Radon mitigation is not simply a matter of attaching a fan to a pipe. The contractor has to understand how air moves beneath the foundation, identify the home’s radon entry points, select the right system, install it safely, and verify that it works.
Price matters, but it should not be the only line you compare. Two estimates can describe very different amounts of work even when both are called “radon mitigation.”
The right company should be able to show you its credentials, explain its process in plain language, provide a complete written scope, and stand behind the result.
1. Verify both C-NRPP certification and insurance
In Canada, the first credential to look for is current certification through the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP).
C-NRPP has separate professional certifications for:
- Radon measurement, which covers proper device use, placement, testing protocols, and interpretation of results
- Radon mitigation, which covers diagnostics, system design, installation, safety, and performance verification
A person who is certified only in measurement is not necessarily certified to design and install a mitigation system. Ask for the individual professional’s certification numbers and verify them through the official C-NRPP directory.
ATMOS holds both certifications:
- C-NRPP Radon Measurement Professional: CRMT-202885
- C-NRPP Radon Mitigation Professional: CRT-202864
ATMOS is also a member of CARST—the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists.
C-NRPP mitigation professionals are required to maintain insurance. For residential work, ATMOS recommends confirming that the contractor carries at least $2 million in commercial general liability coverage and can provide proof when asked.
Certification belongs to the person—not merely the company
Seeing a C-NRPP logo on a company’s website is only the beginning. Ask which individual holds the mitigation certification and who will actually be at your home performing and directing the work.
Some companies have one certified person associated with the business while sending other technicians or helpers to complete installations. Helpers can appropriately assist with a project, but the homeowner should know whether a currently certified C-NRPP Mitigation Professional will be on site to assess the home, direct the diagnostics and design, oversee the installation, and take responsibility for the final verification.
An employee who holds the proper certification can perform excellent work. An owner-led installation provides an additional and very direct line of accountability: the person responsible for the company’s reputation is also present and responsible for the workmanship in your home.
At ATMOS, the certified owner personally attends and directs every mitigation installation. Helpers may assist with the physical work, but the assessment, diagnostic decisions, system design, installation oversight, and final verification remain under the certified owner’s on-site direction.
2. Confirm the company is properly registered
Make sure the company is legally registered to do business in Alberta.
A legitimate company should be willing to provide its legal business name, licence information, proof of insurance, and written contact information.
3. Look for evidence of completed work
Certification confirms that a contractor has completed recognized training and professional requirements. Homeowners should also look for evidence that the company has applied that knowledge in real homes.
Useful evidence includes:
- Photographs or videos of completed systems
- Before-and-after radon results
- Detailed customer reviews
- References when appropriate
- A consistent history of explaining its work publicly
The goal is not to choose the company with the largest social-media account. It is to confirm that the contractor performs this work regularly and can show clean, functional installations and measurable results.
4. Expect an in-person assessment whenever practical
For a typical Calgary-area estimate, the contractor should visit the home before finalizing the system design and price.
During the assessment, the contractor should examine:
- The radon reading, testing device, test location, and test duration
- The basement layout and whether it is finished or unfinished
- The sump, foundation joints, cracks, drains, and service penetrations
- Any existing radon rough-in and whether it appears appropriately located
- Potential suction-point locations
- Practical pipe routes and a compliant exterior discharge location
- Combustion appliances or other conditions requiring safety testing
For a distant, out-of-town project, a preliminary estimate may sometimes be prepared using detailed photographs, measurements, and video. In that situation, the contractor should clearly state which details remain subject to an on-site assessment and how unexpected conditions could affect the final scope or cost.
5. Ask how the system will be diagnosed
A credible contractor should be able to explain how the system design will be supported by diagnostic testing.
One important method is Pressure Field Extension testing, sometimes called communication testing. It helps determine how effectively suction travels beneath the basement slab and informs decisions such as suction-point location, number of suction points, and fan performance.
In homes with naturally drafted fuel-burning appliances, appropriate combustion-safety or backdraft testing may also be required. The contractor should understand when that testing applies and how to complete or coordinate it.
A good contractor should explain each diagnostic step in plain language, including what is being tested, why it matters, and how the findings shape the system design.
6. Compare the complete written scope—not just the total
A professional estimate should clearly identify:
- The property and customer information
- The proposed mitigation approach
- The areas expected to be sealed
- Whether the existing rough-in or a new suction point will be used
- The general pipe, fan, electrical, and discharge arrangement
- Diagnostic and performance-verification work
- The full quoted price and any stated conditions or possible extras
- The expected installation duration
- The performance guarantee
- The workmanship and fan warranties
- Any preparation, noise, ventilation, access, or re-entry instructions relevant to the work
The estimate should give the homeowner a clear understanding of the work, the materials and system being proposed, what is included in the price, and how that scope compares with other estimates.
7. Ask about materials and installation quality
A mitigation system is expected to run continuously for years. Its pipe, fan, supports, electrical connection, seals, and exterior components should be suitable for that job and installed according to applicable codes and Canadian radon-mitigation standards.
