"Specializing in Tobacco Smoke, Odors & Chemical Removal"
Health does depend on the air we breathe. There has never been a time when so much well served attention has been focused on the growing air pollution as now. Our defense mechanisms are being stretched to the utmost, with little reserve left to fight infections or allergens. The average person’s respiratory system has to eliminate, everyday, over two heaping tablespoons of particulate matter (dust, pollen, tar, acids, smoke, bacteria, rubber, carbon, metals, and many other particles). Small wonder that a growing percentage of the population has chronic sinusitis, allergies, asthma, inflamed eyes, and other symptoms caused or aggravated by air pollution.
The great majority of home air cleaners now in use are the “electronic air cleaner” (electrostatic precipitator) type. These devices function by imparting an electrostatic charge to particles drawn in by a fan, then collecting them on plates having a reverse charge. They are popularly advertised as being “95 to 99 per cent efficient;” this is somewhat misleading, as will be explained.
Because air from the HEPA filter is free of 99.7 per cent of all bacteria, it is rapidly coming into use in medical applications such as isolation of patients under treatment involving immunology isolation, care for burn victims, and surgeries. In the latter case, large wall banks of HEPA filters provide a continuous flow of sterile air over the operating table.
Some years ago, electronic air cleaning devices were tried in applications requiring high degrees of cleanliness, and were discarded for the following reasons:
a.Efficiency was low compared to that of the HEPA filter. Many advertising claims of electronic air cleaners state 99 per cent efficiency. It should be pointed out that this is based upon the National Bureau of Standards Atmospheric Dust Spot Test, which relates discoloration of white filter paper to filtration efficiency. It does not mean that 99 percent of all particles are trapped by the air cleaner. In fact, electronic air cleaners available for home use rarely trap more than 80 per cent of the particles in their air stream and degrade to as low as 20 percent efficiency in a limited period of time. The HEPA filter remains at 99.97 per cent or above throughout its operating life of two to five years.
b.Efficiency of electronic air cleaners decreases with larger particles, such as those in the range of plant pollens (which can be particularly annoying to allergy sufferers).
c.Each event of electrical arcing, inevitably present, produces a small, localized loss of efficiency which sends out a puff of particles each time it occurs.
d.All electronic air cleaners produce ozone, which, besides it’s toxic effects, cannot be tolerated in many processes.
e.Electronic air cleaners must be cleaned frequently to preserve what efficiency they do have. A solvent vapor degreaser is almost mandatory to remove the oily film built up from smoke, lubricants, and vapors. A few hours operation under adverse conditions can reduce the efficiency greatly.
f.Particles that pass through the unit without being captured are electrically precipitated on everything in the room. When the charge is neutralized, the particles can be re-entrained into the air.
Of all the shortcomings of the electronic air cleaner, its reduction of efficiency with use most severely limits its value, while imparting a false sense of security to the user. The HEPA filter, as previously mentioned, maintains its efficiency over its two to five year life. It is 99.97 per cent efficient by particle count at a size of 0.3 microns, which is 1/75,000 of an inch, or 1/300 the diameter of a human hair. It becomes more efficient both above and below the 0.3 micron particle size. Since bacteria, pollens, yeasts, and fungi range upward from 0.5 microns, while viruses range downward from 0.1 microns, the HEPA filter approaches total efficiency on all known airborne organisms harmful to man. Also, it requires no cleaning or maintenance to maintain this efficiency. Studies have indicated that HEPA filters actually increase in efficiency with use.
Consideration of their construction helps us understand this paradox. Generically, they belong to the “interception” family of filters and are variously referred to as “absolute,” “super interception,” and so on. Such filters have a deep bed of randomly positioned fibers (made of glass in the unit tested and reported in this write-up), in which the total bed depth (thickness of media) is very large in comparison to average fiber diameter and effective pore or free-path cross section. Even though the media may be only 1/16-inch thick, this is an enormous distance compared to the 0.3 to 1.0 micron diameter of the fibers. The passages through which air must flow are not straight, but are very tortuous, with many twists and turns. As particles impact on the fibers and adhere to them, the passages become smaller and filtration efficiency goes up. The phenomenon is recorded by filter manufacturers in their catalogs, where their technical specification sheets exhibit curves of efficiency improvement with dust-loading.
Decline of efficiency with use of HEPA filtration unit and electrostatic air cleaner
during 40-hour test.
Durability of Filtration Efficiency. This is the area in which the most striking difference between the two types of filtration devices is apparent. During the initial series of tests, it was noticed that the filtration efficiency of the electronic air cleaner declined from 80 to 65 per cent during the first 16 hours of operation. Since this was a far greater decrease than expected, a more protracted test was run, with measurements taken after every 5 hours of operation. As shown, the efficiency of the electronic air cleaner, expressed as a percentage of particles trapped, declined to 20 after 40 hours of use. The HEPA filter unit, as previously mentioned, measured at 100 per cent for all practical purposes throughout the entirety of the test.
