We did this as weve seen a large number of homes in our neighborhood getting Radon gas mitigation systems installed. These test devices cost more and take longer, but they are the most accurate radon test kits available. Higher levels of alpha tracks indicate high levels of alpha particles and radon. Bob Vila has been Americas Handyman since 1979. Radon exposure can happen in any homeincluding yours. All rights reserved. Theres small keyhole on the back of the detector for wall-mounting too, if necessary. While smart tech has definitely made keeping on top air quality easier, there is still a long way to go before it becomes commonplace. Ive evaluated a number of similar monitors, but the Airthings Wave Mini stands out for its compact size and user friendly design. For a sensor company, sensor readings are kind of our bread & butter - so we squashed this one rather quickly. Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone is powered by a pair of AA batteries (included) that should last 16 months. If you have a Wave monitor, you should use the Airthings Wave app.------------------------Airthings can help inform you of poor air quality so you and your family can breath better, healthier air.Our app quickly and easily connects to your View Plus, View Radon and View Pollution - bringing your homes air quality data straight to your smartphone.It features:AirGlimpse: Color-coded indicators give you at-a-glance information about your air quality Access to the detailed graphs to help you track and find trends over time Notifications inform you of poor air quality and suggest ways to improve it, fast Tips for addressing common indoor air quality problems and how to make the most of your device Recommendations on the best Airthings monitor for your needsThe View monitors connect directly to your home WiFi network so that you can check your data anytime, anywhere, right from the Airthings app.If you have questions about using the app or any of our monitors, please contact support@airthings.com. The main menu is shown above and it gives you the current reading of all six areas being monitored on one screen. Im an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and Im here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you dont need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years). Charcoal-based tests should be considered a minimum level of monitoring, which will tell you if you have a severe, long-term problem to address, but they cant provide ongoing results. Airthings Wave Plus is wireless, battery-operated, and includes an app (iOS/Android) and an online dashboard with advanced analytics. The device itself should be able to maintain its accuracy for much longer than that, according to the manufacturer, unless it is exposed to continuously high levels of radon (greater than 140 pCi/L) over several years.. The Wave detected no levels at all after sitting on my shelf for a month. The data is displayed on a dashboard that shows readings for each of the variables, and you can access data plotted for the past week, month, or year to look for trends. In our research we found a variety of kits that stood out in their respective categories, whether they be full-time monitoring units or one-time test units that are sent off to a laboratory. The digital display provides a continuous pCi/L reading, without needing to involve a laboratory. I dunno if theyre planning on migrating all devices to this app or discontinuing others but kinda weird to have two separate apps.This app is about as functional as the previous and doesnt have native tablet support, at least on iOS. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists. Airthings Wave Plus Air Quality Monitor Review. 1-day, 7-day and long term average radon levels, LCD display with ability to turn off display during testing, Comes with 3 AAA batteries that last 2 years, Tracks levels over long periods of time for a more accuracy than traditional methods, Radon, humidity, temperature, air pressure and tilt, Upload to PC with an included micro-USB cable. I directed my parents to seek out a radon mitigation service, and they're currently exploring options and getting more tests done in other parts of the house. By the seventh day of use, the short-term average will flash between a one-day and a seven-day reading, and these can be substantially different than the long-term average value. This means you can connect your existing monitors to a View series monitor, to bring your monitors online, without the need for an Airthings Hub. Just in time for National Radon Awareness Month, Airthings has a series of new devices that let you accurately measure and track your homes radon levels. With six total sensors, the Wave Plus is the ultimate home monitor, ditching the need to have dedicated sensors for temperature, or CO2. Thats what makes the Airthings Corentium Home radon detector such an intriguing product. Sadly, the sensor does not support Apple's HomeKit or Siri Shortcuts. It turned out the cancer-causing radon gas levels the detector reported were higher than the EPA and WHO recommends. Enjoy more personalized experience by shopping in your local store. The Wave Mini runs on three AA batteries (included), and it can be wall mounted using its magnetic plate or set upright with an included stand. The detailed results show air quality over time and you can select by 48 hours, week, month, and year. Consider your own technical installation abilities and your current radon testing needs before deciding on a test kit. It's possible the Airthings Wave saved my parents' lives, in the long term. All detailed information is readily available through the Airthings app or on its website, and a simple light on the monitor indicates green (good), yellow (warning), or red (danger) levels. House Kit. $179.99. Yes, it does take a few seconds to get the latest data, but we are talking five to ten seconds tops, nothing insanely long or frustrating here. Weve installed and used many smart meters over the years. Samsung reveals futuristic new smart home appliances for CES 2023. You can track your air quality using the free Airthings Wave app for Android and iOS. Without hiring a professional, one way to know if youre at risk of radon gas exposure is by using a radon tester to measure the levels in your home. