Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground and builds up inside homes. You can't see it or smell it, and it's the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada after smoking. In Southern Manitoba, testing matters more than most homeowners realize: the Canadian Prairies are among the higher-radon parts of the country, and elevated results turn up regularly across Manitoba. The good news is that finding out where your home stands is straightforward, inexpensive, and something you do once.
Why the extra attention here? Southern Manitoba sits on flat-lying, uranium-bearing bedrock and glacial soils, the kind of geology that tends to produce more radon than average. That's a qualitative pattern, not a guarantee about any single house — two homes on the same street can read very differently depending on their foundation, ventilation, and how they were built. The only way to know your number is to test.
Communities we cover
We serve homeowners right across Southern Manitoba. If you'd like radon context closer to home, we have dedicated guides for the region's two largest centres:
We also test homes in surrounding communities including Steinbach, Portage la Prairie, Winkler, and Selkirk. For the province-wide picture, see our overview of radon in Manitoba. Wherever you live in the region, the testing process is the same — and so is the reason to do it.
How radon testing works
Health Canada recommends a long-term test of at least 91 days, ideally run over the heating season when homes are closed up and radon tends to concentrate. A short-term test can be misleading because radon levels swing from day to day and season to season; a long-term measurement gives you a reliable annual average instead of a snapshot.
Here's how it works with our radon test kit: you place the C-NRPP-approved detector in the lowest level of your home 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, and humidity. You leave it in place for the full test period under normal living conditions, then mail it back in the prepaid packaging. It's analysed by a Canadian C-NRPP certified lab, and you receive your report by email.
Your result is measured in becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). Health Canada's guideline is 200 Bq/m³: this is an action guideline — the level at which reducing your radon is recommended — not a line between acceptable and harmful. Any amount of radon carries some risk, and there is no known level that is free of risk. The 200 Bq/m³ figure simply tells you when to act.
What to do if your level is high
If your test comes back at or above 200 Bq/m³, don't panic — radon is very manageable. The recommended next step is to contact a C-NRPP-certified radon mitigation professional for a quote. The most common fix is sub-slab depressurization: a pipe and quiet fan that draws radon from beneath your foundation and vents it safely above the roofline before it enters your living space. A properly installed system typically reduces levels substantially.
Because Southern Manitoba's geology can produce elevated readings, mitigation is a well-understood, routine job for local professionals here. After a system is installed, you should retest to confirm it brought your level down as expected. Testing first — before you spend anything — is the only way to know whether you need a system at all.
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 for 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 that is 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 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 Southern Manitoba home
Ready to find out where your home stands? Order our radon test kit and test your Southern Manitoba home today.