Waterloo Region
Radon testing and mitigation in Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is three old mill towns, Galt, Preston and Hespeler, that were merged into one city on the Grand and Speed rivers. Here’s what’s known about radon in Cambridge, and how to find out about your home.
- Region
- Waterloo Region
- Population
- about 138,000
- Public health
- Region of Waterloo Public Health
- Local factors
- 5 reasons to test
Is radon a problem in Cambridge?
Radon can exceed Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in any Cambridge home. Cancer Care Ontario’s table of Health Canada survey data put the Region of Waterloo at 4.0% of homes at or above the guideline. Across Ontario, about 1 in 8 homes tested at or above the guideline in the 2024 national survey. Locally, shallow or fractured bedrock, sandy or gravelly soils and century-home foundations are reasons to test. A 91-day test is the only way to know your home’s level.
Radon in Cambridge
Cambridge is three old mill towns, Galt, Preston and Hespeler, that were merged into one city on the Grand and Speed rivers. In the Health Canada survey data that Cancer Care Ontario tabulated by public health unit, 4.0% of the homes tested in the Region of Waterloo were at or above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline. That is a regional figure and Cambridge has a different mix of ground and housing from Kitchener-Waterloo, so it is worth checking your own.
The ground under Cambridge
The Grand and Speed rivers have cut gorges here, and bedrock comes closer to the surface in the river valleys than it does on the rest of the Waterloo Moraine. Where rock sits close to the surface, joints and fractures can carry soil gas to foundations. Sand and gravel deposits on the moraine give gas an easy route too.
Cambridge’s homes
Galt’s old mill district and downtown have stone and brick homes from the 19th century, often with stone foundations and cellars. Preston and Hespeler have older homes near their historic cores, and neighbourhoods such as Hespeler West and Blackbridge are newer and tighter. Cambridge also has a large stock of post-war bungalows with finished basements.
What the data says
Of homes tested in the Region of Waterloo were at or above 200 Bq/m³ in the Health Canada survey data tabulated by Cancer Care Ontario (2009 to 2013).Source: Cancer Care Ontario — Risk of Residential Radon Exposure Varies Geographically (results by public health unit, Health Canada survey data 2009–2013)
Ontario homes at or above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey, more than double the share found a decade earlier.Source: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities (2024)
Roughly how many homes per health region the first national survey (2009–2011) could test. Too few to clear any neighbourhood, which is why public maps can’t tell you about your house.Source: Health Canada — Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, Final Report (2012)
Local results
Building a real radon picture for Cambridge
Public radon data for Southern Ontario towns is thin. The national surveys tested only a handful of homes per area. So we’re building our own: anonymized long-term results from homes we test, published by area once there are at least 30, so no single home can be identified and small samples can’t mislead.
Cambridge: collecting results. Already tested? Check your number and share it anonymously when you book.
Local factors
What can push radon up in Cambridge
Not a prediction for any single home, just the reasons a test is worth it here.
Shallow or fractured bedrock
Where rock sits close to the surface, as on the Niagara Escarpment or the limestone plains near Lake Erie, joints and fractures can act as pipelines that carry soil gas toward foundations.
Sandy or gravelly soils
Sand and gravel let soil gas move freely and over longer distances. More of the radon formed in the ground can reach the air around your foundation instead of decaying in place.
Century homes
Fieldstone, rubble and early concrete foundations, earth-floor cellars and open sumps give radon many ways in. Older doesn’t mean safer: these homes still need a test.
New, airtight construction
Canadian research shows newer homes have tended to test higher than older ones. Bigger, taller and tighter homes create a stronger stack effect that draws soil gas in through the slab.
Lived-in basements
Radon is usually highest on the lowest floor. Basement bedrooms, home offices and rental suites mean people spend hours a day where exposure is greatest.
Where we work
Cambridge neighbourhoods and nearby communities
- Galt
- Preston
- Hespeler
- Blair
- Blackbridge
- Hespeler West
- East Galt
- West Galt
- Clemens Mill
- North Dumfries
Nearby: Radon in Kitchener · Radon in Brantford · Radon in Paris
How it works
From test to fix
- Book
Tell us about your Cambridge home. We reply within one business day.
- Test for 91+ days
A certified technician places long-term detectors on your lowest lived-in floor. You get an early reading at 2 weeks.
- Get your result
Lab-verified average, explained against Health Canada’s guideline.
- Fix it if it’s high
A sub-slab system designed for your foundation, at a fixed price, with results guaranteed.
Questions
Radon in Cambridge: FAQ
Is radon a problem in Cambridge?
Radon can exceed Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in any Cambridge home. Cancer Care Ontario’s table of Health Canada survey data put the Region of Waterloo at 4.0% of homes at or above the guideline. Across Ontario, about 1 in 8 homes tested at or above the guideline in the 2024 national survey. Locally, shallow or fractured bedrock, sandy or gravelly soils and century-home foundations are reasons to test. A 91-day test is the only way to know your home’s level.
Is radon a concern in Galt, Preston and Hespeler?
It can be. No public data breaks results out by neighbourhood in Cambridge, and the regional figure of 4.0% at or above 200 Bq/m³ comes from a limited survey sample. Older stone foundations, shallow bedrock in the river valleys and tight new homes are all reasons to test.
Do you serve North Dumfries and the rural townships near Cambridge?
Yes. We test and mitigate across Waterloo Region, including North Dumfries, Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich, as well as Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.
Do you offer radon testing and mitigation in Cambridge?
Yes. We test and mitigate homes throughout Cambridge, including Galt, Preston, Hespeler, Blair, Blackbridge and nearby. Call (226) 271-4667 or book online.
Radon is fixable. First, know your number.
Serving Cambridge, Kitchener, Brantford and Paris.