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. It takes two AA batteries and this should keep the Wave Plus up and running for up to 16 months. Often priced under $50, they are one-shot affairs. These particles are not monitored and we feel that would also be some useful data points to have. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Thats a problem because, as Airthings spokesperson Pippa Boothman points out, radon levels are not something you can simply deal with once and be done. You plug the cord from the cylinder into the wall and leave it on a flat, open surface in the area of the home you want to test. $149.99 at Best Buy $169.24 at Amazon Pros + Easy set up + Long battery life + It was the first of the Wave family, and there are 2 generations: Wave Radon 1st gen and Wave Radon 2nd gen. Passive radon detectors are generally very easy to set up, with most having instructions that specify a temporary location for them to sit during the allotted time period. For example, the Corentium Pro is our professional device, and is fully AARST-NRPP certified for the North American market and beyond. Airthings Plus 9.27 24.01 25.74 8.84 1.91 9.04 6.98 20.75 21.89 2.78 10.30 10.67 Eye Radon Plus 3.08 11.73 12.12 2.72 7.51 7.98 3.68 13.93 Active radon test kits are more complex and can range from battery-powered units you attach to the wall to smart homecompatible units that require a fully integrated setup before use. When Airthings reached out to Legit Reviews to review the Wave Plus smart indoor air quality monitor we were excited to hear from the company. I assume that the higher price point is indeed due to Radon monitoring, but I would certainly like to see it drop down to more accessible levels as indoor air quality is such a vital part of maintaining a healthy home environment. Short-term radon tests take between 2 and 90 days to collect readings from your home, depending on the manufacturer. The Wave Plus is one that we often look at weeks after getting it and change things based on its readings. . Airthings claims that its measurement uncertainty, is less than 20 percent over 7 days and less than 10 percent over 30 days, when exposed to 2.7 pCi/L or 100 Bq/m3. This is in large part due to the thoughtful mount design, which uses one screw to hold a magnetic plate to the wall, which in turns allows the Wave Plus to attach to it just by lining the back of it up. Hope you get it worked out. Track your pollen levels outdoors and optimize your air quality indoors for a healthy environment. We also ensured that our list spanned a range of price points since we noticed that, depending on what kind of radon tester a shopper is looking for, the price can vary greatlyfrom around $15 all the way up to several hundred dollars for more advanced kits. The Airthings Wave Plus radon and air quality monitor is a more expensive choice for testing radon, but you get a lot for your money. The device comes with user-friendly and excel compatible software, allowing you to upload data to your PC. Once the alpha-track radon test kit has been in place for the manufacturers suggested time period, the homeowner removes it and sends it to a lab for testing. Difficult-to-use kits can produce results impacted by user error, whereas easy-to-use kits will provide more accurate readings. The Airthings Wave is a smart radon detector that can help monitor your home's air quality, though there might be more economical options depending on its size and location. This is easily a device that wed recommend! Alpha-track test kits have a plastic film that becomes marked by alpha particles that strike it. Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. This is an interesting one. Ill update my review and give the app a better score when it actually works! If you like the idea of getting instant results or youre prone to wondering about mix-ups at a lab you cant see, you may want to check out the Safety Siren Pro Series3 Radon Gas Detector; its the only other consumer-grade reusable radon detector we could find. The Airthings Corentium Home makes no apologies for the fact that it is a radon detector. Airthings View Radon. They've only been living there for a little over a year, and their previous home didn't have significant levels of radon, so thankfully they haven't been exposed for a prolonged period. Those are reasonable measurement rates, and while even the weeklong reading is a bit slower than charcoal kits, the Wave provides the benefit of constantly monitoring the air quality without the need to send anything away to a lab. It would not preview any sensor readings, only icons. We are currently having a system installed, but we havent looked at any other air quality metrics. Ive been PCMags home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. Their main difference is what they can measure. If what you want is a very quick sense of radon levels in your home, the Corentium Home has just provided it faster than any other consumer option. Before testing the Corentium Home, we performed a long-term test using a charcoal test kit supplied by AccuStar. Radon tests work by counting or tracking the amount of radon in the air. Spending an extra $80 will get you an air quality monitor that monitors five additional areas. Radon detectors, or digital radon test kits, are the most expensive type of radon testers on the list. SAVE $70. Trying to install new a new View Plus.Bluetooth connection is erratic.Keep getting not connected internet message on the device screen.After messing around for hours and restarting and resetting everything