ATMOS uses:
- ASTM-certified Schedule 40 PVC pipe manufactured in Canada
- American-made radon fans carrying recognized approvals for Canadian electrical use
- Professional sealants and electrical components sourced from established Canadian and American manufacturers
- Secure split-ring pipe supports fastened to the structure with threaded rod
- Properly selected exterior components designed for Calgary weather
Country of manufacture alone does not prove whether a product is safe or suitable. The contractor should be able to identify the products being installed and confirm that the fan, piping, electrical components, and supports meet the applicable requirements.
A clean installation is not merely cosmetic. Straight routing, secure supports, careful sealing, vibration control, and an unobtrusive location help the system remain quiet, stable, and serviceable.
8. Be cautious of an unusually short installation timeline
There is no single required duration for every house. A straightforward ATMOS installation normally takes approximately five to eight hours when it includes site protection, diagnostics, sealing, coring or rough-in preparation, pipe and fan installation, electrical work, system verification, cleanup, and a homeowner walkthrough.
A promise to complete the entire job in two or three hours deserves a closer look. Ask exactly which of those steps are included. A short timeline is not proof of poor work, but speed should not come from omitting foundation sealing, diagnostics, safety checks, secure mounting, or final verification.
9. Make sure the system is verified before the contractor leaves
Before completing the job, the contractor should confirm that:
- The fan is operating
- The manometer or system monitor shows suction
- The pipe and fan connections are sealed
- The piping is mounted securely without excessive movement or vibration
- The electrical connection is complete and safe
- Air is discharging properly from the exterior exhaust
- Required diagnostic and safety checks have been completed
The contractor should also explain what the manometer means, what normal operation looks like, and who to call if the fan stops or the readings remain elevated.
Post-installation radon testing is essential. An electronic monitor will often show a substantial reduction within 24 hours, while longer-term testing confirms the system’s performance through changing weather and seasons.
10. Read the guarantee and warranties carefully
These terms describe different promises:
- A performance guarantee addresses the radon result.
- A workmanship warranty covers defects in how the system was installed.
- A fan warranty covers the fan under the manufacturer’s terms.
ATMOS guarantees that systems we install will reduce the home’s long-term average below 75 Bq/m³. Our completed homes commonly finish well below that level, often around 25 to 35 Bq/m³, although results naturally vary.
ATMOS also provides a 10-year workmanship warranty and a five-year manufacturer’s fan warranty. If a covered fan fails within five years, ATMOS will replace it. The workmanship warranty applies to the quality of the installation as completed by ATMOS, subject to its written terms and exclusions for outside damage or unauthorized modifications.
Ask every contractor to put these promises in writing. A vague statement such as “the system is guaranteed” is not enough unless the estimate explains what is guaranteed, for how long, and what happens if the promised result is not achieved.
11. Questions to ask every radon contractor
Before choosing a company, ask:
- Which individual holds the C-NRPP mitigation certification, and may I verify that person’s certification number?
- Will that certified mitigation professional personally be on site to direct and verify my installation?
- Do you also hold C-NRPP measurement certification?
- Can you provide proof of liability insurance and Alberta business registration?
- Will you inspect my home before finalizing the design and price?
- What diagnostic testing will you perform?
- What sealing work is included?
- What pipe, fan, supports, and electrical components will you use?
- How long do you expect the installation to take, and what steps are included?
- How will you verify the system before leaving?
- What post-mitigation testing and follow-up are included?
- What result do you guarantee?
- What do the workmanship and fan warranties cover?
- Can I see examples and results from completed systems?
A knowledgeable contractor should welcome these questions and answer them clearly.
12. Compare value fairly when prices differ
When one estimate costs less, determine whether it includes the same work.
Compare:
- Current certification and insurance
- On-site assessment and diagnostic testing
- Foundation sealing
- Material and component quality
- Pipe routing, support, and appearance
- Electrical and combustion-safety requirements
- Installation time and cleanup
- System verification and post-mitigation follow-up
- The guaranteed radon result
- Written workmanship and fan warranties
The lowest number is not automatically the best value if important work is missing. A fair comparison asks what will be done, how it will be verified, and who remains responsible after the installation.
What makes ATMOS different?
ATMOS does not compete by finding the fastest way to attach a fan or the cheapest materials that can complete the job. We compete on the quality of the assessment, materials, installation, verification, and customer experience.
The certified owner personally attends every ATMOS mitigation project. We inspect the home, explain the plan, complete the necessary diagnostics, seal accessible entry points, install the system carefully, and verify its operation. The person accountable for the company is also accountable for the decisions and workmanship inside your home.
We price the work so there is time to do it properly without cutting corners when a home requires additional attention.
What we ultimately provide is not a collection of pipe and fittings. It is confidence that the system was designed thoughtfully, installed cleanly, and backed by a measurable result.
Before hiring anyone, verify the certification, insurance, Alberta business registration, written scope, material quality, diagnostics, guarantee, and warranties. Those details tell you far more than the final price alone.
See What Results You Can Expect
Sources
- C-NRPP: Find a Certified Professional
- C-NRPP: Professional Certification Requirements
- CARST: Questions to Ask a Radon Professional
- Health Canada: Radon Reduction Guide for Canadians