RADON PROFESSIONALS
Concerns over radon gas and the associated health risks are on the rise as more awareness has been brought to the forefront by Health Canada. Sask Air Solutions was created to help combat the dangers of radon and bring your family peace of mind. The process starts with a simple, affordable test that you deploy in your home over a recommended 3 month time period during the winter season. Once you have reviewed your test results, you then can decide if reducing levels with a designed radon reduction system is something your home needs, for the safety of it's occupants. Our initial approach after your home has tested high for radon, is to investigate the home's envelope and HVAC system, looking for any irregularities. If you have completed renovations in your older home with the goal of becoming more energy efficient, you may have in turn created an air tight home which can then result in inadequate ventilation. Improper ventilation can lead to humidity problems, elevated levels of radon and poor indoor air quality. If you are interested in testing your home, or have already tested and have discovered high levels of radon, we can help! Contact us today for a free radon consultation.
WHAT IS RADON?
And why should I be concerned?
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. Saskatchewan is rich in uranium, meaning the percentage of homes that are exposed to radon gas is much higher in our province, as depicted in the graphic below. Health Canada states: "Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Exposure to high levels of radon in indoor air results in an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of cancer depends on the level of radon and how long a person is exposed to those levels."
1
Test
"If your radon test result is above the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m3 you should hire a certified radon professional to determine the best and most cost effective way to reduce the radon level in your home." - Health Canada
In order to achieve the most accurate results, testing long term over the course of the winter for a duration of 3 months is recommended - this will allow you to decide if full radon mitigation is the right choice for you.
It is important that you keep your tester in a central location of your basement or a space that is occupied the most, and that testers are not placed on the ground and/or near openings in the floor, as this would result in a false reading not accurate to the actual radon levels in your home.
2
Mitigate
If you discover high levels of radon in your home, you will likely feel worried about the associated risks for yourself and your loved ones. We can address your concerns and reduce high levels of radon by designing an efficient and effective mitigation system. Radon mitigation essentially means creating a slight negative pressure under the home to overcome the natural draw of gases from the ground into your living space; with our process, we ensure that this can be achieved during all seasons and through all temperature fluctuations. At the time of install we do a pressure field extension test, and based on this a certain size of fan is selected that is best suited for your home.
3
Routine Checks
After we have mitigated your home, a short term test will be conducted to confirm that radon levels have been reduced. A long term testing device recommended by Health Canada will also be deployed at this time to confirm the results.
It doesn't stop there though - doing a routine check up on your radon system will confirm your mitigation system is operating correctly. Radon systems aren't installed with a "set it and forget it" approach - checks must be performed for the safety of the occupants of the home, but also to confirm the system is operating efficiently. In order to monitor your day to day radon levels, investing in a digital tester is the right step, and can also alert you in the case of a malfunction. Doing routine post mitigation long term tests is recommended.