from Hacker News

How my indoor air made me sick and dumb (and how I fixed it)

by achrono on 1/4/25, 8:53 PM with 7 comments

• by Havoc on 1/5/25, 4:05 AM

  CO2 sensors are a bit of a mine Field. Some don’t even measure co but rather an „equivalent“. Other require calibration. Or regular outdoor air etc.

  And without an expensive reference device it’s hard to tell if it’s right aside from „opened window and it dropped“

• by ahaucnx on 1/4/25, 11:50 PM

  I think in general it's a very good article and I like the summary in the end how the different interventions can also have trade offs.

  The only thing I would disagree with is the recommendation of the uHoo monitor. There are many people not happy with the accuracy and AQSpec, a US EPA test center, also tested the unit with pretty bad results.

  See http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/aq-spec/field-evalua...

• by Arete314159 on 1/5/25, 4:40 AM

  If you're feeling sick in a building, you can't leave out mentioning mold. Mold will really destroy you.

  Also ozone machines, when used properly and safely (no occupants), can sometimes help to speed up the offgassing process. If you're interested in doing this, please read up on it so you don't do it wrong or dangerously. It can also in some cases cause new, worse VOC's to form, so...user beware.

• by Rasthor on 1/5/25, 1:10 AM

  Since I also would like to automate my dumb AC, I am ogelling these two products, which have most of the listed features as well, but I am open for any other recommendations:

  1. https://cielowigle.com/cielo-smart-thermostat/

  2. https://sensibo.com/products/sensibo-air-pro

• by theendisney4 on 1/5/25, 4:11 AM

  Twice i read something from someone monitoring and adjusting the indoor air that came to the (expensive) conclusion that nothing beats opening all the windows.

  I would add that heated clothing is fantastic. You cant heat the house to 30C and if it gets to warm you cant easily lower the temperature.

• by FireBeyond on 1/5/25, 5:40 AM

  I’m surprised for someone so connected to this issue that he went with Molekule. Not only are one of the most expensive, their products are absolutely garbage and rarely do what they’re meant to, let alone “best in class”: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/watchdog-rejects-mol... and are the subject of several class actions as a result.

• by aaron695 on 1/4/25, 11:53 PM

  The Akihabara Taito (over rated chain) had a CO2 meter running. Floor 4 was 898 and floor 5 was 1322.

  No comment other than without the public meters, I wouldn't have noticed. I have no idea what outdoor Tokyo is, I assume 400 but are cities different?

  Can't understand what you don't interact with.

  (Picture of their meter (display?)) - https://imgur.com/a/PfjNgjO