Waterloo Region
Radon testing and mitigation in Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener is the largest of the three cities in Waterloo Region, on the Grand River, with a downtown that has been built up quickly and subdivisions growing out to the south and west. Here’s what’s known about radon in Kitchener, and how to find out about your home.
- Region
- Waterloo Region
- Population
- about 257,000
- Public health
- Region of Waterloo Public Health
- Local factors
- 5 reasons to test
Is radon a problem in Kitchener?
Radon can exceed Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in any Kitchener home. Cancer Care Ontario’s table of Health Canada survey data put the Region of Waterloo at 4.0% of homes at or above the guideline. Across Ontario, about 1 in 8 homes tested at or above the guideline in the 2024 national survey. Locally, sandy or gravelly soils, Shield-derived glacial soils and century-home foundations are reasons to test. A 91-day test is the only way to know your home’s level.
Radon in Kitchener
Kitchener is the largest of the three cities in Waterloo Region, on the Grand River, with a downtown that has been built up quickly and subdivisions growing out to the south and west. In the Health Canada survey data that Cancer Care Ontario tabulated by public health unit, 4.0% of the homes tested in the Region of Waterloo were at or above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline. That is lower than some of its neighbours, and it still means about one home in 25.
The ground under Kitchener
Kitchener sits on the Waterloo Moraine, a ridge of sand, gravel and till that is also an important source of the region’s drinking water, and the Grand River runs along its southeast edge. Sand and gravel move soil gas more freely than clay, and the till carries ground-up Canadian Shield rock, a source of uranium.
Kitchener’s homes
Central Kitchener, Victoria Park and Cedar Hill have century brick homes, often with stone or early concrete foundations. The post-war neighbourhoods of Forest Heights and Stanley Park are mostly bungalows and backsplits with finished basements. Doon South, Huron Park and Williamsburg are large, tight, new-build subdivisions, where research suggests newer homes have tended to test higher.
What the data says
Of homes tested in the Region of Waterloo were at or above 200 Bq/m³ in the Health Canada survey data tabulated by Cancer Care Ontario (2009 to 2013).Source: Cancer Care Ontario — Risk of Residential Radon Exposure Varies Geographically (results by public health unit, Health Canada survey data 2009–2013)
Ontario homes at or above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey, more than double the share found a decade earlier.Source: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities (2024)
Roughly how many homes per health region the first national survey (2009–2011) could test. Too few to clear any neighbourhood, which is why public maps can’t tell you about your house.Source: Health Canada — Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, Final Report (2012)
Local results
Building a real radon picture for Kitchener
Public radon data for Southern Ontario towns is thin. The national surveys tested only a handful of homes per area. So we’re building our own: anonymized long-term results from homes we test, published by area once there are at least 30, so no single home can be identified and small samples can’t mislead.
Kitchener: collecting results. Already tested? Check your number and share it anonymously when you book.
Local factors
What can push radon up in Kitchener
Not a prediction for any single home, just the reasons a test is worth it here.
Sandy or gravelly soils
Sand and gravel let soil gas move freely and over longer distances. More of the radon formed in the ground can reach the air around your foundation instead of decaying in place.
Glacial soils with Shield debris
The till and gravel left by glaciers here includes ground-up rock carried south from the Canadian Shield. Uranium travels with it, so radon can form close to your footings even where the bedrock itself is low in uranium.
Century homes
Fieldstone, rubble and early concrete foundations, earth-floor cellars and open sumps give radon many ways in. Older doesn’t mean safer: these homes still need a test.
New, airtight construction
Canadian research shows newer homes have tended to test higher than older ones. Bigger, taller and tighter homes create a stronger stack effect that draws soil gas in through the slab.
Lived-in basements
Radon is usually highest on the lowest floor. Basement bedrooms, home offices and rental suites mean people spend hours a day where exposure is greatest.
Where we work
Kitchener neighbourhoods and nearby communities
- Downtown Kitchener
- Victoria Park
- Cedar Hill
- Stanley Park
- Forest Heights
- Doon
- Doon South
- Huron Park
- Williamsburg
- Pioneer Park
- Bridgeport
- Mannheim
Nearby: Radon in Waterloo · Radon in Cambridge · Radon in Stratford
How it works
From test to fix
- Book
Tell us about your Kitchener home. We reply within one business day.
- Test for 91+ days
A certified technician places long-term detectors on your lowest lived-in floor. You get an early reading at 2 weeks.
- Get your result
Lab-verified average, explained against Health Canada’s guideline.
- Fix it if it’s high
A sub-slab system designed for your foundation, at a fixed price, with results guaranteed.
Questions
Radon in Kitchener: FAQ
Is radon a problem in Kitchener?
Radon can exceed Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in any Kitchener home. Cancer Care Ontario’s table of Health Canada survey data put the Region of Waterloo at 4.0% of homes at or above the guideline. Across Ontario, about 1 in 8 homes tested at or above the guideline in the 2024 national survey. Locally, sandy or gravelly soils, Shield-derived glacial soils and century-home foundations are reasons to test. A 91-day test is the only way to know your home’s level.
Is radon a problem in Kitchener?
It can be. In Health Canada survey data tabulated by Cancer Care Ontario, 4.0% of the homes tested in the Region of Waterloo were at or above the 200 Bq/m³ guideline. That is lower than elsewhere in southwestern Ontario, and it is a regional figure from a limited sample. Only a 91-day test tells you about your house.
Should I test the basement apartment in my Kitchener house?
Yes. Health Canada’s guideline applies to any part of a home where someone spends more than four hours a day, and the lowest level is usually where radon is highest. Test inside the suite itself, in the main living or sleeping area.
Do you offer radon testing and mitigation in Kitchener?
Yes. We test and mitigate homes throughout Kitchener, including Downtown Kitchener, Victoria Park, Cedar Hill, Stanley Park, Forest Heights and nearby. Call (226) 271-4667 or book online.
Radon is fixable. First, know your number.
Serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Stratford.