Safety Siren Pro Series HS71512 3 Radon Gas Detector
by Pro Series
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List Price: Our Price: $129.95 You Save: $35.05 (21%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $99.50 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Safety Siren Pro Series HS71512 3 Radon Gas Detector
Customer Review: THE DETECTOR IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE
Summary: 5 Stars
There are two aspects to a useful radon measurement: getting accurate data, and taking proper action based on the data. This electronic detector gives good results. I checked it against a more expensive detector, and it gave very similar readings. It is portable, and very convenient.
However, mitigation when exceeding the EPA-recommended limits of 4 pCi/L has no scientific basis. This number is extrapolated from high exposures of uranium miners to radon, and is typically not derived from actual low level residence readings. As Thompson et al have shown in a 2008 Paper in Health Physics, based on a decades-long experiment in Worcester, MA, there is a region where radon displays a hormetic (beneficial) effect. The lung cancer cases actually show a significant decrease for long-term time-weighted readings in the range of about 2-6.5, after which they start to increase. Given that first floor readings are about 40% less than basement readings, and second floor readings are about 40% less than first floor readings, basement readings could be even higher than 7 before mitigation is required, depending on where one spends their time, and the radon readings in these specific rooms. But this detector is the first step along that path of radon management.
Customer Review: Quality Product
Summary: 4 Stars
Product works as designed. Cannot compare to other devices since this appears to be the only unit of it's kind available to consumers.
Pros:
-Real time monitoring of the radon level in my home. It allows me to track the fluctuations and verify that my radon mitigation system is working correctly.
-Beats the heck out of buying a kit and mailing in.
-Plugged the unit in before radon mitigation was done and reading was very high and close to the professional measure we had done for $175. After mitigation I watched the level on the unit fall, so even if it is not 100% accurate, it is doing what it was designed to do.
Cons:
-Wish it was battery powered. Having a power cord limits placement when placement is already limited if you read the instructions.
-Only having one button makes changing settings cumbersome. Basically you control the unit and change settings by holding down the button for a specified number of seconds. Not ideal, but doesn't need to be done often so not a deal breaker.
Overall I am glad I purchased this. I was worried about the price tag, but having a visual readout of the radon level in my home gives me piece of mind, which is priceless to me.
Customer Review: Good Product (but only one year warranty)
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this product to verify a radon level measurement in my home after using the mail-in radon test charcoal cartridges. I decided to buy it so I could do multiple tests in several rooms upstairs and downstairs, thus saving the additional costs for several mail-in tests. So far it has done what it is supposed to do. The accuracy seems very good. This machine gave a reading that was within 4 points of the result I got using the charcoal cartridges. It's very nice to have an immediate result right there in my home, without waiting for the mail and some far-away technician to process my test.
My only comment is that I did not know that these devices needed to be recalibrated once per year in order to ensure that they are functioning properly. My radon mitigation contractor told me this after I bought it. I think that's the reason for the one-year manufacturer warranty. This is all fine but, in the interest of full disclosure, I would have wanted to know this before buying it.
Bottom Line: It's a good idea to test with the traditional mail-in charcoal cartridges every six months to verify the continued accuracy of the machine.
Customer Review: Simple to Use and Provides Piece of Mind
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this after a friend recommended testing my house for radon (I live in Illinois which has high concentrations of radon).
About two days after it posted it's first rating: 1.1 pci/liter. Over the next few days it went up as high as 2.1 pci/liter (still much lower than the recommendation of 4 pci/liter). I have had it about 6 months now and it my house averages around 1.4 pci/liter.
The device is easy to use, just plug it in and give it some time. The most worrisome part is waiting for it to get it's first reading. It is worth noting that the rating does fluctuate over time (seems to change when it is raining or if the ground is frozen).
Pros:
* Simple to use
* Alerts if too much radon is observed but also provides you the actual reading (this way, you know if you are way under the limit or just barely under the limit)
Cons:
* I thought it seemed a little expensive at first. However, it doesn't seem that expensive compared to the single test units which are around $30 (and you may need to do multiple tests to confirm you are under the limit which could add up quickly).
Customer Review: Very happy with the product - not happy with results!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been wondering about the radon levels in my basement, especially in my office which doesn't have great ventilation. Everything I've read says that the best way to measure radon levels is to take multiple readings, over different periods and different locations. Based on the cost of doing so, this electronice unit is cheap!
I place it in my office and waited the first 48 hours for the result. The initial reading was 4.3, and it climbed up to an average (7 day and total) of around 7, and remained there for over a week. That suggests I need to do something pretty quickly. I've moved the sensor to the main part of the office and the reading is dropping - the 7 day average has dropped to 5.6 in 36 hours, suggesting that the real problem may be limited to my office. I need to get at least a couple of weeks of readings in the main part of our basement and I'm hoping the levels there will stay below 4 - if so, I just need to increase the air circulation between my office and the rest of the basement.
Doing all this with the type that have to be sent off would have been very tough.