Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground and builds up inside homes. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in Canadians who have never smoked, and the only way to know your home's level is to measure it. Across Ontario — from lakeshore towns to older neighbourhoods and newer subdivisions alike — elevated radon results turn up in the Cross-Canada Radon Survey, and Niagara Region homes are no exception. The gas doesn't care about the year your house was built, its price, or how tightly it's sealed. Two houses on the same street can read very differently, so testing is the only reliable way to find out where yours stands.
If you own a home anywhere in the Niagara Region, testing is a simple, low-cost step that gives you a real number to act on. This guide covers how radon testing works, the communities we serve, and what to do if your reading comes back high.
Communities we cover
We provide managed radon testing to homeowners across the Niagara peninsula. Whether you're on a quiet street in the heart of the region or in a growing community closer to the escarpment, the testing process is the same. Here are the communities we cover:
- St. Catharines
- Niagara Falls
- Welland
- Fort Erie
- Grimsby
- Lincoln
- Pelham
For a wider look at how radon behaves elsewhere in the province, see our overview of radon in Ontario.
How radon testing works
Health Canada recommends a long-term test of at least 91 days, ideally spanning the heating season, when homes are closed up and radon levels are typically at their highest. Short-term tests of a few days can swing wildly from one day to the next, so they give a poor picture of what your family actually breathes over a year.
The process is straightforward. You place a small detector in the lowest level of your home that you spend time in — a finished basement, or the main floor if you don't use the basement — about 1 to 2 metres off the floor, away from drafts, exterior walls, windows, and sources of humidity. Leave it undisturbed for the full test period, then mail it back for analysis.
Our radon test kit is built to make this easy: it includes a C-NRPP-approved detector, prepaid two-way shipping, analysis by a Canadian C-NRPP certified lab, and an emailed report you can act on. We also send timed reminders so the detector goes out and comes back on schedule — the follow-through is the part most people miss on their own.
Your result comes back as a number in becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). Health Canada's action guideline is 200 Bq/m³ — the level at which reducing your radon is recommended. It's important to understand what that number is and isn't: any amount of radon carries some risk, and there is no known level free of risk. The 200 Bq/m³ figure is an action guideline, not a line between acceptable and harmful.
What to do if your level is high
If your test comes back at or above 200 Bq/m³, Health Canada recommends taking action to reduce it. The good news is that radon is very treatable. Contact a C-NRPP-certified radon mitigation professional for a quote. Most homes are fixed with a technique called sub-slab depressurization, which uses a fan and a pipe to vent radon from beneath the foundation to the outside before it can enter your living space.
A properly installed system typically reduces levels substantially. After the work is done, retest your home to confirm the mitigation did its job and your level has dropped. Testing first is what tells you whether you need a system at all — many homes never do, and the only way to know is to measure.
FAQ
How do I test my home for radon?
Health Canada recommends a long-term test of at least 91 days, ideally over the heating season. Place the detector in the lowest level you spend time in, leave it the full period, then mail it to a lab. Our kit includes the C-NRPP-approved detector, prepaid two-way shipping, analysis by a Canadian C-NRPP certified lab, and an emailed report.
Is there an acceptable level of radon?
Any radon carries some risk, and there is no known level free of risk. Health Canada's 200 Bq/m³ is an action guideline — the point at which reducing your level is recommended — not a line between acceptable and harmful.
Where should I place the radon test kit in my Niagara home?
Put it in the lowest level of your home you use regularly — a finished basement, or the main floor if you don't use the basement — about 1 to 2 metres off the floor, away from drafts, exterior walls, windows, and humidity, under normal living conditions.
What do I do if my radon level is high?
At or above 200 Bq/m³, Health Canada recommends taking action. Contact a C-NRPP-certified radon mitigation professional for a quote; a properly installed system typically reduces levels substantially. Retest afterward to confirm it worked.
How much does radon mitigation cost?
Most residential systems, usually sub-slab depressurization, vary with the home, so get a quote from a C-NRPP-certified mitigation professional. Test first to learn whether you need one at all.
Test your Niagara Region home
Find out where your home stands — order our radon test kit and get a clear, lab-analysed result you can act on.