Air Quality Monitors: Choosing The Right Manhole Testing Device

Air quality monitors are devices that inform you about the air you're breathing. They can be used to monitor indoor or outdoor air quality and can detect a variety of pollutants, including carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When choosing an air quality monitor, it is important to consider the type of pollutants you want to monitor, the accuracy and consistency of the device, and your budget. Here are some recommendations for air quality monitors that can help you improve the air you breathe:

- Airthings View Plus: This monitor is user-friendly and comprehensive, measuring seven air quality factors, including CO2, PM2.5, VOCs, and radon. It offers both visual and app-based displays and is available for $299.

- SAF Aranet 4: This monitor is one of the most accurate CO2 monitors available and can act as an indicator of indoor air quality. It is easy to read and provides alerts when the CO2 level is too high.

- AirKnight 9-in-1 Indoor Air Quality Monitor: This tabletop monitor has a comprehensive set of sensors, including particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) and gases (CO2, formaldehyde, and TVOCs). It has a well-designed display and provides an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) number. It is available for $13.

- Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor: This compact and tabletop monitor integrates with the Amazon Alexa app and provides continuous monitoring of five key measurements at a below-average price. It does not have a built-in display but can be controlled through the Alexa app on your phone.

- Temtop LKC-1000S+ Air Quality Monitor: This portable and comfortable-to-hold monitor accurately measures a wide range of indoor and outdoor air pollutants. It includes particulate matter and gas sensors and has a battery life of up to eight hours.

- Temtop M10 Real-Time Air Quality Monitor: This compact tabletop device continuously monitors air quality and tracks formaldehyde and VOCs, in addition to fine particles. It has a clear display but only shows one reading at a time. It is available for $76.

- Airthings Radon & Air Quality Monitor: This smart air quality monitor provides comprehensive monitoring and is compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Homey. It includes a small, energy-efficient display and a well-designed app that provides clear data visualization. It is available for $299.

- INKBIRDPLUS 6-in-1 Indoor Air Quality Monitor: This well-designed and compact monitor displays all readings at once and includes a rechargeable battery. However, it does not monitor TVOCs. It is available for $90.

- Temtop M2000 2nd Generation: This widely-used monitor tests for various pollutants, has built-in calibration, and includes an audible alarm. It is easy to operate and has high consistency across multiple devices. However, it does not work in temperatures below freezing.

- Atmotube Pro Portable: This keychain-sized monitor can be attached to your backpack or belt clip and provides alerts through the Atmo app. It offers impressive accuracy and works well across different temperatures and humidities. However, the battery life is shorter than expected.

- Davis Instruments AirLink: This heavy-duty monitor is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and provides beautiful charts and data visualization. It integrates with other Davis weather station products and is easy to install. However, its PM10 readings are not very accurate.

- Sensirion SPS30: This no-frills machine is dedicated to particulate matter testing and offers long-term stability and contamination resistance. It has a drab user interface that makes data interpretation difficult.

- Temtop P20: This affordable solution measures PM2.5 pollutants and doubles as a nice desk or wall clock. It has a smiley face interpretation of PM2.5 and humidity levels. The battery life is around 6-8 hours on a single charge.

Accuracy and consistency

Calibration is part of what helps monitors maintain accuracy, but it can be tricky to do at home. Laboratory equipment is usually calibrated frequently, but this is not feasible for consumer-grade monitors. However, some monitors, like the Temtop M2000 2nd Generation, have built-in calibration systems.

The accuracy of a monitor also depends on the sensors it uses, external factors like humidity, and where you place it in a room. Some monitors have undergone independent testing, which can help verify their accuracy. For example, the AirKnight 9-in-1 has an accuracy of plus or minus 10 micrograms per meter cubed for PM 2.5 and PM 10 measurements, plus or minus 50 parts per million for CO2, and plus or minus 15% for TVOC and HVOC.

When it comes to the Temtop M2000 2nd Generation, the AQ-SPEC report states that while it may suffer losses in accuracy, it makes up for it with high levels of consistency. Even if you need to replace the device, you can be confident that the reading levels will be consistently similar in the same situation.

The Sensirion SPS30 is another monitor that delivers high precision across temperatures and humidity levels. According to its AQ-SPEC report, it accurately measures PM1.0 and PM2.5 levels in both field and laboratory testing, but not PM10 levels in field trials.

The Atmotube Pro Portable is another highly accurate monitor, with accuracy ranging from 86% to 98% across various conditions, according to its AQ-SPEC results. It also remains highly consistent across various environmental conditions.

The AirGradient ONE is another monitor that uses high-quality components from trusted manufacturers. While it hasn't been tested by the writer, it includes a Plantower PMS5003 particle sensor, which has appeared in ample studies and research papers, as well as sensors from Senseair and Sensirion for VOCs, CO2, and NOx.

The Airthings View Plus is accurate enough to be trusted, according to the writer, but it is simple and lacks advanced functionality. It includes radon, CO2, PM2.5, VOC, temperature, and humidity sensors.

The Qingping Air Quality Monitor Gen 2 has proven to be consistently accurate when compared to more expensive monitors like the PurpleAir Zen. It includes carbon dioxide, PM, VOC, temperature, and relative humidity sensors.

The AirVisual Pro Indoor Monitor, which has been used by the writer for five years, also appears to be accurate. It measures PM 2.5 and CO2, and displays the temperature and humidity.

The PurpleAir Touch Indoor Air Quality Monitor measures PM 2.5 and uses the US Air Quality Index (AQI) color scale.

