Manitoba · rules and data checked October 8, 2026

Home health check for Winnipeg

In Health Canada's 2012 survey, 12.1% of 66 homes tested in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority region were above the 200 Bq/m³ radon guideline; the 2024 Cross-Canada survey found 34.4% (1 in 3) at or above 200 Bq/m³ for Winnipeg. Winnipeg's January averages −16.4 °C (ECCC), with about 102 nights a year below −10 °C, when CMHC advises keeping indoor humidity near 30% to stop window condensation. Manitoba does not require carbon monoxide alarms in existing houses.

Radon, 2012 survey

12.1%

above 200 Bq/m³ (66 homes)

Radon, 2024 survey

34.4%

Winnipeg

January average

−16.4 °C

102 nights a year below −10 °C

Private wells

Rare

in Winnipeg

Home health check for Winnipeg

Four quick checks, set up with Winnipeg's winter temperatures and Manitoba's alarm rules. Change any value; nothing you enter leaves your browser.

Radon test result

Pre-filled with the 2024 Cross-Canada survey's average (geometric mean) for Winnipeg. Replace it with your own result from a test of at least 3 months.

134Bq/m³ (3.6 pCi/L)

Scale to 800 Bq/m³. 1 pCi/L = 37 Bq/m³.

Below the guideline of 200 Bq/m³. No action is required. Health Canada still advises keeping radon as low as reasonably achievable, and retesting after major renovations or changes to the basement.

Health Canada's lifetime lung cancer risk: for a never-smoker about 1% at low radon, 2% after lifetime exposure at 200 Bq/m³ and 5% at 800; for a smoker 12%, 17% and 30%. Only a test of 3 months or longer gives an annual average; short tests can mislead.

Winter humidity and window condensation
°C
%
Outdoor temperature

January average: ECCC 1981–2010 normals. Cold snap: NRCan's HOT2000 winter design temperature for Winnipeg.

43%highest humidity before the glass fogs at −16.4 °C

Double glazing, clear (1970s–1990s) (U 2.86): condensation starts at about −20.1 °C outside with 40% humidity inside.

The centre of the glass stays dry at −16.4 °C. It is about 8.2 °C, above the 6.9 °C dew point. The bottom edge and frame run colder, so condensation can start there first.

CMHC: when it is below −10 °C outside, keep indoor humidity at about 30%, and as low as 25% in extremely cold regions. Winnipeg averages 102 nights a year below −10 °C.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

A sleeping area is a group of bedrooms off one hallway.

Smoke alarms required by law
1
Smoke alarms for full coverage (new-home standard)
6
CO alarms recommended
2

Not required by Manitoba law in an existing house, but strongly recommended.

“Full coverage” follows the National Building Code for new homes: one on every storey including the basement, one in each bedroom and one outside each sleeping area, interconnected. CO: NRCan advises one near the furnace or other fuel-burning appliance and one in each bedroom area.

Mould: clean it yourself or call a pro?

Example values shown. 1 m² is about 10.8 sq ft.

Small: you can clean it yourself if you are healthy.

Up to three patches, each under 1 m²: clean with water and unscented dish detergent, wearing safety glasses, an N95 mask and rubber gloves (CMHC). People at risk from mould should not clean it.

Fix the moisture source first. Testing for mould types is usually unnecessary (Health Canada). You entered 2 patches, the largest about 0.5 m².

Winnipeg at a glance

Radon surveys covering Winnipeg
SurveyResult
Health Canada, 2012Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, 66 homes, long-term tests12.1% above 200 Bq/m³; 0.0% above 600
Cross-Canada survey, 2024Winnipeg, MB (Winnipeg CMA)37.4% (1 in 3) of houses at or above 200 Bq/m³; unweighted geometric mean 139.7 Bq/m³ (report: insufficient information to apply weighting); approx. 400-499 properties with data.
Cross-Canada survey, 2024Winnipeg (census division 4611 "Division No. 11" = City of Winnipeg)34.4% (1 in 3) at or above 200 Bq/m³; 33.2% between 100 and 200 Bq/m³; geometric mean 133.6 Bq/m³; 392 long-term readings.

