1. People. Beyond someone turning it on and off, committed people ensuring the unit is running (properly) is advantageous. This is especially applicable for air cleaners that are very quiet. It could be that days or weeks pass without anyone noticing the quiet air cleaner that turns itself on and off with a wall plug is not running. Enhanced responsibilities, preferably for the “Clean Air Captain” (with a daily checklist) could include checking to make sure air is coming out. Some people attach streamers to the air discharge for visible indications (although this can also attract undesired attention). There is maybe no substitute for people learning the value of the filter (e.g., as part of the class curriculum) and keeping up with it, the same way they do with other important daily responsibilities.
  2. Apps. Many consumer-grade filters (e.g., Levoit) can be connected to WiFi and controlled by an app, which has the benefit of letting you monitor and control it from anywhere. But most/all need to be connected "directly" to the school's network, and not through whatever hotel/airport/cafe-style "captive portal" the school uses (since the filter doesn't have an interface to sign in). This means negotiating with facilities to give you the WiFI password to the school's internal network, and some administrators will frown on this. If you can manage it, though, remote access lets you confirm the filter is operating when expected.
  3. Smart plugs. If WiFi is inaccessible due to school restrictions, there are smart plugs that can be programmed and controlled via Bluetooth instead, such as this Govee model, which includes power usage and “runtime” tracking. You’ll need to get within Bluetooth range (~30 feet) to pull data, however, and capture measurements of how much power your filter pulls at the desired speed so you know whether it’s operational without direct access. A range-extending “hack” would be to purchase a portable WiFi hotspot and pair the outlet to that, then either park that in the classroom (risking administration wrath) or drive-by from greater range than Bluetooth allows. Unfortunately, setting the plug’s WiFi to connect to a phone hotspot is unlikely to boost the range much beyond what Bluetooth offers.
  4. Power-loss alarm. For example, this one for the Nukit Tempest.

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Back to the Safe Indoor Air Resources homepage at safeindoorair.org.

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