Q) What is Clean Air?
A) Natural clean air is a delicate balance of nitrogen
and oxygen with small amounts of argon, carbon dioxide,
neon, helium and other gases. Pollutants alter this composition
and balance.
Q) How do I know if I need an air purifier?
A) You may already be dealing with air pollution related illnesses
such as asthma, allergies, COPD, chemical sensitivity, or you may be healthy and want to protect your health. With
today's insulated buildings and everyday products
creating toxic airborne chemicals, it is very likely you would
benefit from an air purifier. more...
Q) Can air purifiers really help?
A) Safe, high efficiency air purifiers are an essential component
of an overall plan for relief from air pollution. They are
not the total solution. Other factors include adequate ventilation
and source control as outlined in a simple 3 Step Plan to
improve indoor air quality.
The value of any air cleaner depends upon a number of important factors in what to look for in an air purifier, including its safety, efficiency and power, suitability for the type of pollutant
to be removed, proper installation in relation to the space, and regular maintenance.
Drawbacks of some air purifiers include generation of ozone, inadequate pollutant removal, re-disbursement
of pollutants, deceptive masking rather than removal of odors and gases, and unacceptable noise levels.
Q) Can I return my air purifier?
A) We have a 30 day return policy. Please refer to
Customer Service, Customer Satisfaction.
Q) Will all of my chemical odor problems go away?
A) In some cases yes, however heavy duty chemicals such as those used by printers and beauty salons
are usually imbedded in walls, flooring, supplies, furniture and other materials. There will be a constant
improvement in air quality, but it may take some time before all traces of the odor will be removed.
In some cases, a complete eradication of the odor will not be impossible without additional remediation.
Q) What kinds of air purifiers are on the market?
A) As an overview, one major group of air purifiers is electronic
which includes electrostatic filters, and ionizers. These are
popular because they can be completely silent, but their main
drawbacks are their inability to remove toxic airborne chemicals from the air, and they produce an
electrical charge and ozone which can be irritating to the lungs.
The other major group is mechanical filters which draw
particles and airborne chemicals out of the air, without putting
anything irritating into the air. The best in this class are
true, medical grade HEPA filters for particles and deep bed
activated granular carbon filters for odors, gases and airborne chemicals.
Ozone air purifiers should be avoided in residential environments, except in
restoration situations, and then they should be used only
in unoccupied spaces. more...
Q) How do I know which one would be best for my needs?
A) It's always good to do some research before making a purchase, so you feel confident about what you are choosing.
The most important criteria for an air purifier are:
- • safety—it should produce no ozone in residential use; it should be
electrically approved by a regulatory body such as CSA or
UL; and it should not redistribute the pollutants back into the air
- • capacity to efficiently remove the pollutants you
are dealing with. True medical grade HEPA and deep bed activated
granular carbon are best used together for removing particles
and airborne chemicals
- • good air flow rate so that you can have five air exchanges per hour
- • inert construction material such as powder coated steel,
which will not off-gas like plastic
- • acceptable sound level of no more than 75 decibels on a high setting
After these criteria are met, you can compare prices, ease of use, maintenance features,
and appearance.
The Clean Air Coach has a Shopping Guide with questions
you can ask yourself to help you decide which of our air purifiers to consider.
Q) What guidelines are available for comparing air purifiers?
A) There are no regulated standards for comparing air purifiers.
One common measurement used is CADR (clean air delivery
rate) which is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute).
Even in this case, however, there are two ways of reporting
the measurement: 'rated CADR' and 'delivered CADR'. Most
manufacturers report the 'rated' measurement, which means
the rate of air flow through the unit when the machine has
no filters in it. 'Delivered CADR' measures the rate of
air flow with filters installed. more ...
Q) Where should I place my air purifier?
A) It is most effective to place an air purifier near any
source of air pollutant. For example, if you have forced
air vents and you find that the air coming out of the vents
is dusty, place your air purifier close to the vent. (If
the air purifier is across the room from the vent, it will
pull the dust in the air across the room into the filter.)
We recommend creating at least one clean air
room in your home, preferably starting with your bedroom.
At first run the air purifier on high for a couple of hours
with the door closed and no one in the room. Then keep it
consistently running on low with the door to the room usually
closed. Breathing clean air while you sleep is one of the
best ways to give your immune system a boost.
Q) Should I have my ducts cleaned?
A) Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible
to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.
Consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
- There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts
or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to
understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
• Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible
inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.
• You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold,
a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only
by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final
confirmation. Some microbiology laboratories can tell you
whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky
household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
• If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation
gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should
be removed and replaced.
• If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place
are not corrected, mold growth will recur.
- Ducts are infested or clogged with excessive
amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually
released into the home from your supply registers.
Prior to any cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts,
correct the cause of the problems; otherwise they will likely recur.
It is important to ensure that the service provider
takes steps to protect you, your family and your home from
exposure to dislodged pollutants and chemicals used during
the cleaning process, such as using HEPA
filtration on the cleaning equipment, providing respirators
for workers, and making sure occupants vacate the premises during cleaning.
Q) What if my allergies are so bad
that I can't stand the dust moving through the air when an air purifier is operating?
A) In this case it is important to keep the area as dust free
as possible by frequent cleaning with a microfibre cloth
dampened with pure, clean water alone, and a vacuum with
a true HEPA filter. The room should also be kept scent free
(even containers of scented products should be stored elsewhere),
and as free as possible from dust collecting items such as fabric
curtains, upholstered furniture, carpets, collectibles, etc.
Then give the room a thorough air-cleaning
by running the air purifier on high for a couple of hours
with no one in the room and the door closed; then turn the
air purifier on low setting for another 2 hours with the room
unoccupied and the door closed.
When you re-enter the room, you can either keep the machine running
on low or turn it off, depending on your comfort level. Keep
the door closed most of the time to prevent pollutants from the rest
of the house from entering.
Q) Do houseplants help to clean the air?
A) Houseplants do produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide
during daylight, and apparently some plants remove airborne
chemicals from the air; for example, using philodendrons
and spider plants for removing formaldehyde, and chrysanthemums for benzene.
We have not studied this issue. It is likely, however, that overly
damp soil will promote the growth of mold and other microorganisms
which can affect allergic individuals and cause other health problems.
At this point, we would say that in moderation, plants can be beneficial.
Q) Can carpets make people sick?
A) Like many other household products and furnishings, new
carpet can be a source of chemical emissions. Carpet emits
volatile organic compounds, as do products that accompany
carpet installation such as adhesives and padding. Some
people report symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation;
headaches; skin irritations; shortness of breath or cough;
and fatigue, which they associate with new carpet installation.
Older carpet has its own challenges, since it has been a catchall for airborne
chemical and particle pollution from aerosols, scented household and personal products,
combustion appliances, dust, and fungi.
For people with allergies and other respiratory illnesses, it is probably
best not to have carpets at all. However, if you are purchasing
new carpet ask for carpet, cushion, and adhesives with low
emission of volatile chemicals. Before new carpet is installed,
ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a clean,
well-ventilated area. It is also best to schedule the installation
when the space is unoccupied.
Opening doors and windows
and increasing the amount of fresh air indoors will help
to reduce exposure to most chemicals released from newly
installed carpet. During and after installation, use window
fans and air conditioners to exhaust fumes to the outdoors.
Ventilation systems should be in proper working order, and
should be operated during installation, and for 48 to 72
hours after the new carpet is installed. Thereafter, ongoing
use of a safe, high efficiency air purifier is recommended.
If new carpet has an objectionable odor, contact your carpet
retailer. It is also important to follow manufacturer's
instructions for proper carpet maintenance. And keep them
clean with a true HEPA vacuum.
Q) How safe is ozone for air cleaning?
A) Ozone is hazardous to your health. Ozone reacts with
organic material, so when it is inhaled, it can damage the
lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing,
shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also
worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise
the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.