The 2024 survey pools long-term tests that households volunteered, so it is not a random sample, and more tests were in basements than in 2012. Health Canada's guideline: fix a home above 200 Bq/m³ within a year. Test kits cost about $30–$80 including the lab; mitigation about $2,000–$3,000.

Highest indoor humidity before windows fog (21 °C inside)
WindowAt −16.4 °CAt −31.3 °C
Single glazing with a storm windowU 2.943%30%
Double glazing, clear (1970s–1990s)U 2.8643%30%
Double glazing, low-e and argon (2000s)U 1.859%48%
ENERGY STAR (U 1.22 or better)U 1.2270%61%
Triple glazingU 1.467%57%

Centre of the glass, from the National Building Code's indoor air film and the Magnus dew point formula. January average from ECCC normals; the cold-snap column is NRCan's winter design temperature. Window edges fog sooner, so follow CMHC: about 30% humidity below −10 °C, which Winnipeg sees on about 102 nights a year.

Smoke alarms in Manitoba

The Manitoba Fire Code adopts the NFC 2020. Its amendment to 2.1.3.3 keeps battery-operated alarms allowed (except in home-type care occupancies, where multiple alarms must also be interconnected). Houses follow the NFC rule: an alarm between sleeping areas and the rest of the home.

Existing homes must have them: Yes · Every storey: Not confirmed · In each bedroom: No · Interconnected: No

Law: Manitoba Fire Code, M.R. 82/2023, s. 1 (adoption of NFC 2020) and Schedule s. 2(3) (replacement of 2.1.3.3(4))

Official source ↗

Carbon monoxide alarms in Manitoba

The Manitoba Fire Code (M.R. 82/2023, in force 2024-01-01), Article 2.1.3.8, requires CO detection equipment only in buildings that must be inspected under the Fire Safety Inspections (2014) Regulation, where a CO exposure risk exists. Battery-operated alarms are allowed, and the equipment must be installed per the Manitoba Building Code. Ordinary private homes are not among the inspected building types, so there is no provincial retrofit requirement for them. The Manitoba Building Code's CO requirements for new homes were not verified.

Official source ↗

Well water in Winnipeg

Winnipeg homes are served by the City's municipal water system, so private drinking-water wells are rare.

  • Bacteria: At least once a year; spring after snowmelt and runoff, or soon after heavy rain, are good times ($17.67 (tax included) for the once-a-year subsidized test at Duracan (well_water.json (checked 2026-09-28)))
  • Chemistry: Nitrate: after the initial test, every 3 to 5 years (more often where nitrate is a concern). Trace elements (arsenic, barium, boron, fluoride, uranium): every 3 to 5 years in areas known to have elevated levels; all wells should be tested at least once.

Manitoba source 1 ↗ Manitoba source 2 ↗

Radon help in Manitoba

New homes: Yes. The Manitoba Building Code (M.R. 78/2023, in force Jan 1, 2024) adopts the NBC 2020. Manitoba's amendments do not change Subsection 9.13.4 (Soil Gas Control), so the soil-gas barrier and the rough-in for subfloor depressurization apply.

Test kits: No free provincial kit program found. The province's radon page points to the Manitoba Lung Association's kits and its Library Lending Program, and Take Action on Radon lists many Manitoba regional libraries that lend monitors free with a library card.

Other help: Manitoba Hydro's Home Energy Efficiency Loan can finance radon mitigation up to $5,000 over 5 years (C-NRPP-certified contractor required). Lungs Matter mitigation aid (up to $1,500) is also available (Manitoba income cap $88,900).

Find a C-NRPP certified measurement or mitigation professional at c-nrpp.ca. Data checked October 8, 2026.

Common questions in Winnipeg

How common is radon in Winnipeg?

Health Canada's 2012 survey found 12.1% of 66 homes tested in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority region at or above 200 Bq/m³. The 2024 Cross-Canada survey, which pools tests that households volunteered, reports 34.4% (1 in 3) at or above 200 Bq/m³ for Winnipeg. Neighbouring houses can differ a lot, so the only way to know is a long-term test of at least 3 months, ideally in the heating season.

What indoor humidity should I keep in winter in Winnipeg?

