First of all radon is no joke. I learned about radon many years ago when I moved to a state/county that is classified as EPA's Zone 1 for radon risk. I knew nothing about radon back then however the city/county did a fairly good job educating people about the dangers of this gas. One day I saw this big "Got Radon?" sign by the side of the road with a website to learn more about it. I was curious and followed through. What I learned was very concerning and questioned why I knew about the "dangers" of "mold" and not about a RADIOACTIVE gas that was lingering around my house. I think the answer is that we are obsessed with things that have short term impact but tend to bury our heads under the sand when we need to look ahead in the future 5, 10 or more years. We simply like to think the problem is not there because it is difficult for our brains to register the danger without immediate threat (like a scratchy throat).
To cut the story short, I bought a radon test kit and the results came back at 10 PCi/L. We immediately took action and installed a radon mitigation system. Learning that radon levels can fluctuate I always dreamed of having a device that could constantly measure the levels of radon inside our house. Therefore I was thrilled when I found the Wave while browsing for IAQ monitors. We have own the device for a couple of months now, so sharing our thoughts:
1) This is a CONSUMER GRADE device, therefore users expectations should be accordingly. The value of owning this device is not to have a measure comparable to professional grade equipment but to have a close idea if you have a radon issue (consistent measures above the recommended threshold taken over a long period of time) or if your home is ok (consistent measures below the recommended threshold taken over a long period of time). This device will show you just that. In terms of accuracy of radon measurements, although we have only been measuring for a few weeks, we now live in an EPA Zone 3 county and we have seen Wave levels consistently measuring below recommended threshold.
2) This device measures CO2 (carbon "dioxide") not CO (carbon monoxide). I read some reviews about people's CO alarm not sounding when the Wave was registering high levels of CO2. Well, these are 2 different things.
3) In terms of temperature and humidity, we own several monitors in our home. Wave's measurements are comparable to these devices. I would say the wave is consistently 1 or 2 degrees above the cheaper "accurate" devices we have in the house. Same for humidity %
4) VOCs measurements are very impressive. We can immediately see the changes in results even with subtle things like sweeping the floors or bringing a box inside our home with things that had been in storage. We just bought a few Wave Minis to place them in the bedrooms as well. This monitor has helped confirm that passive and active ventilation are key to keep VOCs levels below recommended thresholds!
5) The app works well and is pretty user friendly. We had no issues downloading or using the app in our phones or iPad. Also, no issues registering the device. I think the level of information is what we need and it is great to have access to historic data.
6) Finally, this device requires CALIBRATION. The instructions clearly state that you need to place the device in its intended environment for 7 days to allow for proper calibration. We did exactly that and it seems to be working just fine.
Overall highly recommended if you want a comprehensive view of the quality of the air you are breathing inside your home. I am hoping 5 years from now Indoor Air Quality equipment will be required, as smoke detectors are today.
| Manufacturer | Airthings |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 2911 |
| Item Weight | 7.8 ounces |
| Country of Origin | Tunisia |
| Item model number | 2930 |
| Color | Black |
| Style | Modern |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Cutting Diameter | 1.25 Inches |
| Measurement Accuracy | +/-.5% |
| Included Components | radon detector, air quality sensors |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | Airthings has a 5-year extended warranty available on all air quality monitors for consumers. Registration is required within 30 days of the purchase on the Airthings website. Registration is free and your statutory rights are not affected. |
| Assembled Diameter | 1.25 Inches |
