Airthings Corentium Home Radon Detector: 

Tackling the Silent Killer in Canadian Homes

Radon is a silent killer potentially lurking in your homes, but because its effects are not instantly fatal like from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning or smoke inhalation from fumes from a raging fire, Radon doesn’t seem to be given the attention it deserves.

Radon is everywhere. According to Health Canada, it’s a naturally occurring radioactive gas created as uranium found in soil and rock decays. Like CO, it’s odourless and tasteless. In Canada, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, and the number one cause of cancer in non-smokers. In fact, according to Stats Can, in studies done in 2016 & 2017, deaths from Radon induced were almost 10 times that of CO.

Now living in an established community, you might think: I don’t have a Radon problem; otherwise, I would have likely heard about it. But I was shocked to learn the Canadian Prairies has the 2nd highest levels of Radon in the world trailing Poland.  

Yes, Radon in my home

My discovery elevated levels of Radon in my home was purely accidental. While reviewing the Airthings Wave for Troy Media, I learned just how prevalent radon was in my space.

Airthings designs a series of at-home Radon and Air Quality measurement devices. Ideally, radon testing should occur over at least three months to give you a broader exposure and to account for seasonal and environmental fluctuations—preferably during the winter months (November to January) when doors and windows are sealed. Over a year-long test, I discovered that radon levels in my home averaged nearly double the level requiring mitigation, which I promptly addressed.

Monitoring should be conducted at the lowest level of living space, like your basement. Testing can be done professionally or with radon detectors I use, like the Airthings Wave series, which resemble and install as easily as a typical smoke detector. A low-cost option ($35–$65) is an alpha track radon test kit—a single-use unit resembling a hockey puck. After 90 days, you mail it off to a lab (often in a prepaid envelope), and within a few weeks, you’ll receive the results.

You can also install a more comprehensive wall-mount or table top seven-sensor real-time home air quality monitoring system like the Airthings View Plus ($379.99) that provides detailed monitoring of Radon along with contaminants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM2.5), and other volatile airborne chemicals (VOCs). Additionally, it tracks temperature, air pressure, and humidity levels.

Airthings Corentium Home

A simple alternative for testing is the Airthings Corentium Home Digital Radon Detector.  It’s an easy-to-use standalone battery-operated device which allows you to see radon levels in your home within 6-24 hours. The longer you leave it, the more accurate the readings become reaching within 10% accuracy after one week and within 5% of actual radon levels after two months. 

Its integrated display tracks both short- and long-term rolling averages since it’s last reset.

The beauty of this device is its simplicity: no installation, no cables, and no need to send anything to a lab. It’s compact, measuring just 4.7 × 2.7 × 1.0 inches (120 × 69 × 25.5 mm) and weighing only 5.2 ounces (130 g) with batteries. It runs on three AAA alkaline batteries (included), which last up to two years.

You can easily reset your device to test a different location with the push of a button.

While continuous monitoring is ideal, this device’s portability means it can be shared with friends and family.

Some communities and libraries even offer lending programs during colder months, though demand often leads to long wait times.

The Airthings Corentium Home retails in Canada for $179.00, but I’ve seen it discounted as low as $126.60 during Black Friday sales. It comes with a Quick Start Guide, a one-year warranty, and a free five-year extension if you register the device within 30 days.  You can purchase it directly from Airthings, Amazon, and other of retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot. 

Final Words

Discovering elevated radon levels in my home was concerning and prompted immediate action. I conducted extensive research, consulting with experts, scientists, remediators, lung associations, government officials, and even individuals who developed lung cancer despite never smoking.

More Reading

This journey resulted in a series of three articles titled The Dangers of Radon, published by Troy Media, which you might find helpful:

1. Radon: The Silent Killer Lurking in Your Home
2. The Myths and Misconceptions Surrounding Radon
3. How I Discovered Radon in My Home and Mitigated It

November is National Radon Action Month in Canada. I encourage everyone to read these articles and take steps to address radon in your home. A simple test can provide peace of mind and potentially save the lives of you and your loved ones.

The syndicated edition of the article appears at Troy Media and 32 affiliated syndicated sites. Podcasts also appear at either Toastcaster.com or Toastmasters Podcast.com.

Greg Gazin, also known as the Gadget Guy and Gadget Greg, is a syndicated veteran tech columnist, communication, leadership and technology speaker, facilitator, blogger, podcaster and author. Reach him @gadgetgreg or at GadgetGuy.ca.