How much is a do-it-yourself radon test kit in Ottawa?

Ottawa Public Health puts do-it-yourself long-term radon test kits at $29 to $170.

Health Canada recommends that every home be tested, no matter where it is located, the type of building, or whether it already has a mitigation system. Its testing guide sets out how a kit has to be used for the result to count:

• The minimum test length is 91 days for a valid estimate, with at least 91 days of the test during the heating season.
• The device goes in a normal occupancy area of the lowest lived-in level, meaning a space someone spends more than 4 hours a day in.
• Health Canada strongly recommends testing only with devices that appear on the C-NRPP list.
• Residents should not alter their lifestyle during a long-term test, and results can vary by up to plus or minus 25%.
• Short-term measurements are not appropriate for informing mitigation decisions.

Health Canada's guideline is to take corrective action if the average annual radon level exceeds 200 Bq/m³ in the normal occupancy area, and it says individuals mitigate within 1 year for levels higher than 200 Bq/m³. For corrective work it points to a C-NRPP certified radon mitigation professional; radon testing and mitigation as services are covered on ottawaabatement.com.

Ottawa Public Health also says radon concentrations vary a great deal within the City of Ottawa, making it difficult to predict radon levels in any one home, which is why the test is done house by house.

If you are buying, the timing matters: a valid result takes at least 91 days. How that fits your offer is a question for your agent or lawyer.

When you buy a kit, check that the device is on the C-NRPP list before you open it.