Winnipeg Libraries Offering Free Radon Test Kits

As Winnipeg settles into another chilly season and folks start sealing up their homes, there’s one invisible guest that might also be moving in — radon. You can’t see or smell it, but this naturally occurring gas can quietly build up indoors during winter. To help residents check their homes, the Winnipeg Public Library has partnered with the Manitoba Lung Association to lend out free radon screening kits. Starting November 1 and running until April 30, anyone can borrow one from any branch, no charge, just like a book.

Radon seeps into houses through cracks in foundations and floors, and it’s a bigger deal than most realize. Health Canada lists it as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and Manitoba has some of the highest levels in the country — about 43 percent of homes here test above the safe limit. Because radon is completely invisible and odorless, testing is the only way to know if your home has a problem. The library kits make it easy: just borrow one, place it in a basement or main-floor room, and let it run for a week or two before checking the reading.

The program runs through the colder months for a reason — radon readings are most accurate when windows are closed and air circulation is low. It’s also timed perfectly for National Radon Action Month in November. For many, it’s the first real opportunity to test their homes without paying a dime. Each kit includes simple instructions and a guide from the Manitoba Lung Association, and the results give a quick snapshot of radon levels. If the number is above 200 Bq/m³, it’s time to call a professional, but even low readings are worth rechecking every few years.

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For Winnipeg residents, this is one of those small, practical things that can make a big difference. It’s free, easy, and could help prevent serious health issues down the road. To borrow a kit, visit the Winnipeg Public Library website and search “radon.” It’s a great reminder that sometimes the most helpful public services are also the simplest — especially when they help everyone breathe a little easier through another long Prairie winter.