Regina’s Radon Crisis: Fact vs Fiction

If you’ve noticed more radon stories on your newsfeed lately, you’re not alone. Recent reporting highlights two parallel phenomena: more households with dangerous levels of radon and rising cases of lung cancer, even for people who’ve never smoked.

Unfortunately, Saskatchewan faces the brunt of this bad news. Recent data from 2024-2026 Evict Radon National Study confirms that Saskatchewan has among the higher residential radon levels recorded globally.

The good news? You can take simple, effective steps to protect your home. In this article, we’ll help you navigate through them.

What Is Radon and Why Is It Dangerous?

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that comes from decaying uranium. It seeps from soil and rock into buildings, making it difficult to keep out of homes completely and near impossible to detect without specialized equipment.

While there is no “safe level” of radon, trace amounts are considered normal. But if radiation levels, measured in Becquerels per cubic meters, go beyond 200 Bq/m³, then it becomes a health hazard that requires radon mitigation.

We’ve always lived with low levels of radon exposure and that was okay. What changed these days is us: how tightly we seal our homes and how long we stay in them.

Radon exposure is simple. Exposure = concentration x time. Hybrid and Work From Home setups crank that second variable all the way up. Some homeowners even converted basements, where radon concentration is usually the highest, into home offices and gyms during the pandemic.

The result? Health Canada has identified radon as a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Regina’s Unique Challenge: Bedrock, Basements, and Cold

In the Canadian Prairies, our bedrock is rich in uranium and especially abundant in radon gas. In fact, 1 in 5 homes across Saskatchewan have dangerous levels of indoor radon, according to a Cross Canada Radon Survey.

Additionally, cold Saskatchewan winters basically make it mandatory to keep homes as airtight as possible, which also means keeping that potentially radon-laden indoor air in.

To make things worse, we love our basements. It’s become a “standard” part of the house for many homes in Regina. Unfortunately, it’s also where radon often finds its way into our homes.

There’s also something called the Stack Effect that makes radon entry more likely during the winter. Since the interiors are warm and the ground is cool, the house acts like a giant vacuum, sucking air (and radon) up through cracks and tiny pores on the foundation’s concrete.

Common Radon Myths vs. The Facts

It’s completely understandable to feel uneasy about radon. But don’t panic just yet. There are myths that make it scarier than it actually is. Here’s a few common ones that might just help you feel a little bit more at ease:

“It’s an instant death sentence.”

• The reality is that radon is a long-term risk, not an emergency. Risk of lung cancer comes after years of exposure to high concentrations. So if you find high levels in your basement, there’s no need to panic. However, it’s important to start testing your home as soon as possible.

“I’d smell or taste a gas leak.”

• Radon is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. You can’t sense it. The only way to know is to have your house tested.

“My neighbor’s house is fine, so mine is too.”

• Radon is hyper-local. Soil, foundation design, and tiny cracks vary from one house to the next. Your neighbor’s place may be 50 Bq/m³ but that doesn’t guarantee that yours is not 800 Bq/m³.

“I need to redo my entire basement.”

• Construction and radon mitigation companies don’t have to demolish to fix radon leaks. They undergo what’s called a Sub-Slab Depressurization (SSD). It has zero structural impact, can get radon readings down by 90%, and, if your home was built after 2013, it may already have the necessary “rough-in” needed to get it done quickly.

Where Radon Fits Into a Renovation

For many homeowners, radon isn’t something they think about until they’re already planning a renovation.

That’s often when questions come up:

• Should we test before finishing the basement?
• What happens if levels are high?
• Do we need to change our plans?

This is where having the right team matters.

Because radon mitigation doesn’t need to complicate your renovation, but it does need to be considered at the right time.

In some cases, it can be integrated seamlessly into the project. In others, it’s something to address before moving forward.

Either way, it’s not something you need to navigate on your own.

A Four-Step Plan to Test and Mitigate Radon in Your Regina Home

If you live in Regina, especially in Saskatchewan, it’s important that you take steps to make sure your home is safe from radon leaks. If you’re unsure where to start, here’s a simple, practical plan tailored for Regina homeowners:

Step 1: Test your home

• Do a 91-day test ideally in the winter when the windows are often closed.
• You can also do a 2-7 day quick screen for immediate results but confirm with a long-term test before making any big decisions.
• Test the lowest lived-in level (often the basement), 2-6 ft from the floor, away from drafts, exterior walls, kitchen, bathrooms, and sumps.

Step 2: Understand the numbers (Health Canada guidance)

Step 3: If radon mitigation is required, don’t panic. Consult a radon mitigation professional to help figure out your options.

• Hire a mitigation specialist certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). Ask for references and post-mitigation testing.
• Typical Regina costs range from $2500-$4000, depending on the home. Factors such as the existence of rough-ins, type of foundation, and the size of the home all factor into the final quote

Step 4: Retest and maintain

• After installation, verify with a post-mitigation test (your radon mitigation professional may provide), then follow-up with a long-term test the next winter.
• Retest every 2-3 years, after major renovations, or HVAC changes.

The truth is, while we can’t change the uranium-rich bedrock beneath Regina or our need for airtight, energy-efficient homes, we can absolutely control our exposure. This shouldn’t be a complex renovation project; just a couple of simple proactive steps toward lung cancer prevention.

The most important step now is to get that 91-day test kit started today.

Talk to a Basement Renovation Contractor About Radon

If you’re planning a basement renovation and aren’t sure how radon might factor into your home, it’s worth having that conversation early.

We can help you understand what to test for, when it makes sense to address it, and how it fits into your renovation plans so there are no surprises later.

If you’re still in the early stages, starting with a simple test is the best first step.

From there, you’ll have the clarity you need to decide what makes sense for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Radon in Regina

What is radon and where does it come from?

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that comes from decaying uranium. It seeps from soil and rock into buildings, making it difficult to keep out of homes completely and near impossible to detect without specialized equipment.

Is radon a problem in Regina and Saskatchewan?

Yes. In the Canadian Prairies, the bedrock is rich in uranium and especially abundant in radon gas. According to a Cross Canada Radon Survey, 1 in 5 homes across Saskatchewan have dangerous levels of indoor radon. Cold winters also require homes to be airtight, which keeps radon-laden air inside.

Can you smell or taste radon?

Radon is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. You cannot sense it. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to have it tested.

What is a safe level of radon in a home?

There is no safe level of radon, but trace amounts are normal. Below 100 Bq/m³, improve passive ventilation and retest every few years. Between 100 and 200 Bq/m³, seal entry points and improve ventilation. At 200 Bq/m³ or above, Health Canada recommends radon mitigation within 2 years.

How do I test for radon in my Regina home?

Do a 91-day test, ideally in winter when windows are closed. A 2 to 7 day quick screen is also available for immediate results, but confirm with a long-term test before making big decisions. Place the test on the lowest lived-in level of the home, 2 to 6 feet from the floor, away from drafts, exterior walls, kitchens, bathrooms, and sumps.

How much does radon mitigation cost in Regina?

Typical Regina costs range from $2,500 to $4,000, depending on the home. Factors such as the existence of rough-ins, type of foundation, and the size of the home all factor into the final quote.

What is sub-slab depressurization?

Sub-Slab Depressurization (SSD) is a radon mitigation method that has zero structural impact and can reduce radon readings by up to 90%. If your home was built after 2013, it may already have the rough-in needed to install SSD quickly.