Homeowner grade continuous radon monitors or hCRMs for short are becoming increasingly commonplace. AirThings, Safety Siren, and Ecosense are some of the major manufacturers. These devices can be found online for less than $150 and some rival the accuracy of professional grade devices that are five to ten times the price. However, one thing the manufacturers don’t come right out and tell you: hCRMs cannot be recalibrated*. Most come with a standard one-year warranty. What happens when that device “goes out of whack”? The answer is we don’t know.
hCRMs are relatively new advancements in technology. Ten years ago, devices with the accuracy of EcoSense’s EcoQube cost over $5,000! Professional-grade CRMs are often $750 or more. What makes these so much more expensive if the accuracy is similar? Calibration.
Pro-grade devices must be recertified at least once every two years. Certification takes place at a national laboratory like Bowser-Morner or KSU. Calibration can cost upwards of $200. Why would someone pay $200 to calibrate an hCRM that can be bought new for $150? The answer is: they don’t–which is why these services aren’t offered.