Since all ear thermometers take readings instantly, they rely on three things to get accurate readings: a clean sensor, a direct line of sight to the ear canal, and good technique.
If you've been getting unusual readings that seem to low or too high, follow these steps to fix the problem:
- If you've used your Smart Ear for a while or with multiple family members, clean the sensor using an alcohol wipe or a cotton swab with alcohol. (see image below) The alcohol is important because it helps to remove any earwax, rather than smearing it across the sensor. This step is especially successful at fixing inaccurate readings.
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- Clean the ear itself of earwax and other debris. No shame, we've all got it. Check out the best way to get your ears clean using this guide from the Cleveland Clinic.
- Before taking a reading, choose one ear to use for readings and stick to using that ear. It may sound strange, but there can be a small temperature difference between both sides of the head. Choosing just one ear and sticking to it will produce more precise readings.
- The Kinsa Smart Ear uses an infrared ray to measure the temperature inside the ear. In order to get a reading, the infrared ray must have a direct line of sight. This means a particularly small or curved ear canal can interfere with reading accuracy. Get the best readings possible by using the techniques below:
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For infants under the age of 1, gently tug the ear straight back to straighten the ear canal before taking a reading.
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For children over the age of 1 and adults, gently tug the ear straight up and back before taking a reading.
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If you're still seeing inaccurate readings reset your Kinsa:
- If your Kinsa doesn't have a side button, just one large round button on top, simply remove the batteries, wait 10 seconds, then put the batteries back in.
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If your Kinsa has a side button and a large round button on top, hold down both buttons for about 10 seconds. When you see the Bluetooth symbol flashing on the display, the reset is complete. Wait for your Smart Ear to power off by itself, then turn it back on before taking a new reading. Note: This reset will break the connection with your phone, and you will need to reconnect them again.
The acceptable range of temperatures with the Kinsa Smart Ear thermometer is ±0.4°F, or put another way, within a range of 0.8°F.
If you're still seeing a bigger range than this between readings, please tell our Customer Happiness team that you've followed this "Fix inaccurate readings" and we'll take care of you!