Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor – Know your air, Works with Alexa

I purchased this because I had an issue where carbon monoxide from my whole-house generator was getting into the house. I was extremely nervous every time the generator ran, just waiting for the detectors to go off. I searched for hand-held detectors, but the reviews were inconsistent, as were the prices. I certainly couldn't afford to spend hundreds of dollars. I bought this Amazon air quality monitor, and I honestly didn't have much faith that it would work well. I'm glad that I was wrong! It is small and unobtrusive. I leave it plugged in on an entry table. It was easy to connect to wi-fi, and I've had no connectivity issues. It is extremely sensitive and seems relatively accurate. I don't need it to be perfect, just to give me an idea of when/if carbon monoxide is getting in the house so that I can take additional steps to prevent it. For me, it is exactly what I needed. I would definitely recommend this product if you just want to check your indoor air quality.

With all respect to RICE650 and their review of this device... (and I agree with that person on several points) this Indoor Air Quality Monitor is excellent for what it is... a "Smart Air Quality Monitor" that "Works with Alexa". That person's review is simply in appropriate because they are critiquing Amazon for what it has built, and not critiquing the product in so far as what its marketing and documentation states it will do.[note... I am not an Amazon employee, nor is anyone in my family, I have no relation to anyone who has anything to do with this product. I live in Seattle so of course I know people who work at Amazon, but I have never spoken with any of them about this product. My background is in Product Development and Innovation, and as such I am critical of products in many of the same ways as RICE650... that said I try to differentiate my critiques based on what I wanted the product to be, and what the manufacturer of the product claimed the product I purchased was capable of doing.]Here is aThis is simply an Air Quality Monitor that allows routines to be triggered when the levels of any of its quality metrics (Temperature, Humidity, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, or Volatile Organic Compounds) exceed user defined limits.I don't see where any of RICE650's complaints are listed as features the product supports, therefore I find that review to be horribly misleading.- Know your Air: (well.... this is a little overstated because it doesn't monitor every gaseous compound that can be in air... but the most important ones to a majority of people are captured.)- Track and measure: the unit does indeed measure the components it says it does. I have no idea how accurately it does this. Levels are measured, and the data is available to view in Alexa when the device is selected under the grouping of "Air Quality" devices. I can page through data for the last 30 days.- Stay informed: This feature set could be better. But in Amazon's defense, it does not say "we will populate minute by minute data into a spreadsheet or database....". Product messaging states "get an 'indication' of current air quality from the color coed LED, and an easy-to-understand air quality score in the Alexa app anytime."- Get Notifications: "if Alexa detects poor air quality, you can get notifications". Pay attention... IF ALEXA DETECTS... not if the Amazon Smart Air Quality Sensor detects.... it clearly states that Alexa will deliver notifications, which it does.- Enable Routines: I use my Air Quality sensor to collect data, which Alexa monitors, and when the temperature or humidity exceed a pre-set level, Alexa turns on the closet fan for the length of time I have selected in the routing.- Certified for Humans: Meh, I know some humans will feel challenged, the reality is that its pretty darn straight-forward.This last item I will provide a critique on... since the Air Quality Monitor relies on Alexa for triggering notifications, etc.... I will commend that setting the THRESHOLD value (temperature, humidity, etc...) is a poor experience. Alexa provides a slider that users slide left or right to set the particular temperature, etc, when a routine should be triggered. The slider shows the minimum value on the left, and the maximum value on the right. IT DOES NOT show users the currently selected value. Nor do users have the option of using a discreet selection method such as a text entry box, increment up/down buttons, or a number wheel. For this reason the UI is poor. It does not easily allow exact values to be entered, it does not allow the user to see what value has been set until after they attempt to edit the value, and it does not have any accessibility mechanism readily available.I have a new higher-end stackable Washer and Dryer in my home... unfortunately I don't have a laundry room, only a laundry closet. This laundry closet has a solid core door without louvered vents in the door. Air entering the close comes from the 1-1/4" gap under the door at the floor, and it is vented thru a Homewerks Smart Bathroom Fan equipped with Alexa. (Now that product, the Homewerks Smart Bathroom fan... that's a piece of junk when you compare the marketing claims and what you actually get!)Because of the small closet space in which the washer and electric dryer are located, being able to trigger the fan to turn on is a necessity to prevent high humidity, condensation, and the development of mold and mildew.This was the only Air Quality Monitor I could find that was integrated with Alexa at the time I purchased it (March or April 2023), and supported creating simple routines to turn on an external fan when either the humidity or the temperature exceeded my comfort level for the space.It appears to do everything the product marketing and documentation say it will.I've given the product a 4 star rating for Accuracy, because:1. It does not provide any means by which to check its accuracy / internal calibration (for example, against another device)2. It does not provide users with clear and easy controls to set exact values for when to trigger a routine.3. In Alexa > Device Activity History.... it logs data in Celsius and not using Fahrenheit, which is the temperature scale that is my default for Alexa and iOS.All said, if you need a monitor to trigger Alexa routines, it'll probably meet all your needs.

