# Will occasional heavy smoke damage the sensor?

**URL:** <https://community.purpleair.com/t/will-occasional-heavy-smoke-damage-the-sensor/9469>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [July 25, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/will-occasional-heavy-smoke-damage-the-sensor/9469 "2024-07-25T01:39:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![skyepn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/skyepn/32/3358_2.png) [@skyepn](https://community.purpleair.com/u/skyepn)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/will-occasional-heavy-smoke-damage-the-sensor/9469/1 "2024-07-25T01:39:01Z")

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Hello, I am considering buying a Flex sensor for my rural property. My concern is that I am often burning large piles of wood debris in the spring and fall and sometimes thick clouds of smoke would drift across the sensor when the wind shifts. Could occasional heavy smoke damage the sensor?

I also have a lot of old heavy equipment, will occasional diesel smoke damage the sensor?

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**Author:** ![dwhitemv](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/dwhitemv/32/1508_2.png) [@dwhitemv](https://community.purpleair.com/u/dwhitemv)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 3:16am UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/will-occasional-heavy-smoke-damage-the-sensor/9469/3 "2024-07-30T03:16:18Z")

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No. Its more likely to be fouled by insects than anything in the air.

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**Author:** ![Bumchamp7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/bumchamp7/32/2765_2.png) [@Bumchamp7](https://community.purpleair.com/u/Bumchamp7)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/will-occasional-heavy-smoke-damage-the-sensor/9469/4 "2024-07-30T05:14:30Z")

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Air pollution sensors are geared to detect all kinds of smoke. Any sudden “burst” of smoke will be measured; when the smoke drifts away, the sensor will record the sudden “burst” of normal clear air. No, smoke usually does not damage the sensor.

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**Author:** ![skyepn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/skyepn/32/3358_2.png) [@skyepn](https://community.purpleair.com/u/skyepn)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/will-occasional-heavy-smoke-damage-the-sensor/9469/5 "2024-07-31T19:29:26Z")

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Thanks for the info! These sensors aren’t cheap especially in Canadian $