If a home has not been closed up for 12 hours before an electret ion chamber (EIC) test, what should you do?

When preparing to conduct an electret ion chamber (EIC) test, it is crucial for the home to be closed up for at least 12 hours prior to testing to ensure accurate measurement of radon levels. If a home has not met this requirement, the best course of action is to close all doors and windows and deploy the device for at least 4 days. This approach ensures that the environment stabilizes and that the test can reflect the true radon concentrations present in the living space under normal conditions.

By allowing the device to collect data over an extended period, you account for variations in radon levels that can occur due to outdoor air exchange and pressure changes, leading to a more reliable measurement. This extended testing duration is particularly important in residential settings where airflow can fluctuate significantly.

In contrast, starting the test immediately without any adjustments could lead to skewed results since the home has not been properly closed up, which can introduce inaccuracies. Postponing the test for 24 hours does not guarantee that the home would be adequately closed during that time, nor does it align with the recommended testing procedure. Similarly, switching to an alternative testing method may not be necessary if proper conditions can be established for the EIC test. Hence, the most