For most Calgary homes, professional radon mitigation starts at approximately $2,350 plus GST when the home has an existing rough-in that can be used. When a new suction point must be drilled through the basement slab, a standard installation is typically around $2,500 plus GST.
Homes that need additional suction points, custom sump work, unusually long pipe routing, or other specialized work may cost more. Complex projects involving a gravel or exposed-soil crawlspace may require encapsulation and sub-membrane depressurization, bringing the total cost up to approximately $5,500 plus GST, depending on the size and condition of the space.
Every home is different. ATMOS inspects the home before providing a clear written estimate based on the work the house actually requires.
Typical Calgary radon mitigation prices
| Type of installation | Typical ATMOS price |
|---|---|
| Existing usable radon rough-in | Starting at $2,350 plus GST |
| Standard installation requiring a new suction point | Approximately $2,500 plus GST |
| Complex system or crawlspace encapsulation | May cost up to approximately $5,500 plus GST |
An existing rough-in can reduce the amount of installation work, but it must first be inspected and tested to confirm that it is properly located and can create adequate suction beneath the slab. Having a capped pipe in the basement does not automatically mean that it can simply have a fan attached.
What is included in a standard ATMOS installation?
Whether we use a suitable existing rough-in or create a new suction point, the price includes the work required to design, install, and verify the system properly. A standard installation generally includes:
- A site survey and inspection of the home
- Diagnostic testing, including pressure field extension testing where appropriate
- Selection and installation of the appropriate radon fan
- Installation of the radon piping and system components
- Sealing accessible floor-to-wall joints and visible cracks in the concrete floor
- Sealing accessible service penetrations, covers, and other potential radon entry points, including openings behind tubs when accessible
- Sealing an existing sump cover when it is suitable for use
- Pressure testing and verification that the completed system is operating properly
- All standard labour, sealants, fittings, and installation materials
- A 10-year workmanship warranty
- A 5-year manufacturer warranty on the radon fan
- ATMOS’s guarantee that the system will reduce the home’s radon level below 75 Bq/m³
The objective is not simply to install a pipe and fan. The system must create adequate negative pressure beneath the slab and safely discharge the soil gas outdoors before it enters the home. Health Canada describes active soil depressurization as a continuously operating fan-and-pipe system that reverses the pressure difference between the house and the soil.
What can increase the cost?
The most common factors that can add work or materials are:
An open or unsuitable sump pit
If the home has an open sump pit, a suitable airtight sump cover must be purchased and installed or custom fabricated. An existing cover that can be properly sealed is normally included in a standard installation; supplying or fabricating a new cover is additional work.
Additional suction points
Some basements have multiple slab levels, additions, footings, or sub-slab conditions that prevent one suction point from reaching the entire foundation. Diagnostic testing determines whether another suction point is required.
Longer or difficult pipe routing
A straightforward system can often run from the suction point to the rim joist through a relatively direct route. Routing pipe across a basement, around finished areas, or through difficult structural locations requires more time and material.
Crawlspaces or exposed soil
A crawlspace with gravel or exposed soil requires a different approach. The area may need to be encapsulated with a durable reinforced membrane, sealed at seams, walls, columns, and penetrations, and depressurized beneath the membrane. This is known as sub-membrane depressurization.
Encapsulation uses substantially more material and labour than a standard sub-slab system, which is why a complex crawlspace project can cost up to approximately $5,500 plus GST.
Travel outside the regular service area
Projects outside Calgary and ATMOS’s usual surrounding service area may include additional travel costs. Any travel charge is identified in the estimate before work is scheduled.
How should homeowners compare radon mitigation estimates?
Two estimates may describe very different scopes of work. Homeowners should compare what is actually being installed and verified, not only the number at the bottom of the page.
Important questions include:
- Does the contractor perform diagnostic and pressure field extension testing?
- Does the estimate include sealing accessible radon entry points?
- What type of pipe, fan, and fittings will be installed?
- Do the pipe and system components carry the appropriate product certifications?
- Does the fan come from an established Canadian or American manufacturer with a five-year warranty?
- How will the pipe be routed inside and outside the home?
- How will exterior wall penetrations be weatherproofed?
- Will the completed system be pressure-tested and verified?
- What workmanship warranty and radon-reduction guarantee are included?
- Is the person designing and installing the system C-NRPP certified?
A complete residential installation commonly takes approximately five to eight hours, although the exact time depends on the home. Time alone does not determine quality, but an estimate should account for diagnostics, sealing, careful installation, testing, cleanup, and a homeowner walkthrough—not only mounting a fan and pipe.
What does a radon system cost to operate?
The fan runs continuously, but its electrical consumption is relatively low. A typical residential radon fan generally costs approximately $35 to $45 per year to operate, depending on the fan model and local electricity rates.
Radon fans commonly last approximately five to ten years, although actual service life varies. ATMOS uses fans from established Canadian or American manufacturers that include a five-year manufacturer warranty.
A properly selected and installed fan should also be quiet. Most residential radon fans operate at roughly 25 to 30 decibels, although the sound heard inside the home depends on the fan, pipe route, mounting, and surrounding room.
How does ATMOS protect the exterior wall penetration?
Where the exhaust pipe passes through the exterior wall, ATMOS uses a multi-layer weather-sealing approach. Depending on the opening and assembly, this includes closed-cell foam backer rod, spray foam, and a UV- and temperature-resistant exterior sealant. The objective is to create a durable, weather-resistant penetration suitable for Calgary’s climate.
Get a clear price for your home
The most reliable way to price a radon system is to inspect the home, understand the foundation, evaluate any existing rough-in or sump, and determine the cleanest effective pipe route.
ATMOS provides free mitigation estimates for Calgary and surrounding communities.