Why is radon testing not recommended immediately after moving into a new home?

Radon testing is not recommended immediately after moving into a new home primarily due to the potential for unoccupied spaces. When a home is newly occupied, there may be areas that have not been ventilated or interacted with as they would typically be when the home is fully lived in. For example, rooms such as basements or attics might remain closed off or sparsely visited, leading to radon concentrations that do not represent the overall exposure in the home.

This context is crucial because radon is a naturally occurring gas that can accumulate in confined spaces. If certain areas of the house are not regularly used or ventilated, it’s possible that high radon levels could exist there, which may not reflect the conditions when the home is fully inhabited. Therefore, waiting for a period allows for all spaces to be used regularly and minimizes the chances of skewing the test results due to temporary conditions.

To conduct a proper radon test, it's important to have a consistent airflow and usage pattern in the home, which is generally established after some time of occupancy.