AIRTHINGS 2950 Smart Indoor Air Quality And Radon Monitor User Guide

AIRTHINGS 2950 Smart Indoor Air Quality And Radon Monitor User Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does Wave Radon measure radon?

Wave Radon contains an Airthings patented radon sensor, which utilizes a passive diffusion chamber and alpha spectrometry to monitor radon levels. Every 60 minutes, it counts the number of alpha particles, created during the natural decay of radon, it detects inside of its chamber The amount of radon in an indoor environment is not fixed; in fact it can vary significantly from day to day and month to month. This is why the radon measurements are always expressed as averages of the samples taken over a time period - like 24 hours, 7 days, or long-term...you get the idea. Keep in mind that the 24h radon level is a rolling (or moving) average. This means that this level is an average of only the 24 most recent hourly samples and only updates once per hou

Wave Radon is reporting a radon level over 4 pCi/L (or 150 Bq/m3 ). Is my

health in danger? What should I do?

The health risk associated with radon is the combination of exposure to elevated radon levels (over 4 pCi/L) over a long period of time. Elevated radon levels are cause for action, not panic. If, after a month of monitoring, your short and long-term average radon levels are consistently over 4, it’s time to take steps to bring levels down. First, increase ventilation by opening windows and doors, allowing the radon to dissipate with outdoor air. Then check your home’s foundation thoroughly for cracks or other openings where radon might be entering from the earth below and around it. Seal any cracks or openings. A full day after you have taken these actions, check your 24h average radon level to see if they’ve worked. Keep an eye on the 24h average over the next several days to determine if the effects are lasting or if radon begins to increase again. If levels remain elevated after you’ve sealed any cracks in the foundation, contact a local radon professional. They will inspect your home and offer you solutions to address the radon problem and bring levels down.

I just fully aired out my basement but the monitor is telling me that radon

levels have barely changed. What’s going on?

The 24h radon level is a rolling average that takes into account the 24 most recent hourly samples. Because of this, it won’t reflect the full impact of actions taken until 24 hours after they’ve been carried out.

How does Wave Radon compare to the radon test kits that the EPA recommends?

First, it’s important to explain that indoor radon levels change, often unpredictably, from week to week and month to month. Ventilation, weather, air pressure, and seasonality combine to make radon levels rise or fall. Most radon test kits are designed to be placed in your home for a period of just a few days, then sent to a lab where the contents are analyzed and a report is issued. These kits give you an “snapshot” of the level of radon during the days the kits were in your home. So why do we believe that’s not good enough? Because to really understand your exposure to radon, and the possible health risk, you need to know the average amount of radon over the longterm - we’re talking many months, even years. Wave Radon is designed to work continuously for years, maintaining a long-term average radon level you can trust. If you discover that you have high levels of radon, you can take action. From small steps like manually ventilating when you see radon levels increasing, to big steps like installing a radon mitigation system. Even with a system installed, Wave Radon keeps working for you - telling you if the system is working properly, or alerting you to increasing radon levels in the case the system fails. We think of the short-term test kits as screeners and continuous digital monitoring as a means of thorough testing.

Where should I place the monitor for best results?

First, never place the monitor outdoors or in conditions with over 85% humidity - this can cause permanent damage to the radon sensor inside. You can use Wave Radon in any room indoors where you want to test for radon. Since radon enters the home through the building’s foundation, we recommend placing it in your basement or lowest floor. If levels are safe there, they are likely safe elsewhere in the home. For best results, avoid placing it within 3 ft (90 cm) of vents, fans, windows or doors - sources of ventilation that can skew the readings. It’s also a good idea to place the device in the room near to where people spend time and at an average breathing height - and never higher than 6 ft (182cm). You can lay it on a surface or use the screw holes in the backplate to mount it on a wall.

Will I have accurate measurements from day 1?

The humidity and temperature readings are ready from day 1. However, we strongly recommend you let the monitor measure radon in one location for at least 30 days, to collect enough sample measurements to get an accurate understanding of the amount of radon in your environment. The longer you measure radon in a single location, the more accurate your readings will be. You should always consider your long term average when deciding to pursue radon mitigation action.

Is it portable? Can I move it to another room or another building?

Yes, you sure can. However, to understand your home’s exposure to radon, we recommend leaving the monitor in the same location for 1-3 months. This is because radon levels can fluctuate radically over time - principally due to changes in ventilation and weather. Once you feel you understand the average radon levels where you have been measuring, you can move the monitor to another room in your home or to another house entirely. When you move your monitor, you will want to start a new measurement history. This will separate the new readings from the readings taken in the previous space. To do this, use the app and unpair the monitor from your account, then add it again, this time to the location and room where you want to start measuring radon. It will take about 1 month in the new location before you can begin to consider the long-term average values as actionable.

Can I check my live Wave Radon air quality readings in the app from

anywhere?

No (but it’s possible!). Let’s explain. Wave Radon is equipped with Bluetooth and syncs the air quality data it collects to your app only when your phone is within Bluetooth range (about 30ft or 10m) and the app is opened. On its own, it’s not connected to the Internet for anytime access. However, if you also have an Airthings View Plus or other View series monitor, it can act as an Internet hub for your Wave Radon. Just plug your View monitor into a power outlet to activate the hub, then use the Airthings app to link Wave Radon to the hub. With internet connectivity, not only will you be able to access live readings from anywhere, but you will also receive timely notifications when air quality declines. Plus, you can use smart home systems like IFTTT or Homey to create home automation flows using sensor readings as triggers.

How does the Wave monitor connect to the internet hub in my View monitor?

Airthings SmartLink is a long-range, lightweight protocol we created especially for direct communications between our Wave monitors and our hub devices. When you use the app to link your Wave monitor to the hub in your View monitor, it begins to use SmartLink and it turns off Bluetooth. Fun fact: Because Bluetooth requires more power than SmartLink, hub-connected Wave monitors have a 10-20% longer battery life. Using SmartLink, the Wave monitor sends its measurements every few minutes to the hub which sends that data to the cloud.

Am I eligible for the free 5-year extended warranty?

There are only three conditions we require for you to register your Airthings monitor for the 5-year extended warranty. You must: • Purchase your monitor from an authorized reseller. Amazon is an authorized reseller. However, there are 3rd party sellers active in the Amazon marketplace who are not Airthings authorized resellers. If you want to register for the warranty, pay special attention during the purchase process to ensure it is “Sold by” Amazon. • Register on airthings.com/register within 30 days of purchase. • Retain your proof-of-purchase. It’s best to simply upload your receipt when you register for the 5-year extended warranty. If you experience any hardware defects during the warranty period, you need only email [email protected] to report the problem.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Go to help.airthings.com for in-depth articles written by our customer support experts.

References

• Register my device | Airthings
• Airthings Help Center

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