Your radon questions, answered.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the decay of uranium in soil and rock. It's colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It seeps up from the ground and can accumulate inside homes. ¹

Through cracks in foundation slabs, gaps around utility penetrations, sump pits, crawl spaces, and any opening that connects your living space to the soil underneath. Because homes are slightly negatively pressurized compared to the ground, they actively pull radon inward.

Both can have high radon. Older homes often have more foundation cracks. Newer homes are more airtight, which traps radon once it's inside. Construction type matters less than the geology under your specific home.

Radon concentration is typically highest in basements and lowest on upper floors. However, in airtight or forced-air-ventilated homes, radon can distribute throughout all levels.

Two options. DIY kits ($30-$60) mailed to a lab give reasonably accurate long-term data. Professional tests ($249-$399) use calibrated continuous monitors for faster, more accurate readings with expert placement and analysis.

Short-term tests run 2 to 7 days. Long-term tests run 91+ days and are Health Canada's recommended method for the most accurate reading. ²

Winter and fall give the highest readings because homes are closed up. Health Canada recommends long-term tests starting in fall for the most accurate average.

Every 2 to 5 years if your initial test was clear. After any major renovation, foundation work, or HVAC change. After installing a mitigation system (30 days later to confirm it's working).

Health Canada's guideline is 200 Bq/m³. ³ There's no officially safe level — any exposure carries some risk — but 200 Bq/m³ is the level at which action is recommended.

A mitigation system uses a quiet fan to pull radon-laden air from beneath your basement floor slab and vent it safely above your roofline. This is called sub-slab depressurization. It reduces indoor radon by 80 to 99 percent in most homes. ⁴

Our preliminary estimates run $2,800 to $3,800, depending on home complexity. Final price is confirmed after a 15-minute on-site visit. Industry range is $2,500 to $4,500 across Ontario.

Most homes: one day. Complex homes with multiple foundation zones: up to two days.

No. Modern fans run at 30-45 decibels — quieter than a refrigerator.

The radon fan typically lasts 20+ years. The PVC piping and seal work can last 30+ years.

It almost always does. If your post-install test still shows elevated levels, we adjust the system at no extra cost until you're below 200 Bq/m³.

Not legally. But it's increasingly common for buyers to request it as an inspection condition. Many sellers also voluntarily test before listing.

Typically negotiated between buyer and seller. Common outcomes: seller pays for mitigation before closing, seller credits buyer at closing, or sale price is reduced to reflect mitigation cost.

We schedule within 24 hours of booking. Test runs 48 hours. Formal report delivered within 24 hours of pickup. Total: 3-4 days from booking to report.

Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer for non-smokers in Canada. ² Approximately 3,200 Canadians die annually from radon-induced lung cancer. ⁵

Radon exposure builds cancer risk over years and decades, not days or weeks. Short-term exposure is not considered acutely dangerous.

Yes. Children breathe more air per pound of body weight and have faster cell division, making them more sensitive to radiation damage over time.

Our standard residential radon test is $249. Long-term tests are $299. Real estate tests are $399.

Our preliminary estimates run $2,800 to $3,800 for most GTA homes. Final quote confirmed after on-site visit.

Not for personal homes. For rental or commercial properties, testing and mitigation costs may be deductible business expenses. Talk to your accountant.

Not currently. Some insurance providers offer discounts for homes with mitigation systems, but there's no provincial rebate program as of 2026.

Three things: we publish our prices (most competitors don't), we refuse to sell mitigation to homes that don't need it, and we're a local team that doesn't subcontract.

The Greater Toronto Area plus surrounding Southern Ontario, including Oakville, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto (all former municipalities), Burlington, Hamilton, Guelph, and more. Same pricing everywhere, no distance surcharge. See full area list.

Yes. All three of us are C-NRPP certified. ⁶ Breathe Radon Free Inc. is an Ontario registered corporation with full commercial general liability insurance.

5 years on mitigation installation work. Manufacturer warranty on the fan (typically 5 years). Workmanship is covered for the life of the original owner.