Saturday, November 26, 2005

CaluTech UV Air Purifier Can Kill Bird Flu (Avian Influenza / Flu)

CaluTech UV Air Purifier Can Kill Bird Flu (Avian Influenza / Flu)

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Ionic Air Purifier

Ultraviolet light is the newest weapon in battle against bad air
Many of the things we do to make our homes energy efficient -- such as adding insulation, installing new windows, even caulking -- save money on fuel bills but make our homes less healthy places in which to live. Sealing out drafts also seals out healthy fresh air and traps moist air, laden with household gases, inside. This moist, stagnant air is unhealthy to breathe and provides excellent breeding conditions for mold and other microorganisms. The American Lung Association often sites U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics that the air we breathe in our homes may be anywhere from two to 100 times more polluted than outside air. David Mudarri of the EPA's Indoor Environments Division believes that about 40 percent of us suffer effects ranging from dry eyes and sniffles to severe asthma attacks every week. His views and those of other experts appeared in an excellent article, "Indoor Air Pollution Can Cause a Sick Home," by Joysa Winters of the Rocky Mountain News. The complete text is available on the Indoor Air Quality News page of the International Union of Operating Engineers IAQ web site (http://iaq.iuoe.org/index.htm) As consumers, there is a lot we can do to make the air in our homes cleaner. Air infiltration devices, such as the Skuttle model 216, can bring fresh air into the house. Thick media filters and electronic air cleaners can clean the air, but they miss some of the finest particles. Cleaning and sanitizing the ductwork can cut down on dust and mold. Clean air legislation is making paints and chemicals more benign than their predecessors. Now ultraviolet light has been added to the arsenal. The greatest source of UV is the sun. Its rays bleach furniture and fabrics and turn wooden decks gray. We use sunscreens, sunglasses and hats to protect our skin and eyes from its power. UV waves are even more dangerous to molds and bacteria. They penetrate cell walls and change the organisms' DNA, making cell reproduction impossible. Technology using UV has been available commercially for 40 years but has only been introduced on the residential level recently. Not all UV lights are created equal! Some create ozone. Some do not. Ozone is an unstable O3 molecule. Many people consider ozone a side benefit because it zaps contaminants in the air. Connie Morbach of Sanit-Air is a licensed ozone technologist and is ultra conservative when it comes to ozone use. "Some people are very sensitive to ozone. If there is enough ozone in the air to give a diluted bleach smell, the homeowner could experience unhealthy side effects," Morbach says. Second Wind Air Purifier DO NOT create Ozone, in fact, they deplete any ozone in the ststem! Williams Refrigeration installed the Second Wind Air Purifier, which according to the manufacturer, produces a unique oxygen molecule called an "oxygen singlet" in addition to ultraviolet light. These molecules last only 5/100 of a second, but during this short period have a unique ability to destroy noxious gases, VOC's and Hydrocarbons. Most UV systems cost in the $600 to $800 range. Second Wind Air Purifiers can be found for under $300! If you want to improve your home's air quality, there may be a UV light at the end of the tunnel. It could help you breathe a lot easier.

Sunday, July 10, 2005

ionic air purifier

Installing air cleaner can be worth extra cost Q.I am having a new furnace and air-conditioning system installed. The contractor recommends an air cleaner instead of just the standard filter. Is installing one worth the extra cost and which are best? A. The answer to your first question depends on your family and its clean air needs. An air cleaner on your furnace will improve indoor air quality. If your family has allergies or an activity in your home generates much dust, then extra cost is justified. An air cleaner can also maintain the highest efficiency for your heating-cooling system. All air cleaners are mounted on the return air side so they remove dirt from the air before it enters the blower. Clean air reduces dirt deposits on the heat exchanger surfaces so heat is transferred more efficiently. This is most important when air-conditioning because cooling coils get damp and the particles stick and build up. If you don't install an air cleaner, be careful about installing so-called "air cleaner filters" that slide into the one-inch filter slot. They are inexpensive and are better than a filter, but may increase the air flow resistance above the furnace manufacturer's recommendations as they get dirty. This can reduce air flow and furnace-air conditioner efficiency. With any of the above air cleaners, you may consider installing an ultraviolet light air purifier. The intense UV rays generated inside the air duct kill many bacteria and viruses. This is harmless to people because the light source is enclosed in the duct. The best UV air purifiers I've seen are Second Wind Air Purifiers.