I've been searching for an affordable air quality monitor for awhile now - they're all cheap junk or too expensive. This Amazon one is amazing - takes the best feature of higher end monitors and takes it to an affordable price point. The app is good, and I like the air quality light feature (which allows you to turn it off and it will only turn on to red when low quality). Super well designed and thought out. It does require to be plugged in so there is no battery option, but I've been able to connect to it with no issues and don't have to worry about swapping batteries. Also can be accessed remotely, not like some monitors that are Bluetooth range only or require some crazy subscription. Sensor is accurate and fluctuates correctly based on surroundings!

Ordered the device and had it the next day.I ordered this device to get a handle on our indoor air quality. The motivator of this purchase is the current wildfire pollution effecting many areas of the country and knowing the impact of the winter heating season on air quality. The measured parameters are perfect for this assessment. Carbon monoxide (CO) in particular is a dangerous. As stated by the product description, this device is no substitute for a CO monitor/alarm. What I find interesting is the error some make in not understanding the difference between CO2 carbon dioxide and CO carbon monoxide. CO2 is not a life threatening gas, but CO is! CO2 is produced by the human body as a end product of body metabolism whereas CO is an end product of combustion. Bottom line, elevated CO can kill you within a matter of hours based on how it arrests the carrying capacity of oxygen in the blood. Every home should have a CO alarm! The other misunderstanding is about radon. You measure for it once in your home, if it is high, you install a system to eliminate it. Done.This little device is just what you need to make sure the air you breathe is safe, no more, no less. Newer homes that are built tight for heating and cooling efficiency need a ventilation system to introduce fresh air and eliminate stale air utilizing filtration. An older home such as ours (built 1956) tends to allow air infiltration so there is an element of air exchange at the expense of efficiency. Either way, an air quality monitor such as this device can give you peace of mind.Installation took less than 10 minutes having multiple Alexa devices. Got my 1st report and a green light on the monitor within minutes. I really like the report on the Alexa app and Echo Show. I can access it from my phone as well. Nicely done Amazon. Recommended.Update: 8-2-23Had this for a few days, very impressed with the overall sensitivity of the monitoring. Examples; 1) was sanding a piece of furniture in the basement one level below the monitor. Within minutes the monitor displayed a yellow light and the monitor readings indicated a moderate elevation in the pm, particulates. This resolved back to a green light, good air quality level, within an hour after I stopped sanding. 2) had our home cleaning service in to do a complete deep cleaning, within minutes of their use of cleaning products (strong smell), the monitor went from yellow to red indicated a high level VOC’s in the air. This too reversed within several hours after the home cleaning was completed. If anything this demonstrates that knowing about changes in air quality in the home can be valuable to help with selection of safer home products and better control of hobbies or habits that create environmental dusts. For me and my health this is a valuable tool to manage home air quality.Update: 8/8/23Spouse used denatured alcohol in the basement to clean wood table surface. Within minutes of using the chemical, the monitor responded with elevated VOC’s. I noticed the red light on the monitor an hour after use and checked the parameters from the Alexa app. The air quality was poor! VOC’s were in the 90’s. Opened windows on the 1st floor and basement. Within 20 minutes the poor air quality began to reverse. VOC’s were now in the 30’s with moderate air quality and a yellow light. Next time no use of denatured alcohol in the house.Final update/comment08/20/2023Overall, very pleased with this device. I’ve read other comments and find some that (I believe) have unrealistic expectations. This is a simple air quality monitor not a laboratory grade instrument. There are established ranges of accuracy but for what you pay this thing is great. As far as it’s integration with Alexa, I find it easy to use, gives me a quick account of air quality, and provides historical information. Graphics are good when using my phone or iPad. If you have concerns about indoor air quality and you use Alexa devices, I don’t see how you can go wrong. Highly recommended.