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-risks-safety/radiation/radon/about.html
- Health Canada — Reduction Guide for Canadians ($2,000–$3,000; fan operating cost; 1-in-20 / 1-in-3 risk; mechanism; verification), modified 2025-09-24. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/radiation/radon-reduction-guide-canadians-health-canada.html
- Health Canada — Guide for radon measurements in homes (91-day test, season guidance, retest triggers, 5-year retest for mitigated homes), modified 2025-12-22. https://radontest.ca/links/hc-measurements-guide
- Province of Manitoba (Manitoba Health) — Radon (~19% of Manitobans above guideline; 200 Bq/m³; testing guidance; ASD 90%+). https://www.manitoba.ca/health/publichealth/environmentalhealth/radon.html
- 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey (Evict Radon / University of Calgary) — Manitoba ~169 Bq/m³ (highest provincial average), ~1 in 3 homes; Winnipeg and Brandon among high-prevalence municipalities. https://crosscanadaradon.ca/survey/
- Doctors Manitoba — Know the Risks of Radon (MB ~43% of buildings above guideline; ~200 cases / ~150 deaths a year; climate/indoor-time framing), updated 2025. https://gettinghealthy.ca/posts/know-the-risks-of-radon
- Take Action on Radon — Manitoba (19% / up to 44% / >90% in some communities; Winnipeg ~30%, Brandon 37% community reports). https://takeactiononradon.ca/provinces/manitoba/
- Manitoba Hydro — Home Energy Efficiency Loan (radon mitigation financed up to $5,000; on-bill repayment; C-NRPP contractor). https://www.hydro.mb.ca/account/loans/home-energy-efficiency-loan/
- Government of Manitoba — 2020 National Construction Codes adoption (Manitoba Building Code, M.R. 78/2023, in force Jan 1 2024; radon rough-in). https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/its/bldg_codes/2020_construction_codes_adoption.html
- Manitoba Real Estate Association — Property Disclosure Statement (radon question, Q15); Manitoba real-estate regulator on disclosure. https://www.mbrealestate.ca/home_buyers/protecting-the-home-buyer.html
- Manitoba Workplace Safety & Health — Occupational Exposure Limits (no radon-specific limit). https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/occ_exp_limits.html
- Canada Gazette Part II — SOR/2026-10 (federal workplaces: 200 Bq/m³, in force ~Feb 2027). https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2026/2026-02-11/html/sor-dors10-eng.html
- Canadian Lung Association — Lungs Matter radon mitigation grant (up to $1,500). https://www.lung.ca/air-quality/radon/lungs-matter-radon-mitigation-support
- Made-in-Manitoba Radon Action Plan (Manitoba radon organizations) — 5-year plan, released Nov 27, 2025. https://takeactiononradon.ca/provinces/manitoba/
Lab analysis is performed independently by a C-NRPP-certified laboratory. Results are reported against the Health Canada guideline of 200 Bq/m³. RadonTest.ca coordinates kit logistics and sample submission only — it does not interpret or modify lab results and does not provide medical, legal, or warranty advice. Information attributed to Health Canada, Manitoba Health, Doctors Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and others is summarized from the public sources listed above; confirm time-sensitive details (financing terms, building-code requirements, disclosure obligations, program availability) with the responsible body.
Regional radon testing guides
Testing your home in a specific part of Manitoba? This local guide covers the communities we serve:
- Radon testing in Southern Manitoba — Winnipeg and Brandon