Frequently asked questions

A short-term test shows radon levels during the test period, which can be as short as 48 hours. Radon rises and falls with weather, season and how a home is used, so a short reading is not your long-term average.

A long-term test of at least 91 days estimates the average you're actually exposed to, and that is what Health Canada's guideline is based on.

They answer different questions. A 48-hour check with a professional monitor gives you an early, preliminary snapshot within days. A long-term test of at least 91 days gives the stronger picture of your home's average radon level, which is what Health Canada's guideline and any mitigation decision are based on.

Our Short-Term + Long-Term Testing starts both at the same visit, so you don't have to wait months to learn something, and you still get the answer that counts. The short-term reading doesn't replace the long-term test or predict its result.

Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³) measure how much radioactive decay is happening in a volume of air. Health Canada's guideline for homes is 200 Bq/m³, and it applies to the long-term average radon level.

It's an action guideline, not a line between “perfectly safe” and “dangerous.” Lower is better, and decisions about reducing radon should be based on a long-term test.

No single short test can certify a home as safe. A short-term result is a useful early indication of radon levels during the test period. To understand your long-term exposure, and before deciding on mitigation, a long-term test of at least 91 days is recommended.

Health Canada recommends that long-term tests run for at least 91 days, ideally during the heating season (roughly October to April) when homes are closed up and radon levels tend to be higher.

Yes. Radon depends on the ground under a home and how air moves through the building, not on the age or condition of the house. New, well-sealed homes can still have elevated levels.

No. Radon levels can differ a lot between homes, even on the same street. The only way to know your home's level is to test it.

Opening windows can change radon readings for a while, but it isn't a reliable or permanent fix, especially through a Nova Scotia winter. If a long-term test shows high radon, a properly designed mitigation system is the dependable solution.

Our real estate radon screening runs for at least 4 days. The result describes radon levels during that period.

It's useful information for a transaction, but it doesn't replace a long-term test. We recommend buyers follow up with a long-term test after moving in.

Whoever requests the screening tells us who is authorized to receive the report, for example the buyer, the seller or their agents. We confirm this in writing before testing starts.

It depends on the service, where the property is and what you need. Tell us about your property and we'll send you a quote. The first phone or email conversation is free and there's no obligation.

Yes. A short phone or email conversation to help you work out which service fits is free. Site visits and testing are quoted separately.

A standard power outlet near where the monitor will sit, and a home Wi-Fi network with a 2.4 GHz band so the device can send its readings. We check this with you before installation. We provide the monitor on loan and pick it up at the end of the year.

Yes. We offer radon mitigation. Contact us to talk through your result and your options.

We serve Halifax and surrounding areas. Get in touch to arrange testing.