Smoking detection is currently in beta phase, which means it may not yet reliably identify all cigarette brands or distinguish between different strains of marijuana.
Smoking detection is a beta feature only supported indoors on the M3 sensors.
Recommendations to follow:
A few factors can affect the accuracy of smoke detection:
Sensor placement: The sensor must be placed on a ceiling.
Calibration: Ensure that the sensor has completed its initial calibration.
Location: Ensure the sensor is installed away from windows, vents, or kitchen areas. Allow the sensor to remain in a stable environment for at least five hours before testing.
Room Size & Other Factors: In larger rooms (over 40 m²) or spaces with strong ventilation, two cigarettes may be necessary to generate enough smoke for detection during manual testing.
Ventilation: Open windows, fans, or HVAC systems can dilute smoke particles.
Environment stabilization: The room should be free of other air contaminants, such as steam, smoke, or cooking odors during manual testing, as these can interfere with sensor accuracy.
Temperature: Avoid placing the sensor in heated & freezing indoor environments
Note: The sensor does not detect smoke in the same way a fire alarm does. It monitors changes in air quality and alerts when sustained contamination from cigarette smoke is present.
The smoking detection feature requires exposure to cigarette or marijuana smoke for at least 20 minutes in order to detect.
Simply blowing on the device to test it will not trigger the detection
How to test
Choose the room where the sensor is installed. Close all doors and windows to limit ventilation.
Light a cigarette and allow smoke to disperse into the room. Keep the room sealed for at least 20 minutes while the cigarette burns naturally.
For larger rooms or if there is any airflow, consider lighting a second cigarette in a different area of the room during the same 20-minute window.
If detection is successful, you will receive a smoking alert via the Minut app.
If no alert is triggered
In some cases, smoke detection may not be triggered during the test. This does not necessarily mean the device is faulty.
Possible reasons include:
The room is too large or well-ventilated.
The smoke dissipated too quickly.
Environmental factors (e.g., temperature) influenced detection.
Smoke levels were below the threshold for triggering an alert.
We recommend testing in a smaller, enclosed room to compare results. If your room is larger, consider lighting a second cigarette in a different area of the room
If you still experience issues, contact support for assistance.
Important Notes
High ceilings, large rooms, or strong HVAC systems can reduce detection accuracy.
Smoke smell alone doesn’t guarantee detection, the device needs a certain particle density.
Human verification is still key. Many customers use Minut as a signal, then follow up with on-site checks.
Sensitivity may improve over time as the algorithm learns and improves.
Feedback
To help us develop our feature, we would appreciate your feedback to give us more context around the detected events.
To report findings about a specific smoking alert, open the mobile app and navigate to the affected home. From there, go to the log and tap on Report your findings
(The feedback section is only available when you receive a smoking event)
Want to set up your Smoking detection, follow the steps below: