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Can anyone recommend an air quality detector for personal use. My second floor office is in downtown Oakland by a busy road. The windows are closed and an air f

Can anyone recommend an air quality detector for personal use. My second floor office is in downtown Oakland by a busy road. The windows are closed and an air filter is always running. Perhaps the air filter is providing a false sense of security and not trapping any sub 2.5 micron particles. My last air quality detector seemed questionable. I could leave the windows open during rush hour it would always just say the quality was good. Meanwhile there is soot on my window sill.

semi-extrinsic 9y ago
There are sufficiently many aspects of air quality (NOX, PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, CO2, VOCs, humidity) that a basic trustworthy monitoring station would set you back at least $500. I'd say get a trustworthy temp/humidity/CO2 sensor, since those are the only ones you really emit yourself, and get the remaining data from your local environmental info agency - check e.g. aqicn.org . Edit: is your air filter a HEPA unit? (Does it look like a big car engine air filter?) Do you change the filter every 6 months? Those should help.
fma 9y ago
I have foobot if you want an IOT device. Seems to work. I have a brand new house and the formaldehyde/VOC levels were very high. It's sad that it's not regulated in the USA for residential (it is for office...). Opened the windows as much as possible. Now levels are low and I'm not as concerned. I also got a cheaper monitor (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N0MJJRO/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_469_of_23?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=62RB613G717H7WSRBXFG https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N0MJJRO/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_... this has no reviews, but on mobile and don't feel like searching more) and this works as well for fast instantaneous readings. One day my wife was using moisturizer and it went crazy. Found out many bath and cosmetic products use formaldehyde (DMDM hydrogenate or whatever...different name but essentially formaldehyde)
dxhdr 9y ago
Get a Dylos DC1100 Pro, costs around $250 and works great. It measures particles only, not gases or radiation. A large HEPA filter in a closed room will remove most PM2.5 particles. That monitor will show you what's going on.

semi-extrinsic 9y ago

There are sufficiently many aspects of air quality (NOX, PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, CO2, VOCs, humidity) that a basic trustworthy monitoring station would set you back at least $500. I'd say get a trustworthy temp/humidity/CO2 sensor, since those are the only ones you really emit yourself, and get the remaining data from your local environmental info agency - check e.g. aqicn.org . Edit: is your air filter a HEPA unit? (Does it look like a big car engine air filter?) Do you change the filter every 6 months? Those should help.

fma 9y ago

I have foobot if you want an IOT device. Seems to work. I have a brand new house and the formaldehyde/VOC levels were very high. It's sad that it's not regulated in the USA for residential (it is for office...). Opened the windows as much as possible. Now levels are low and I'm not as concerned. I also got a cheaper monitor (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N0MJJRO/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_469_of_23?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=62RB613G717H7WSRBXFG https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N0MJJRO/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_... this has no reviews, but on mobile and don't feel like searching more) and this works as well for fast instantaneous readings. One day my wife was using moisturizer and it went crazy. Found out many bath and cosmetic products use formaldehyde (DMDM hydrogenate or whatever...different name but essentially formaldehyde)

dxhdr 9y ago

Get a Dylos DC1100 Pro, costs around $250 and works great. It measures particles only, not gases or radiation. A large HEPA filter in a closed room will remove most PM2.5 particles. That monitor will show you what's going on.