1 on 1 with BCREA CEO Trevor Koot

It’s no secret that owning a home comes with a fair share of responsibility. You need to make sure your electrical is up to code, your smoke detectors are operational, and that your front steps are salted in icy weather.

But there’s one home responsibility that – by its very nature – flies under the radar. And that’s radon.

November is Radon Action Month. And the BC Real Estate Association and the BC Lung Foundation are taking action with a Radon Gas Public Awareness Campaign, aimed at informing the public about both radon dangers and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

For those who don’t know, radon is a radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of uranium in soil, and it’s found in all regions of BC and Canada. It enters homes through cracks and openings, and can build up to dangerous concentrations. And when it does, it can have serious consequences.

It’s estimated that radon causes more than 3,000 lung cancer deaths in Canada each year. This is a tragedy. But it’s an avoidable one.

It’s easy to test for radon and it’s fairly easy for professionals to reduce radon levels in most homes. You just have to start the process.

So if you don’t know the radon levels in your home, go to RadonKills.ca/BC to get your test kit. While you’re there you can check out more info and find out how to make your home safe.

It’s going to be Radon Action Month, so take action. At the very least, you’ll be giving yourself peace of mind. But you could also be saving lives.