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When do I need to recalibrate or replace my Clarity Node-S?

Over time, your devices may need recalibration or replacement — whether you ran a custom collocation-based calibration or you're relying on the preset Global Calibrations. This article explains how to know, and the usual reasons it happens.

So you know: For background on why calibration matters in the first place, see what calibration is and why it matters.

How to tell: long-term collocation​

The best way to know whether a recalibration or replacement is needed is to keep an ongoing collocation with a well-maintained reference monitor near your deployment region. Beyond the initial calibration, this site lets you track how your Node-S performs against the reference over time.

If the reference site's data is publicly available, you can compare performance over time right in the Dashboard — see comparing your collocated device to a reference monitor. A significant change in performance there is the signal to start a conversation about whether to recalibrate or replace, depending on your project's needs.

Reasons you might recalibrate​

Both Global and custom calibrations try to capture as much environmental and pollutant variability as possible, but a device may still need recalibration because of:

  • Extreme environmental conditions — the further conditions stray from those during calibration, the worse a sensor performs. This is especially true of the electrochemical NO₂ sensor.
  • Unusual pollutant composition — performance drops when the pollutant mix differs from calibration conditions. This matters most for particulate matter, since sources change through the year (wood burning in winter, biomass burning, wildfire smoke).
  • Sensor drift — sensors drift gradually as they age.

When to recalibrate is an active area of work at Clarity and across the sensor field, so reach out to support@clarity.io and we're happy to talk it through.

Reasons you might replace a device​

Clarity devices are built to run reliably in harsh conditions and are expected to last over three years. Occasionally, though, a replacement is needed:

  • Hardware failures — key components like the solar panel and battery system or the wireless communication system can occasionally malfunction before their expected lifespan, though this is infrequent.
  • Sensor failures — sensors are generally durable but can fail early. The particulate matter sensor's optical path can be blocked by spiderwebs or pollen; the NO₂ sensor can experience electrolyte leakage from rapid temperature and humidity swings.

To catch issues early, check your devices' operational status on the Dashboard regularly. If you spot a problem or think you need a replacement, contact support@clarity.io.

What's next​

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Still need a hand? Email us at support@clarity.io or create a support ticket, and our team will get back to you.

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