Can PEF meters be made to produce exaggerated scores?

[Paradigm]

This morning, I woke up with especially clear lungs and cheerfully picked up my PEF meter in hopes of a score that would validate my new best (I have to get the score several times).

Well, the bar thing shot down the meter and came to a stop at 610. To put this in perspective, the best I've blown since November (my old best is long lost on the system) is 470. I've had 460 once, 450 twice and 440 a few more times. My official best was 420 (it's now 440-450).

I'm 156cm tall, 23 and female. There's no good reason it should be that high. My next two blows were 400 and 410.

I've tried physically shake the meter while blowing, but I haven't been able to duplicate the effect. My finger wasn't in the way. I want to make sure that my other 'high' scores aren't actually a meter problem in future.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Yes that can happen - I’ve had it a few times. The rubber/plastic inside the meter (at the mouth end) slightly sticks to the edge initially resisting the blow. Then you overpower the rubber but it creates an elastic rebound effects raising the score dramatically! You can usually hear when it happens too (it makes a very small, dull, quiet thud/pop noise)

I usually take it as a sign that my meter needs replacing as the longer I leave it the more it happens! I think it’s one of the reasons we take PF 3 times so that we don’t get overly cocky 😅

Hope that helps x