Mitigating radon gas in your home can cost up to $3,000 for the ultimate fix, according to a Health Canada expert.
Sandy Hutchison, Manitoba/Saskatchewan regional radiation specialist for Health Canada, says it is considered a normal part of home maintenance, but there is a loan program available through Manitoba Hydro.
Health Canada has found that 41 per cent of homes in our health region have elevated levels of radon gas, which is the second-highest leading cause of lung cancer.
Hutchison says the first step in radon mitigation is testing your home, and he recommends testing in occupied areas of the home.
"It's a long-term health risk, so it's about the air that you're breathing consistently. You're not looking for the radon in your sump pit or in your cellar or in your crawl space; you want to measure how much is actually getting up into the areas of the home that you're living in regularly, like your living room or your bedroom."
Manitoba Hydro's Energy Finance Plan is available for radon abatement projects in homes. More can be found on Hydro's website.
November is radon action month.