several times, I finally gave up and went to the older app. The AccuStar radon gas test kit is perfect for real estate agents who are in regular need of short-term radon test solutions for their clients. When gathering our list of recommendations, we made sure to consider what we found to be the most important aspects of radon home kits that meet customer expectationsaccuracy, usability, and ease of installation. If you're testing just one or two main living areas on an annual basis, you can go nearly a decade before the Wave pays for itself, and that's a big ask considering it has only a 12-month warranty. After three weeks of letting the Corentium Home sit in the same location, it gave us a long-term average reading of 54 Bq/m3 14 percent lower than the AccuStar test. Darth Vader would be so upset. Meet Corentium Plus, the radon monitor that brings data to life. The results are color-coded, so you can tell at a glance if radon levels are dangerously high. on the 2 5/8 inches wide by 1 1/8 inches tall LCD Screen. The Wave measured 28 pCi/L, nearly ten times what the EPA considers a dangerous level of radon. You need to place them in a specific location to test the air and then send them to a lab for results. In the western part of the world, air purifiers are not a household staple as of yet, and potentially harmful gases are not detected by conventional monitors installed in homes. The best radon detectors typically feature a digital display and will continuously test the air in the home, displaying results regularly and without the need to send the kit to a laboratory. Three replaceable AAA batteries (included in the box) power the unit, which Airthings claims should give about two years of continuous use. The Wave Plus communicates to the app via Bluetooth, making the set up process faster without having to entering a Wi-Fi password. Is that an indication of a problem? The Wave Plus, like most sensors, doesn't provide truly precise measurements, and in this case, Airthings' offering can achieve accuracy within 10% after the first seven days, and within 5% after two months. The result: 63 Bq/m3 well below the threshold of action recommended by Health Canada of 200 Bq/m3. But thanks to the Corentium Home, we were able to check radon levels in other locations too, and the results surprised us: Despite the fact that the highest readings were in the basement, as one might expect, readings on the second floor werent nearly as low as we thought, with short-term averages of 30 Bq/m3 and long-term averages of 38 Bq/m3, after six days of data collection. High humidity promotes mold growth and aggravates asthma symptoms, while too-dry air can lead to skin and throat irritation. The Airthings Wave Plus radon and air quality monitor is a more expensive choice for testing radon, but you get a lot for your money. You can install it on a wall or sit it on a shelf. HomeKit compatibility helps you manage your smart lights alongside all other devices in the home from a common interface. When should you get a professional to calibrate your new TV? Keep the following considerations in mind when selecting the best radon test kit for your specific circumstances. The lab fees and shipping costs are sometimes included with the product you purchase, so be sure to understand whether you will need to pay the fees. The meter boasts just one power button, and the Temptop M10 will last up to 6 hours on a single. Using the Corentium Home is like using a thermometer. Finally, I find the price tag for the Wave Plus to be a little on the high side. This style of test is more accurate than short-term test kits and is a medium-range option falling between short-term kits and ongoing radon detectors. Get the Ecosense radon test kit at Amazon or Ecosense. Long-term and continuous testing provide a much longer period of time for collecting readings, which allows you to better determine the average radon level in your home. 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In other words, virtually every factor that affects the air you breathe on a daily basis is accurately measured and tracked. If you have any questions or want more information, we'll be happy to hear from you at support@airthings.com, or simply start a chat with us by clicking on the chat icon in the bottom right-hand corner of this page! Airthings Corentium Home A B A A Airthings 2900 Wave C C B A Airthings WavePlus C A C B RadonEye Radon EyePlus B A B B . Our app quickly and easily connects to your View Plus, View Radon and View Pollution - bringing your home's air quality data straight to your smartphone. Both readings were within Health Canadas recommended under 200 Bq/m3 level, but I had no idea radon levels were even an issue, let alone as high as they were in my basement. If youre looking for more than just a simple radon test, continuous air monitors like this are amazing for all-around protection. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Airthings has its own high-tech take on radon detection with the Wave, a Blueooth air quality detector you can mount anywhere you want to constantly check for radon. The inclusion of Radon monitoring is also huge for the smart home world and for safety in general, as it seems to be one of those metrics that is often overlooked, despite its importance. Airthings 2960 View Plus Readings within 1 hour See past and current readings in AirThings app Long term tests View on Amazon Read review Best digital test AirThings Corentium Readings within 24 hours See readings on display Long and short term tests View on Amazon Read review Best for long- and short-term testing SafetySiren Pro4 AccuStar 4-Inch Charcoal Canister Radon Test Kit, 7 Health Hazards Lurking in Your Basement, Kid-Friendly DIY: 10 Projects Sure to Inspire Summer Fun, 14 Places in America Where the Usual Laws Don't Apply, 10 Things to Know About Being Your Own Real Estate Agent, 19 Wainscoting Ideas That Will Add Character to Your