How should radon testing be conducted to ensure accurate results?

To ensure accurate results in radon testing, it is essential to follow a comprehensive set of practices designed to mitigate variables that can influence readings. This includes adhering to established standard procedures for testing environments, which encompass factors like the duration of the test, environmental conditions, and proper placement of test devices. By following these guidelines, testers can ensure that the conditions of the environment reflect typical living patterns.

Minimizing human interference is also crucial, as actions taken by individuals, such as opening windows, turning on fans or heating systems, can alter air flow and pressure, potentially affecting radon levels during the testing period.

Conducting tests during weekends only does not inherently guarantee accurate results, but proper timing—when the house is typically occupied in a consistent manner—can help in obtaining a more reliable snapshot of radon levels. However, limiting testing strictly to weekends could miss variations that occur during the week, particularly in homes with fluctuating occupancy.

Therefore, a combination of following standard procedures, minimizing human interference, and considering testing timing, when done correctly, leads to the most reliable results in radon testing. This holistic approach is why the selection that encompasses all these elements is the most appropriate.