I Set My Radon Worries to Rest With a Gadget That Puts Testing Kits to Shame

For the past several months, I’ve been using a new method to monitor radon levels in my home, and it feels like the future of home air quality testing. Gone are the days when you had to order a one-time kit and wait for the results if you were concerned about radon levels. Airthing’s latest Corentium Home 2 smart monitor takes care of it for you. 

Radon is an infamous, invisible, radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground in certain regions (especially in the American Midwest and northern states). Depending on the geology and location, it can gather in houses, especially in basements and other areas close to the ground. High levels of radon can cause cancer, so if you live in a danger zone (not the fun kind), it’s important to have your home tested and possibly take additional steps, such as installing plastic barriers. 

Airthing’s radon monitor makes what was once a tedious, time-consuming task effortless. The catch? It’s pretty expensive at nearly $200. But if you’re concerned about radon levels and monitoring other air quality metrics in your home, it’s a permanent solution that’s well worth the cost. 

How Airthing’s radon sensor works

The battery-powered Corentium Home 2 sensor doesn’t really need “setup” the way many smart home devices do. Like one of my other favorite air quality monitors from SwitchBot, you simply activate the batteries in the Airthings sensor and let it go to work. 

That takes time at first. You’ll want to give the sensor at least several hours — preferably a full day — to track readings in one area and establish a radon baseline. The monitor then creates a running average so you can view results over time –an important measure, since radon levels can fluctuate and something a test kit can’t capture.

I live in a mountainous high-desert area where radon isn’t much of a concern anyway, so my baseline is low, at about 1.2 to 1.7 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). But know that if the numbers consistently fall between 2 and 4, especially near 4, you need to take steps to protect your home.

Can you count on accuracy if you choose this sensor over a testing kit? Airthings collects air with a passive diffusion chamber and analyzes it with Alpha spectrometry, a widely accepted method of analyzing radioactive particles. The company reports its device has a range of 0-250 pCi/L and accuracy within 10% after at least several days of sampling your air. 

While I couldn’t find any specific certifications for the Corentium Home 2, there are online accounts of radon testers saying Airthings is about as accurate as their professional equipment. 

Smart connections and additional capabilities

If that was all Airthings’ monitor did, it would still be a useful addition to home safety. But it has plenty of other capabilities, too, especially if you’re willing to download the app. The app allows you to check radon levels over time more easily, and Bluetooth connectivity makes the startup process very easy.

The app also makes it easy to check the two other sensors on the Corentium Home 2. One continuously monitors humidity and the other monitors temperature. That can be useful for determining whether a room needs a humidifier or a dehumidifier for better air quality, or whether humidity levels are healthy in a greenhouse or on a plant-filled windowsill. 

If you want more info or your radon levels are concerning, there’s also an Insight tab to provide tips, along with a way to get a pollen forecast for even more air info. Settings let you change the units measured and thresholds, and set phone alerts when radon/humidity/temperature hit certain levels.  

You can access humidity and temperature at any time on the monitor itself with a push of its button, so the app isn’t strictly necessary. However, we’re very app-forward in my home (what else would you expect from a smart home editor?) and I prefer to use it when customized results are just a tap away. 

Final thoughts on the Airthings Corentium Home 2

Say goodbye to tedious test kits. This new air quality monitor from Airthings is the future of radon detection for homes and businesses. If you live in an area that can experience high radon levels, it’s one of the best ways to vet your home inside and out, and know whether you need to take action. Plus, using it is as easy as inserting the AA batteries.

The additional temp and humidity sensors are nice to have and give this monitor a role beyond detecting radon. I like the app connection; it easier to review results over time, but it’s not required if you prefer to stick with the monitor’s onboard readings. 

There’s no Matter support here for extended automations (like activating your thermostat based on temperature, for example), and the price is high at nearly $200, but it’s an advanced answer to radon risks for anyone who’s willing to spend the money.