The short answer: Health Canada's Radon Reduction Guide for Canadians puts a professionally installed sub-slab depressurization system at about $2,000–$3,000 including material and labour. A capable DIYer can put the core parts on the workbench for about $515. Here's the full picture — what pros charge, what the parts actually cost, what the system costs to run, and the grant money most Canadians don't know exists.
What a Professional Install Costs in Canada
Three published Canadian figures, each from a primary source:
- $2,000–$3,000 — Health Canada's published range for sub-slab or sub-membrane depressurization systems, including material and labour (Radon Reduction Guide for Canadians).
- $3,000–$11,000 — the range reported by Take Action on Radon, the national program led by CARST and the Canadian Cancer Society. The same page notes that across hundreds of systems installed 2013–2021 in its Radon Reduction Sweepstakes, the average was approximately $2,700.
- ~$3,000 average — Take Action on Radon's 2022 estimate of the average Canadian installation cost.
Why the spread? System complexity. A single suction point in an accessible basement with good sub-slab gravel sits at the low end; multiple suction points, finished basements, tight clay soils, or complex routing push costs up. A certified professional can typically install a mitigation system in one day (Take Action on Radon), and Health Canada reports that sub-slab depressurization — the most effective and reliable radon reduction technique — cuts radon levels in most homes by more than 80%.
If your long-term test came back above 200 Bq/m³, Health Canada recommends hiring a professional certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) — lowering radon levels requires specific technical knowledge and skills. Use our find-a-mitigator page to get connected with a certified pro near you.
The DIY Parts Bill — Real Prices, Real SKUs
For homeowners who are comfortable with the work (see our step-by-step DIY guide), here is what the core parts of a typical single-suction-point retrofit actually cost at our current prices:
| Part | Why you need it | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| RadonAway RP145 radon fan | The workhorse fan for typical Canadian homes | $349.99 |
| Flexible couplings × 2 | Mount the fan, isolate vibration, allow service | $39.90 |
| U-tube manometer | Required system performance indicator | $32.85 |
| Fan power cord kit | RadonAway fans ship without a cord | $18.45 |
| SlabCollar pipe seal | Seals the pipe penetration at the slab | $21.00 |
| PVC cement (16 oz) | Airtight solvent-welded joints | $48.22 |
| Trim plate | Clean finish at floor/wall penetrations | $3.85 |
Core parts: about $515. Add 4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe and fittings for your specific run (budget these from your local supplier or our pipe & fittings collection), and a $60 long-term retest kit to verify the result — Health Canada recommends an initial long-term measurement within two years of activating a system, and at five-year intervals afterwards. Common add-ons: a system alarm ($129) that sounds the moment suction is lost, muffler foam ($11.99), and a stainless-mesh pipe guard ($12.99). Or skip the list-building entirely — our kit builder assembles the whole system around your fan in one click.
Honest caveat: DIY is not for every house. Poor sub-slab communication, finished basements, combustion appliance considerations, and multi-point systems are exactly the situations Health Canada's advice covers: hire a C-NRPP certified professional. If your situation isn't simple, hire the pro — the published averages above show it's money well spent.
What It Costs to Run
- Electricity: approximately $50–$75 per year depending on fan size and energy rates, per Health Canada. The fan must run continuously — it should never be turned off.
- Fan lifespan: five to ten or more years, per Health Canada. (Health Canada's guide pegs replacement at $200–$300; treat that as their published estimate — current Canadian retail for quality fans runs higher. See our fan replacement guide when the time comes.)
- Monitoring: glance at the u-tube manometer regularly — if the fluid levels equalize, the system isn't working.
Grants and Financial Help
Lungs Matter (national): up to $1,500 per applicant toward home radon mitigation, administered by the Canadian Lung Association. Eligibility requires either a lung cancer diagnosis or qualifying household income (caps vary by province — e.g. $112,700 in Alberta, $105,100 in Ontario at time of writing; check the current table before applying). You'll need: your latest CRA Notice of Assessment, long-term test results (minimum 90 days) from a C-NRPP certified radon test kit showing a level above 200 Bq/m³, and a quote from a C-NRPP certified mitigation professional. Two catches worth knowing: the mitigation must not already be completed when you apply, and funding is limited — qualifying doesn't guarantee approval. The qualifying test is exactly what our long-term alpha track kit provides.
Saskatchewan: Lung Saskatchewan's Caring Breaths program has historically included radon mitigation support for residents with financial need (reimbursement-based — receipts, not quotes). As of mid-2026 the program is paused with a note that it's returning later in 2026 — check its status here.
Taxes: there is no federal tax credit for radon mitigation. The only CRA position on record concerns home-office expenses: a portion of radon testing may be deductible as home maintenance for those with an eligible work-from-home space, but mitigation equipment and installation cannot be deducted, as CRA treats it as a capital cost.
How Fast Should You Act?
Health Canada's current guidance is one timeline: if your long-term result is above 200 Bq/m³, take corrective action within 1 year — and the higher the level, the sooner you should act. (You may still see an older two-tier timeline quoted elsewhere; it no longer appears in current Health Canada guidance.)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is radon mitigation worth the cost?
- Health Canada reports sub-slab depressurization reduces radon in most homes by more than 80%, for about the same cost as other common home repairs like replacing a furnace or air conditioner. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in Canada, per Health Canada.
- Can I do radon mitigation myself in Canada?
- Straightforward single-suction-point systems are a realistic DIY project — about $515 in core parts plus pipe. Check local permit requirements, especially for the electrical hookup. Health Canada recommends C-NRPP certified professionals, and complex homes are their territory. Either way, verify with a long-term retest afterwards.
- How much does it cost to run a radon fan?
- Approximately $50–$75 per year in electricity, per Health Canada, depending on fan size and local rates. The fan runs continuously and should never be turned off.
- Is there government money for radon mitigation?
- The main national support is the Lungs Matter grant — up to $1,500, administered by the Canadian Lung Association, with income- or diagnosis-based eligibility and a required C-NRPP long-term test result above 200 Bq/m³. Some provincial and local programs exist or recur; there is no federal tax credit.
Sources
- Health Canada — Radon: Reduction Guide for Canadians (cost range, >80% reduction, operating costs, fan lifespan, C-NRPP recommendation, retest schedule)
- Government of Canada — Radon Guideline (200 Bq/m³; act within 1 year)
- Take Action on Radon — Reducing Radon (cost range and averages, one-day install)
- Canadian Lung Association — Lungs Matter (grant amount, eligibility, requirements)
- C-NRPP — Homeowners (certification, mitigation timeline)