The QP Pro Air Quality Monitor includes a range of sensors—PM 2.5, TVOCs, temperature, CO2, and humidity—in a tiny package.

The Airthings 2960 View Plus is a smart air quality monitor that provides comprehensive monitoring and is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and Homey. The accompanying app is well-designed and intuitive, providing a clear data snapshot.

Calibration

For instance, the Stellate Air Quality Monitor is factory-calibrated but may require additional calibration if exposed to high levels of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) or HCHO for extended periods. In such cases, users are advised to take the monitor outdoors, turn it on, let it run for 5 minutes, and then bring it back inside to reset the levels.

The Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor by Netatmo also offers a calibration feature accessible through the application settings. The calibration process for this device involves placing two monitors side by side in a well-ventilated room and initiating the calibration through the app. The process takes about 8 hours, and users can calibrate the temperature based on another reference thermometer.

The Airthings View Plus, a popular choice among reviewers, does not explicitly mention manual calibration. However, it is worth noting that this monitor provides accurate readings and has a long battery life, which may reduce the need for frequent calibration.

When considering the purchase of an air quality monitor, it is essential to review the calibration procedures and the sensors' accuracy. Additionally, some monitors may require periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance and accuracy.

Types of sensors

There are two main types of sensors used in air quality monitors: particulate sensors and gas sensors.

Particulate Sensors

Particulate sensors detect tiny motes (pieces) of dust, pollen, mould, and smoke. These sensors can be further classified by the size of particulate matter they can detect.

• PM 10 sensors detect particulate matter that measures 10 micrometres in diameter or less, including dust, mould spores, pollen, and smoke.
• PM 2.5 sensors can detect much smaller particles at around 2.5 micrometres in diameter, including smoke, dust, combustion products like soot and ash, and dust mites.
• PM 1 sensors detect even smaller particles, including ultrafine dust.

Gas Sensors

Gas sensors can sense gases like carbon dioxide.

• Carbon dioxide sensors can detect carbon dioxide produced by respiration, fuel-burning appliances, and vehicle emissions from attached garages.
• Volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors monitor the concentration of VOCs like smoke and gases. They don't measure specific substances but indicate when there's a dangerous concentration of VOCs.
• Formaldehyde (HCHO) sensors check for VOCs like formaldehyde, which may be present in new furniture, cleaning products, and adhesives.
• Carbon monoxide sensors detect carbon monoxide, a colourless, odourless, and highly toxic gas present in automobile exhaust and wood-burning stoves that are not adequately vented.
• Radon sensors detect radon, a colourless, odourless, and toxic gas that's a natural byproduct of decomposition in soil.
• Ozone sensors detect ozone, which can be created by nature or electronic devices like printers.
• Nitrogen dioxide sensors detect nitrogen dioxide, which may be present in wood-burning fireplaces or car exhaust.

Other sensors that may be included in air quality monitors are temperature and humidity sensors, which contribute to your comfort level but are not directly related to air quality.

Placement

When it comes to the placement of your air quality monitor, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it is recommended that you place the monitor at breathing height, which is typically considered to be around 3 to 6 feet from the ground. This ensures that the device is positioned to accurately detect the air that you are breathing. It is also important to keep the monitor away from potential sources of air pollution, such as a toaster, as this can interfere with the accuracy of the readings. Additionally, if you are using the monitor in a room where there is a gas stove, it is advisable to turn on the kitchen exhaust fan or use an air purifier while cooking to mitigate the effects of any fumes.

If you intend to use the air quality monitor in a specific room, such as a child's bedroom, you should place it in that room. This will allow you to get targeted readings for the space you are most concerned about. Alternatively, if you want a more general sense of the air quality in your home, you could consider placing the monitor in a central location, such as a living room or hallway.

For the most accurate readings, it is recommended that you calibrate your monitor regularly, as the sensors can become clogged over time, leading to incorrect readings. Additionally, it is worth noting that the accuracy of monitors can decrease over their lifespan, which is typically around one to two years. Therefore, it may be necessary to replace your monitor every few years to ensure you are getting reliable data.

Cost

The cost of an air quality monitor varies depending on its specifications and features. Basic models can be purchased for as little as $50, while more advanced monitors with additional sensors and smart capabilities can cost several hundred dollars. For example, the Airthings View Plus, which offers extensive monitoring of seven air quality factors, is priced at $299. On the other hand, the IKEA Vindstyrka, a simple and accurate indoor air quality monitor, is available for $49. It's important to note that the cost of a monitor is not always indicative of its performance, as some lower-priced options can provide accurate readings.

When considering the cost of an air quality monitor, it's worth noting that the price range typically reflects the number of sensors, the accuracy of the device, and additional features such as wireless connectivity, portability, and smart home integration. More expensive models may also offer a wider range of sensors to detect various pollutants, gases, and environmental factors like temperature and humidity.

Some air quality monitors are designed for specific use cases, such as indoor, outdoor, or portable monitoring, which can also impact their pricing. For example, the Davis Instruments AirLink, designed for both indoor and outdoor usage, is priced higher than monitors meant solely for indoor use.

Additionally, the cost of maintenance and calibration should be considered for certain monitors, especially those with more advanced features or sensitive sensors. Over time, sensors may drift and require recalibration to maintain accuracy.

In summary, the cost of an air quality monitor can range from around $50 to a few hundred dollars, depending on the number of sensors, accuracy, smart capabilities, and specific use cases. When making a purchasing decision, it's important to prioritize your needs and budget accordingly.

Frequently asked questions