Lung associations generally recommend not using ozone producing
air purifiers. If they are used in restoration of buildings,
the space should be unoccupied while the ozone purifiers are working.
Q) Why do some air purifiers have UV lamps?
A) UV lamps offer the added benefit of sterilizing any
bacteria, viruses or mold mycotoxins that may be present
in the air. The UV destroys the reproductive DNA
of these organisms. This kind of sterilization is highly
effective and is used in hospitals, laboratories and medical
facilities. A UV lamp in an air purifier should not be ozone producing, and it should be
positioned so that the microbes are exposed to it for a period of time.
Q) What is a true HEPA filter?
A) HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor. True medical grade HEPA filters
have the highest proven efficiency for removing airborne particles as small as the size of
mold, fine dusts and powders, pet dander, and a range of bacteria and viruses. They are 99.97% efficient
at trapping particles 0.3 microns; and even more efficient at trapping smaller and larger particles.
Q) How long will my HEPA filter last?
A) A true medical grade HEPA filter can last up to 5 years, depending on the environment in which it is used.
Products such as paints and heavily scented sprays will damage a HEPA filter. While you are painting or using
heavily scented sprays, etc. remove your HEPA filter from the area and keep it well protected. Ventilate the
space thoroughly before replacing the HEPA filter. HEPA filters are designed for removing particles from the air,
not airborne chemicals.
If your air purifier begins to decrease in air flow, it could be time to replace your HEPA filter.
Q) What is activated carbon?
A) Activated carbon traps chemicals, gases and odors;
this combined with a HEPA filter offers you the most efficient
air purification possible. Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC)
has the strongest adsorption power of any material known
to man. In one pound of carbon there are over 200 miles
of tiny pores to trap gases and odors. It is safe, cost
efficient and so effective the military uses it in their
gas masks! More carbon equals more adsorption, which simply
means fresher, cleaner air. 'Adsorption' means that the
chemicals are attracted to the surface of the carbon.
Q) How long will my carbon filter last?
A) That depends on the environment in which the unit is used and the type of carbon filter
you are using. In normal residential use a deep bed granular activate carbon filter can last up to 2 years.
One way to help gauge the lifespan of your carbon filter is to weigh it the day it arrives (this is
important because the filter may weight slightly more or less depending on environmental conditions).
When the carbon filter has increased in weight by approximately 40%—it's nearing the end of its
lifespan. That's because carbon in general can adsorb 40% of its weight in airborne chemicals, gases and odors.
Another way to know if your carbon filter needs to be replaced is if you smell an odor coming from the unit.
It could be that the air purifier is simply filtering something out of the air and it might take a few passes
over the filter to completely be removed. After several air exchanges, if you still detect the odor,
it may be time to change the carbon filter.
Q) What can I do about mold?
A) Mold can cause serious health problems, so if you have extensive mold, consult
a remediation specialitst.
Make sure to remove the mold at its source using an effective and safe, non-toxic product.
If it cannot be removed, cut away the host on which it is growing, even if that means removing some drywall.
Eliminate any moisture in the area, since mold needs moisture to grow.
An air purifier with a UV lamp can help by trapping airborne mold spores and preventing
them from reproducing.
Q) How can I solve second hand smoke issues?
A) Tobacco Smoke is so toxic that we strongly recommend that all smoking take place
outside and away from open windows and doors.Even when smoking is done outside,
air purifiers can filter the residue of airborne particles and chemicals carried into the building
by a smoker when they are finished their cigar or cigarette.
Air purifiers for tobacco smoke in a building should have tar trapping prefilters to extend the life
of the HEPA and carbon filters, and the carbon filters should be deep bed, granular activated carbon
with a blend specifically for the chemicals in tobacco.
Q) What does VOC mean?
A) VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds, molecular
gases such as formaldehyde and ammonia that are extremely
dangerous to your health. We feature air purifiers
designed with specially blended carbon to specifically deal with VOC's.
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