Health Canada and CMHC advise 30% to 50%, and CMHC says to keep it at about 30% when it is below −10 °C outside (as low as 25% in extreme cold). Winnipeg averages 102 nights a year below −10 °C. At the January average of −16.4 °C, clear double-glazed windows start to fog at about 43% humidity at the centre of the glass, and at about 30% in a cold snap of −31.3 °C; the edges fog sooner.

How many smoke alarms does a house need in Manitoba?

The Manitoba Fire Code adopts the NFC 2020. Its amendment to 2.1.3.3 keeps battery-operated alarms allowed (except in home-type care occupancies, where multiple alarms must also be interconnected). Houses follow the NFC rule: an alarm between sleeping areas and the rest of the home. New homes built to the National Building Code need hardwired, interconnected alarms on every storey and in every bedroom, which is the standard we recommend for full coverage.

Are carbon monoxide alarms required in Manitoba?

The Manitoba Fire Code (M.R. 82/2023, in force 2024-01-01), Article 2.1.3.8, requires CO detection equipment only in buildings that must be inspected under the Fire Safety Inspections (2014) Regulation, where a CO exposure risk exists. Battery-operated alarms are allowed, and the equipment must be installed per the Manitoba Building Code. Ordinary private homes are not among the inspected building types, so there is no provincial retrofit requirement for them. The Manitoba Building Code's CO requirements for new homes were not verified.

How often should I test my well water in Manitoba?

Bacteria: At least once a year; spring after snowmelt and runoff, or soon after heavy rain, are good times. Chemistry: Nitrate: after the initial test, every 3 to 5 years (more often where nitrate is a concern). Trace elements (arsenic, barium, boron, fluoride, uranium): every 3 to 5 years in areas known to have elevated levels; all wells should be tested at least once. Bacteria test cost: $17.67 (tax included) for the once-a-year subsidized test at Duracan (well_water.json (checked 2026-09-28)). Winnipeg homes are served by the City's municipal water system, so private drinking-water wells are rare.

How we calculate this

Radon

1 pCi/L = 37 Bq/m³ (Health Canada). The Canadian guideline is 200 Bq/m³; above it Health Canada recommends fixing your home within 1 year, sooner the higher the level. Only a long-term test (at least 3 months, ideally in the heating season) tells you your annual average.

Window condensation

glass temperature = indoor − U × (indoor − outdoor) ÷ 8.33

8.33 W/m²·°C is the indoor air film from the National Building Code (RSI 0.12). The dew point comes from the Magnus formula the US National Weather Service publishes; condensation forms when the glass is colder than the dew point. These are centre-of-glass figures: the bottom edge and metal frames run colder, which is why we show CMHC's simpler rule beside them (30% indoor humidity when it is below −10 °C outside, as low as 25% in extreme cold).

Smoke and CO alarms

“Required by law” applies your province's fire code to the layout you enter. “Recommended” is the new-home standard in the National Building Code (an alarm on every storey, in every bedroom and outside sleeping areas) and NRCan's CO advice (one near the furnace or other fuel-burning appliance and one in each bedroom area). Municipal by-laws can add to provincial rules.

Well water and mould

Testing frequencies and lab fees are the ones your province publishes. Mould size categories are Health Canada's and CMHC's: up to three patches each under 1 m² can be cleaned by a healthy homeowner; more than 3 m² needs a professional.

More for Winnipeg

Heating and hot water costs in WinnipegWhat heating, hot water and air conditioning cost at your local prices, and what each heating system would cost instead.Upgrade payback in WinnipegSavings, rebates and payback for attic, wall and basement insulation, windows, air sealing and thermostat setbacks.Appliance running costs in WinnipegWhat your fridge, dryer, freezer and other appliances cost to run at your local electricity price, and what a newer model saves.
Build your upgrade plan → All home services in Winnipeg Radon testing in WinnipegCarbon monoxide testing in WinnipegWell water testing in WinnipegMould testing in WinnipegVentilation assessments in Winnipeg Manitoba rebates and programs

Sources

Prices and programs checked October 8, 2026. Climate: NRCan HOT2000 (Winnipeg International) for heating and ECCC 1981–2010 normals (Winnipeg Richardson Int'l A) for cooling and temperatures.

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