Breathalyzer blog with short answers to real testing questions
Our guides cover the big topics. The blog answers the narrower questions that come up once you own a tester or are about to buy one: how long to wait before blowing, what mouthwash does to a reading, why two devices disagree and how often a sensor needs calibration. Each post is short, sourced to makers' documentation and official bodies, and written in plain English.
What the breathalyzer blog covers
The posts fall into three groups. Some explain the routine of a good reading, because most strange numbers come from how and when a person blows, not from a faulty device. Some look at sensors and accuracy, so you can judge a cheap keychain unit or a semiconductor tester with realistic expectations. The rest are written for people who test someone else, such as parents of teen drivers and employers setting up screening.
None of the posts reports lab results, because we do not run lab tests. When a post refers to a model, the facts come from the manufacturer's published specifications and public documentation, as described in how we review breathalyzers.
All breathalyzer blog posts
- How long to wait before using a breathalyzer Why the usual 15 minute wait matters and what food, smoke and leftover drink in your mouth do to a reading.
- Can mouthwash affect a breathalyzer How alcohol-based rinses and breath sprays can push a reading up for a short time, and how to avoid a false high.
- How often to calibrate a breathalyzer What decides a calibration interval, from sensor type to the number of blows, and the signs that a unit is overdue.
- Breathalyzer for teen drivers How families use a home tester alongside zero tolerance rules for drivers under 21, and what to look for in a device.
- Breath alcohol screening for employers The basics of a fair screening program, the gap between screening devices and evidential testers, and where DOT rules apply.
- Why breathalyzers show different readings The common reasons two blows or two devices disagree, from timing and technique to sensor drift.
- Are keychain breathalyzers accurate What a small sensor can and cannot do, and when a keychain unit is a sensible choice.
- Semiconductor breathalyzer accuracy How semiconductor sensors work, why they react to other substances and how to read their results with care.
Where to start if you are new to breath testing
If you have not used a breathalyzer before, begin with the post on how long to wait, then read our breathalyzer test guide for the full step-by-step routine. If you are still choosing a device, the fuel cell vs semiconductor breathalyzer comparison explains the one decision that matters most, and the breathalyzer finder narrows the field in four questions.
If your question is about numbers rather than devices, the bac calculator gives a rough estimate from drinks and time, with its limits stated clearly.
How we write the posts
- Plain answers first, detail after. Each post opens with the short answer and then explains the reasons.
- No invented figures. Where a maker or an official body publishes a number, we cite who published it. Where nobody does, we say so.
- No advice on beating a test. We explain how to get a fair reading on your own device, never how to influence a police test or an ignition interlock.
- No pressure to drive. A personal reading is a screening figure. If you have been drinking, do not drive.
Spotted an error or want a question answered in a future post? Write to support@breathalyzer.io.