OSLO, NORWAY & CHICAGO, IL – (SEPTEMBER 8, 2020) – Airthings, makers of the best-selling indoor air quality and radon monitors for homeowners, businesses and professionals, officially debuted a world-first capability to its existing Wave Mini air quality monitor. Beginning today, all Wave Mini devices, including those already in use, will include mold risk indication. This Airthings-made algorithm uses existing sensors and historical data to provide the likelihood of mold growth in an indoor location. With 21 percent of current asthma cases in the US attributable to dampness and mold exposure[1], protecting yourself and your loved ones from dangerous mold damage has never been simpler or more affordable than with Wave Mini.
Originally launched in 2019, Wave Mini has built a reputation amongst consumers and industry experts alike as a small product with the ability to make a big impact, serving as a trusted indoor air quality resource. Designed to provide first-class precision and expertise at an entry-level price tag, the new mold risk indication capability seamlessly compliments Wave Mini’s existing product functions of monitoring airborne chemicals, humidity, and temperature.
Wave Mini users now will have insight into another common indoor air pollutant that can significantly impact health and wellness and make small changes to optimize their air quality. Users can rest assured that their Wave Mini is providing them with the most accurate information and guidance possible, as Airthings’ mold risk indication is based on the ASHRAE mold index – the leading global organization focused on setting standards for health and safety through air quality.
“Once you see mold, it’s too late,” said Øyvind Birkenes, CEO of Airthings. “By adding mold risk indication to our Wave Mini, we’re offering people the chance to stop mold before it starts, protecting both their health and valuables. If you are looking to optimize your indoor air quality and the overall health of your home, I can’t think of a better place to begin than Wave Mini.”
More likely to have asthma
Mold is a serious problem in households across the United States, yet most people lack an accessible and easy way to monitor and mitigate it in their spaces. A recent study showed people are 40% more likely to have asthma when living in a damp or moldy home[2]. While some perceive mold as a seasonal issue based on the weather patterns where they live, mold can persist year-round. Mold can form in several ways, including when warm indoor temperatures or humid outdoor air are met with cold surfaces or cooled down, forming condensation. When combined with poor ventilation, these conditions become optimal for the most common varieties of mold to proliferate.
Exposure to mold spores can have direct adverse effects on our health, ranging from common irritations and allergic reactions to more serious issues such as asthma attacks or an increased risk of long-term lung damage. According to a study by doctors from the University of Manchester[3], there is a strong connection between mold exposure in infants and the development of asthma by age three. In fact, the only exposure more correlated with asthma onset is maternal smoking.
Mold not only presents a considerable health threat, it can also damage your home. The best way to protect against both the negative health and financial impact of mold is to stay proactive in assessing your indoor conditions. This can be achieved through a monitor such as Wave Mini, which can gauge the likelihood of mold’s presence before you can see it – because, after that, it may be too late.
Indoor air in the spotlight
In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of indoor air quality has never been more pertinent. People everywhere are spending more time in their homes than ever before, often at the expense of seeking out fresh air that they are typically exposed to on daily commutes or lunch breaks. With the heightened awareness about how “invisible enemies” such as viruses and airborne pollutants in our air are transmitted, now is the time for people to enhance their understanding of dangerous toxins like mold and how they can be managed efficiently and effectively, through regular monitoring and maintaining healthy humidity levels between 30-60%.
Like all Airthings data, the mold risk indicator is available via the Airthings app and online dashboard where users gain a full understanding of the air quality levels in every room. The Airthings Wave ecosystem of products connects to users’ smartphones through Bluetooth or the Airthings Hub, which centralizes and elevates the data from Airthings’ products by bringing them online and keeping them constantly connected. This allows users to monitor the indoor air quality anytime and anywhere, even when they are not home. It also integrates with IFTTT and Google Assistant, allowing for a fully customizable smart home experience.
Wave Mini is officially available for purchase across North America and Europe through Airthings.com, Amazon, Homedepot, lowes, and Bestbuy with an MSRP of $79.99 USD. To find more information on the Wave Mini, indoor air quality and why long-term monitoring is important, visit the Airthings website at www.airthings.com.
About Airthings
Airthings is a global technology company, producer of award-winning radon and indoor air quality monitors for homeowners, businesses, and professionals. Founded in 2008, Airthings is on a mission to ensure that people and businesses around the world recognize the impact of indoor air quality and take control of their health through simple, affordable, and accurate technology solutions. Airthings’ products have made radon detection and indoor air quality monitoring easy to deploy, accurate, and user friendly, and have received several accolades including the TIME’s Best Inventions of 2019 award and CES 2019 Innovation Award. Headquartered in the heart of Oslo, and with offices in the US and Canada, the company has 80 employees from more than 20 nationalities—and counting. For more information, visit airthings.com.
