You NEED this air quality sensor | AirThings Wave Plus

AirThings, a Norweigan tech company, is educating and helping homeowners monitor their indoor air quality and radon levels with their range of sensors. Their Wave Plus costs $230 on their website but you can find it for $197 on Amazon.
Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3lXtOz4

Link to my Patreon page:   / belinda_carr  

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:52 Set up & installation
1:25 Radon
3:15 VOC
4:29 Carbon dioxide
5:29 Humidity
6:15 Temperature
6:41 Pressure
7:20 IFTTT
7:55 Conclusion

Set up is very simple. Download the AirThings app, create an account and log in, turn on your device and connect it to your phone via bluetooth. When you wave your hand over the Wave Plus a colored ring illuminates in green, yellow or red to give you an indicator of air quality. The Wave Plus has 6 trackers for Radon, VOC, CO2, Humidity, Temperature, and Pressure.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is the main cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Uranium 238 in the Earth naturally decays into radium 226 and then radon 222 gas which can enter our homes through the foundation. This emits a radioactive alpha particle composed of two protons and two neutrons. When an alpha particle hits our DNA it can damage a cell’s blueprint. These broken cells replicate themselves to form a cancerous tumor.

The Wave Plus uses "alpha spectrometry" to measure the level of radon. The sensor consists of a passive diffusion chamber that air flows into. A photodiode counts the amount of radon particles in the air sample. Radon is not an instant measurement, but an average value over a long period of time because the amount of alpha particles can vary dramatically.

Wave Plus also measures TVOCs or Total Volatile organic compounds. Not all VOCs are bad, many naturally occurring ones are non-toxic. However, harmful VOCs can cause short term effects like headaches, nose, throat and eye inflammation, coughing and pneumonia. In the long run, it can affect the central nervous system, blood and reproductive system. VOCs can be emitted from candles, fragrances, cooking fumes, new furniture, cleaning products, glue, children’s toys and paints. It can’t detect a natural gas leak, but it will show a spike in VOC levels. It also detects formaldehyde in its total VOC reading. Airthings uses a metal-oxide based sensor with a sensitive layer that reacts to chemicals by adsorption.

Next, the Wave Plus measures carbon dioxide or CO2 levels. In small quantities it is natural and harmless, but as levels rise, it can affect productivity and sleep. It can lead to restlessness, drowsiness, increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, sweating and headaches. Carbon dioxide is mainly produced by the air we exhale. Airthings uses NDIR or non dispersive infrared sensors to measure CO2 levels. It collects a sample of air in a chamber, shines a light, and measures how much light has passed through excluding the CO2 molecules.

The Wave Plus also measures Humidity levels which is the amount of water vapor present in the air. Relative humidity of 100% means that the air is saturated and can’t hold any more water vapor. High humidity creates excess moisture and condensation and leads to mold and rot, asthma, allergies and dust mites. Low humidity can cause dry skin and eczema, lower educational performance, and the spread of viruses.

Temperature levels are also measured. 68-74 degrees fahrenheit or 18-24 degrees Celsius is considered to be safe. Higher temperatures can affect cognitive abilities, while low temperatures can lead to respiratory disease.

Finally, the device measures air pressure, which should ideally be around the same as the outdoor atmospheric pressure, 1013.25 mbar. Positive air pressure means that air gets pushed into walls and insulation. It can lead to doors slamming shut, whistling, and random drafts of air. Negative air pressure causes outdoor air to rush in. In winter, the air in your home becomes dry and can cause nose bleeds, chapped lips and static. In summer, it can lead to condensation, mold and mildew.
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SOURCES
   • Radon: Long term measurement matters  
   • Understanding and testing for a negat...  
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#airquality #radon #waveplus #airthings #sensor #homeremodel #renovation