I bought a cheap diesel heater to keep my log cabin warm in the winter months. I had concerns that a cheap diesel heater from China might not meet the high safety standards we have here in the UK. Was the hot air coming from the heater full of nasty compounds that I would be breathing in? I bought the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor to find out.
How Much Is The The Amazon Air Quality Monitor
In the UK, the Amazon Air Quality Filter is normally priced at nearly £70. However, it can be picked up for up to 40% less when Amazon is having a sale, like Prime Day or Black Friday.
I’ve seen second-hand Amazon air quality monitors available from cex.co.uk and on eBay for as little as £30.
Setting Up The Amazon Air Quality Monitor
If you are an existing Amazon customer and have an Echo device or use the Alexa app then the setup of the Air Quality Monitor is a breeze. You simply ask the Echo device to add a device or click the added device button in the app and follow the setup wizard.
If you don’t currently use any Amazon devices, you’ll need to install and register the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone.
The Amazon Air Quality Monitor uses home WiFi to access the network.
Full setup instructions can be found at Set Up Your Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor – Amazon Customer Service
What Can the Amazon Air Quality Monitor Detect
The monitor has five different monitors, they are:
- Temperature
Measures the ambient temperature of the air - Humidity
Measures the amount of moisture or water vapour in the air - Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels such as wood, gasoline, propane, and natural gas. - Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
VOCs are chemicals that can evaporate into the air from products or processes. Monitoring VOC levels can help detect pollution from sources such as paints and cleaning products - Particulate Matter
This measures the concentration of tiny particles (PM2.5) suspended in the air. PM2.5 particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller. For example, smoke, dust and vehicle exhaust fumes
Pros: Amazon Air Quality Monitor
- Value for money – The monitor can be picked up from Amazon for about £70 and even less when Amazon is having a sale
- Five Different Detectors – The air quality monitor can measure five different air quality factors. They are particulate matter (PM 2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), humidity and temperature.
- Easy To Setup & Use – The device is very easy to get up and running using the Alexa App or an Echo device. Once the device is connected to your network, it will automatically calibrate and display air quality results.
- Small & Unobtrusive – The monitor has a very simplistic design and measures about 6.5cm x 6.5cm x 4.5 cm. It can be neatly placed just about anywhere without looking out of place.
- Works With Home Assistant – It is possible to get the Amazon Air Quality monitor to work with Home Assistant. This is achieved by using the Alexa Media Player integration (available in HACS) and making sure that “Add with Echo connected devices” has been selected. You will then have 6 new entities from the AQM displayed in Home Assistant
- It Works —The monitor quickly detects changes in the air. For example, blowing out a match, using a laser printer, spraying surface cleaner or blowing at the sensor all trigger the monitor to detect changes in the air. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other air quality monitors that I can compare the actual reading against to see how accurate the readings are.
- Amazon Routines – The air quality monitor works with Amazon automation. For example, if the monitor detects high humidity, then a routine can be triggered that turns on a dehumidifier.
Cons: Amazon Air Quality Monitor
- Amazon Account Required—The Amazon air quality monitor cannot be run as a standalone device. You must have an Amazon account to set it up and use the device.
- Not Carbon Monoxide Certified – The monitor can detect carbon monoxide, but as it’s not certified, so it shouldn’t be relied upon as a carbon monoxide alarm.
- No Display – The monitor doesn’t have a display showing the different air quality readings on the device. All this information has to be accessed using the App or asking Alexa (e.g. using an Echo).
There is an LED on the device which glows Green, Amber or Red to indicate the air quality.
Is Amazon’s Air Quality Monitor Any Good
For the money, you’re probably not going to get better than the Amazon air quality monitor. All the other air quality monitors I looked at with similar specifications to the Amazon one were at least twice the price.
What Can The Amazon Air Quality Monitor Be Used For
I purchased the air quality monitor because I had a specific use for it. That was to check the cheap diesel heater I had purchased to heat my log cabin wasn’t slowly killing me with fumes.
I still use the air quality monitor to keep my diesel heater in check. I haven’t had a need to use it for any other purpose.
Unless you have a specific purpose or just like gadgets, I’m not sure the Amazon Air Quality is that useful.
Using Amazon Air Quality Monitor With Alexa Routines \ Automation
When I was researching the Amazon Air Quality Monitor, I saw a number of reviews saying that Alexa routines can only be triggered by changes in temperature.
Amazon has updated the Alexa routines, so it is now possible to use any of the five of the air quality monitors to trigger a routine. See image below.
Conclusion: Amazon Air Quality Monitor Review
If you have a specific reason for needing an Air Quality Monitor, you can’t go far wrong with the Amazon Air Quality Monitor, especially considering its comparatively low price.
The main downside is that setting up and using the air quality monitor requires an Amazon account, which no doubt means that Amazon will be collecting all the data they can from the device. So, if you care about your privacy, then you might be better off looking for an air quality monitor from a different supplier.