Home, Storage Sanity: 15 Ways to Organize a Pantry, Takes multiple measurements and captures trends, showing radon fluctuations and overall exposure, Lightweight and portable; on-screen results show both long- and short-term readings, Easy-to-read screen in both dark or light environments; first results displayed in 24 hours, May have limited lifespan compared to other radon test kits, EPA approved; listed under the agencys radon gas measurement efficiency program, Includes test materials and lab fees for most states, except New Jersey, Results available in 3 to 5 business days; no long waits, Can only be used once, making it impractical for long-term testing, Smart, battery-operated, indoor air-quality monitor provides continuous testing and monitoring, Has 6 sensors monitoring for radon, CO2, humidity, temp, airborne chemicals (VOCs) and pressure, Touch-free, color-coded visual indicator that shows current air-quality level, Pricey compared to other random test kits and monitors on the market, Analyzed using gamma ray spectroscopy; results available same business day if received by noon, Relatively budget-friendly radon test kit; robust canister design keeps results safe, Some users report inaccurate or invalid test results even though testing instructions were followed properly, Conducts several tests every hour automatically; instant results via RadonEye app, Test results updated every 10 minutes and displayed on the OLED screen, Data can be saved as a .txt file on a smartphone, Relatively expensive compared to other radon tests on the market. This company had a booth at ASHI's . The Radon reading between the Wave Plus and Corentium Home Radon Detector by Airthings were similar and it was nice to have two meters. The continuous real-time and long-term monitoring provides an average reading over time, and an alarm feature will notify you if the radon levels in your home exceed 4 pCi/L. However, according to the Airthings, Corentium Plus has a higher measurement range than the upper display limit. It is easier to make the case for a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector, because those alert you to an immediate life-threatening condition. Monitor your home without the need for an outlet. Airthings Corentium Home Radon Detector 223 Portable, Lightweight, Easy-to-Use, (3) AAA Battery Operated, USA Version, pCi/L FIRST OF ITS KIND: The first battery-operated, digital radon detector. 6:03 . Along with the LED indicator light for status and app measurements, I was impressed how Airthings provides a detailed, yet easy to understand break down of all of its measurement capabilities, complete with explanations of the actual dangers per tolerance levels. If your goal is simply to evaluate whether your home has dangerously high levels of radon, these one-and-done tests will do the job and cost very little. In Canada, the answer is going to be yes. The First Alert RD 1 home radon test kit is one of the easiest-to-use options available. The Ecosense RadonEye home radon detector takes 30 independent counts of pCi/L levels within a single hour. To get the most from the Wave Plus youll need to download and install the Airthings Wave App for iOS or Android. While smart home gadgets like smart speakers, smart light bulbs, and the like are quite popular and certainly fun to receive, this buying decision is fraught with complexities: Which gadgets make the best gifts, and how do you choose which smart home system would be a welcome present? The longer a radon test kit is able to test the home, the more accurate the results will be, as longer testing allows you to determine the average level of pCi/L in your home without the influence of random positive or negative spikes. Thats the value of detectors like the Airthings Wave. A single mounting screw is included. There are no indicator lights that are always-on to annoy you and doesnt stand out in a room. Its a popular home test sold on Amazon. You must then send these test kits to a laboratory to have the results calculated and returned to you. A charcoal test is limited by design. All of the sensor data is also available via a web portal, accessible from any desktop browser, which makes it easier to discern exactly when a problematic measurement occurred. //]]> In other words, virtually every factor that affects the air you breathe on a daily basis is accurately measured and tracked. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Not cool! Everywhere else uses the more common Bq/m3 (Becquerel per cubic meter) scale. Radon is a naturally occurring but toxic gas that is completely undetectable by humans. No need to have an independent lab come in every time you want a reading, you just check the monitoror your smartphonefor a real time reading. Both of these count the quantity of radon in the air using pCi/L (Picocurie per liter of air) as their scale, if you buy the U.S. model. Bottom line: The Airthings Wave Plus has everything that you need to monitor and maintain a healthy environment inside of the home. With an easy setup process, user-friendly app, and six sensors, which include Radon, the Wave Plus is the ultimate home monitor. These explanations include steps that you can take to bring things into acceptable ranges, such as "experiment with ventilation" for slightly elevated Radon levels, or "contact a professional Radon mitigator" if things are getting out of control. Within 72 hours of lab receipt, the results are emailed directly to you. While setting up the Airthings Wave Plus was extremely quick and easy, the sensor itself requires some time to calibrate before providing an accurate picture of your indoor air. If you ever wanted to learn more about the air in your home, or want that extra little peace of mind that Radon detection provides, then go out and grab the Wave Plus, its a fantastic addition to any smart home. After sending the test kit to the lab, you can expect results to be available online within a few days.