The only way to know if your home has radon is to test.
That may sound simple, but it is the most important thing for homeowners to understand. Radon is invisible, odourless, and tasteless. You cannot see it, smell it, or feel it in the air. A home can look clean, well-built, and perfectly healthy while still having elevated radon levels.
Many Manitoba homeowners first hear about radon from a neighbour, a home inspector, a realtor, or a yard sign from a nearby mitigation project. Those can all be useful reminders, but they do not tell you your own home’s radon level.
To know your result, your home needs to be tested.
Are There Signs of Radon in a Home?
No. There are no obvious signs of radon in a home.
Radon does not create a visible stain. It does not have a smell. It does not make noise. It does not cause immediate warning signs in a room. According to Health Canada, radon is invisible, odourless, and tasteless.
That means you cannot rely on how your home looks or feels.
A clean, renovated, well-maintained home can still have elevated radon. A finished basement can still have radon. A newer home can still have radon. The only reliable way to know is to measure the radon level in the air.
This is why radon testing is important for Manitoba homeowners. It gives you information about your specific home instead of relying on assumptions.
Can the Age or Type of Home Tell You?
No. The age or style of your home cannot tell you whether you have radon.
Radon comes from the ground beneath and around the home. It can enter through cracks, gaps, sump pits, floor drains, crawl spaces, construction joints, and other openings in the foundation.
Because of that, radon can affect many types of homes, including:
Home age alone does not determine radon risk. A newer home may be more airtight, which can sometimes allow indoor air pollutants to build up if ventilation is limited. An older home may have more foundation openings, but that does not automatically mean it will test high.
The point is simple: you cannot tell by looking at the home.
Can My Neighbour’s Radon Result Tell Me Mine?
No. Your neighbour’s result does not tell you your home’s radon level.
Two homes on the same street can have very different results. One home may test high while another nearby home tests lower. Differences in soil conditions, foundation design, air movement, sump pits, cracks, drains, and ventilation can all affect the final result.
If a neighbour tested high or had a mitigation system installed, it is a useful reminder that radon can be present in your area. But it does not prove your home is high, and it does not prove your home is safe.
Your home needs its own test.
Take Action on Radon recommends testing every home, in every community across Canada, because radon levels can vary from home to home.
Are Radon Maps Enough?
Radon maps and regional statistics can be helpful for awareness, but they cannot tell you the radon level inside your specific home.
A map may show that an area has higher radon potential, but it cannot account for the details of your foundation, soil contact, ventilation, basement use, or how air moves through your house.
For Manitoba homeowners, regional risk is worth taking seriously. But the decision should not be based only on a map or a neighbour’s result.
Testing gives you actual information about your home.
How Do You Find Out?
You find out by completing a radon test.
A radon test measures the concentration of radon in indoor air over time. There are two general types of tests: short-term tests and long-term tests.
Short-term tests can provide a snapshot of radon levels over a shorter period. They may be useful for quick screening or certain time-sensitive situations.
Long-term tests provide a better picture of average radon exposure because radon levels can change from day to day and season to season. Health Canada’s radon testing guidance says it is important to conduct a long-term test for a minimum of 3 months. Health Canada’s residential measurement guide defines a long-term radon measurement as one that lasts at least 91 days.
Professional radon testing can also help remove guesswork. Proper placement, timing, closed-house conditions, and result interpretation all matter. A professional test helps ensure the process is done correctly and that the results are easier to understand.
What Should I Do Next?
If you are wondering whether your home has radon, the next step is to test.
You do not need to panic or guess. Radon testing is a straightforward way to understand what is happening inside your home. Once you have results, you can decide what to do next.
If your result is below Health Canada’s guideline, you have useful peace of mind. If your result is elevated, mitigation can usually reduce radon levels significantly.
RadonPatrol offers professional radon testing in Manitoba and can help explain your results clearly. Our goal is to make the process simple, low-pressure, and easy to understand.
If you are wondering whether your home has radon, the next step is simple: test. Contact RadonPatrol and we’ll help you understand the best testing option for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smell radon in my home?
No. Radon has no smell. You cannot smell, see, or taste it. Testing is the only way to know your home’s radon level.
Are there physical signs that my home has radon?
No. Radon does not leave visible signs in the home. A clean, finished, or well-maintained home can still have elevated radon.
Does a new home need radon testing?
Yes. New homes can still have radon. Radon risk depends on the soil, foundation, ventilation, and air movement, not just the age of the house.
If my neighbour tested low, am I safe?
Not necessarily. Radon levels can vary from home to home, even on the same street. Your home needs its own test.
