Most reliable sensor ever.
Billions of years can't be wrong...
Anyway, my initial observations was that the device seemed consistent with local readings, not far off outside, then lower, as to be expected, inside. Yesterday we started out with great air, then in the afternoon got intense smoke from California. I took the monitor out with me and readings incredibly high, multiple times the nearest time-wise reports via the EPA, state, and county reports. As I could feel the smoke in my throat and eyes yesterday, plus a sudden headache, I didn't doubt my readings, even if high.
Today, inside reports are moderate with PM2.5 running near 60 ug/m3 and PM10 around 75 ug/m3. Surprisingly high for indoor reading. I set the device outside on the upstairs deck and got PM2.5 at around 175 ug/m3 and PM10 at around 500 ug/m3. Personally, I can smell smoke, my throat is scratchy, and eyes dry feeling. Both outside and when inside. Plus a very mild headache. We are now wearing N95 respirators, which we keep on hand for bad air days. Got a bunch of these several years ago when heavy smoke filled the valley, even worse than today. Our replacement filters are N100, but that is distraction from point of my discussion.
Okay, even while we can feel, experience and even see the bad air (visibility is down to a mile or so), our readings do not remotely mach the government readings (See EPA's Air Now).
So, what to trust? There are no meaningful ways to calibrate the detector. Seems true of most. They are presented as working or not. I have no reason based on good and bad days, albeit only a few days of observation, to not trust the device except for the extreme discrepancy with local readings. The local reading, I presume, are an average of the 8-10 monitoring points in the Reno-Sparks-Tahoe area. (I plan to reach out to them next week and see if I can get real-time reading and location so that I might sit nearby for half-an-hour and see if readings are similar. I read an article by some Americans in Bejing doing the same to verify their detector with that of the US Embassy.)
Do you have an air quality detector? Your experience and recommendations?
Oops, forget [VANITY] tag on title.
Yes , I have a Nose and I smell BBQ
I’ve never heard of personal Air Quality Detectors. Are they for both indoor and outdoor use? I would love to have such a device on a wristband and be able to constantly know if what I’m breathing isn’t poisonous.
Most reliable sensor ever.
Billions of years can't be wrong...
I find your post interesting. I’m in Hawaii on the island with the volcano errupting. My house was actually taken out by the flow but now I’m living in an area on the same island well away from the flow but air quality is sometimes an issue. SO2 is a problem as well as smoke and volcanic dust. One of your air sensors sounds like a good idea. Does yours measure SO2?
Do they detect mold indoors?
“Anyone using an air quality detector?”
I have an old one, an ACME from the days it was called a BS detector.
I’ll probably have to upgrade someday.
Do you also have a Indian weather rock?
Yea air quality sucks in Reno today. My instrument is my eyes. I can’t see Peavine from my deck today. AQ is very bad.
Why bother? If I can’t see the mountains, it’s really bad. If I climb up 2,500 feet and look down and see a sea of brown crud, I know it’s bad. If I smell ozone or smoke, I know it’s bad. It the car gets a layer of gritty grime in 24 hours p, I know it’s bad.
My BIL has lived in Reno for more than 40 years. He says the smoke over the fountains, is the worst he has e ever seen.
There are companies that will come to your home and clean the carpets.