An electronic air cleaner in the average home is likely to receive very casual maintenance at best, and the homeowner is unlikely to appreciate the extremely thorough cleaning techniques necessary to restore a dirty precipitator to its original working efficiency. As he or she almost certainly will lack the type of test apparatus used in this study, the owner of an electronic air cleaner will be imbued with a false sense of security, believing his or her unit to be giving adequate filtration.
The superior efficiency of the HEPA devices, plus their ability to filter without production of toxic ozone, are sufficient arguments in themselves to urge their use in lieu of the older electronic air cleaners. However, their most significant advantage appears to be their ability to filter air at very high levels of efficiency for periods of years without cleaning or complex maintenance.
References
1.Bosenberg WA: Reducing hay fever symptoms with dust and pollen precipitations. Contam. Control VIII
2.Versagi FJ: Ozone and electronic air cleaners: an interim report. Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News
3.Castle GSP et al.: Ozone generation in positive corona electrostatic precipitators. IEEE Transactions on Industry and General Applications IGA-5: No.4
4.Langmuir G, Blodgett KB: Smokes and filters, Suppl to Sect I, O.S.R.D. Report 3460.
IF YOU'RE CONFUSED BY ALL THE JARGON AND HYPE SURROUNDING
AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEMS TODAY...REST ASSURED ...
YOU ARE NOT ALONE !
The market has been flooded with many different types of "air cleaners" that really do not do what they claim. Only a true HEPA ( high efficiency particulate arrestor) filtering media is effective at eliminating pollutants as small or smaller than .3 microns in size. HEPA filtration systems were developed during the second world war to remove radioactive dust and particles from atomic research facilities. Today, HEPA filtration technology is used in hospital operating rooms, patient isolation wards, bio-engineering and pharmaceutical laboratories for removing; bacteria, mold spores, viruses and other unwanted airborne contaminates.
Our HEPA/ Carbon Systems are true "Pollution Collection and Filtration Systems" which do not degrade in efficiency with use. Rather, they capture all pollutants and retain them within the filter itself. Our Carbon filter is for the removal of gases and odors.
Electronic Air Cleaning Systems can degrade "from 80% to 20% efficiency in the first 40 hours of use" (an excerpt from Respiratory Care Magazine). When electronic plates become saturated (within a few hours), they must be removed and degreased (with tar and nicotine running down your arm). You may have an expensive cleaning /changing service contract for the saturated electronic cell, which is done once a month (but should be done weekly) The cost of this service can be $35. - $70. per unit, per month.
Ozone emitting systems are dangerous and hazardous to your health (check with American Lung Association, EPA, OSHA ) "they do nothing to collect pollution"
Ion Generating Systems leave pollution stuck to walls, ceiling, floor, and "do nothing to collect pollution"
UV disinfects but "does nothing to collect pollution."
We offer a 30 day, risk free 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Unlike any other company we offer a "Lifetime Replacement Warranty".
If our system should fail, 5-10-15 years,etc. we will replace that system free of charge. (please see our life time warranty certificate)
Our systems maintenance costs about .55 cents per day.
We send you a reminder card that your annual filter tune up is due.
Tune up typically consists of:
1-HEPA, changed annually - takes 5 minutes
6- Carbon, changed every other month-takes 1minute.
Our air cleaning systems use a powerful variable speed blower to draw the air from smoke filled rooms. As the air is drawn through the high efficiency filter media, 99% of the smoke and odor particles are removed on each pass. The clean air that is constantly discharged into the area is refreshing and remarkably free of smoke and other contaminates. This is particularly beneficial in lounges and restaurants because it reduces the need for segregated smoking areas. Practically all of the dust , dirt, pollen and other contaminant particles are removed from the air passing through the system. Even microscopic airborne particles are trapped. Everyone prefers breathing air that's been cleaned of the many pollutants that cause discomfort and allergies. Plus, lowering the pollen, spores and fungi count helps reduce the problems caused by these pollutants.
When inside air is cleaned and recirculated, it isn't necessary to bring in large volumes of polluted outside air that requires heating or cooling. Also, it isn't necessary to exhaust as much inside air which you've already payed to heat or cool. You save on heating and cooling costs-and save energy. However it is important to check your local ventilation codes and comply with minimum outside air requirements.
Smoke, dust and grime discolor walls and furnishings and cause excessive wear of fabrics. Because our aircleaners remove most of the staining particles there is far less to settle on walls, furniture, draperies, carpets and other furnishings.
