| Q. |
What
do you think are the most common misconceptions that people
have about air cleaning? |
| A. |
My
conversations with consumers over the years convinces me that
the primary misconception regarding air cleaning is many people
believe cleaning the air is an "event", like vacuuming the
carpet or floor. I turned the air cleaner on for 2 hours or
some other time period, and the room is "clean". The job is
finished. Actually, air within any indoor space is in a state
of constant change, adding particles, microorganisms and gases
"into" that space continuously. A roomful of air is anything
but "static".
Every
indoor space is continuously bombarded with among other things:
- Foot
traffic, stirring up dust and other particles that can trigger
allergy/asthma attacks
- Microorganisms,
airborne from coughing and sneezing
- Shedding
of our skin as a normal process
- Particles
coming in through our central heating and cooling systems.
Because contaminant levels in indoor spaces are constantly
changing, an air cleaner should be left on as continuously
as possible to get optimum cleaning benefit.
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| Q. |
If
someone works in an office cubicle and wants to reduce the allergens
in their work area what should they do? |
| A. |
In
the office space, the potential for allergy particles in the
air, and virus & bacteria transfer among people is very high
indeed. Many offices do not have daily vacuuming, nor do many
vacuum with high efficiency filters. The concentration of
contaminants left continuously airborne in the office environment
is generally very high, potentially higher than your home.
People can in fact, "protect" their own air space by using
an air cleaner at their work station or in their office.
By
keeping the air cleaner "on", you actually maintain a protected
area even in an office cubicle, something like a "bubble"
around you, where contaminants have difficulty entering "your
space" because you are continuously pushing clean air into
your work space.
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| Q. |
I
have had some people who want to put air cleaners in their closets
or under their desks. Any comments? |
| A. |
Well,
all I can say is wherever the air cleaner is placed, the air
gets cleaned. |
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| Q. |
We
often get people who want to move an air cleaner from room to
room during the week - one day one room and then move onto the
next. |
| A. |
I have been asked this question many times. I find that people
get the highest satisfaction from their air cleaner when they
focus its ability to clean, in a single indoor space. By that
I mean, ask yourself where do you spend the most time, or do
you have trouble sleeping at night, does your office environment
give you problems you don't have in other spaces, etc. Pick
a target area and do an excellent job in that space, continuously.
Approximately 30% of people who start by purchasing one air
cleaner, buy another one because they discover "it works" in
a specific space, when they leave it on continuously. |
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| Q. |
Can
you explain to our members what the difference the fan speed
makes to the cleaning effectiveness of a machine? |
| A. |
The
higher the fan speed, the more air is drawn into the machine,
and the more clean air is distributed per hour back into the
space. The purpose of an air cleaner is to clean the entire
volume of air in the space, and clean it again, and again..remember,
contaminants are continuously entering the air as we discussed
before. LOW speed might clean a rooms air volume twice each
hour, while HI speed on the same machine might clean it 6 times
each hour. Especially to an allergy or asthma sufferer, the
highest amount of clean air is the best. |
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| Q. |
Do
you recommended turning an air cleaner on high when you are
out of a room and then on low when say you want to go to sleep?
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| A. |
This
becomes a preference as it relates to the noise level. It is
possible on HI speed to clean a space while no one is in it,
and have a lower speed at night when the air cleaner "maintains"
a good level of clean air through the night. It is certainly
worth a try. People tell me this does work. The allergy sufferer
may require a higher cleaning level continuously, but..try it.
Using the air cleaner in different ways gives you more understanding
of how it works, and what to expect. The fan speeds are options
for you to use; making the air cleaner more flexible for your
needs and the air cleaning applications. |
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| Q. |
Many
people are buying machines based on quietness, indeed we ourselves
have criticized your product for being "noisy". What is your
response to this? |
| A. |
A
tough question, but one that needs discussion. Noise is a
subjective issue. Years ago, I had a pond in my backyard,
that seemed to have "hundreds" of frogs, judging by the nightly
singing ritual. That was noise! Strangely, after a week or
two, I found the "chorus" soothing, and I had trouble sleeping
without them. Noise is very personal - my suggestion is for
the person to operate the air cleaner for a reasonable time
before making a decision on whether the noise level is a problem.
Most importantly, give the air cleaner a chance, and try using
it at different speeds, and then make your decision.
When
discussing noise it helps to know that noise is made up of
"volume" and "pitch". For example, many people find higher
volume noise levels less of an issue as long as they are in
the range of a more neutral pitch. Healthway products target
"neutral" pitch.
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| Q. |
How
do you know whether a HEPA filter is really doing its job? When
would you change the filter? |
| A. |
An
air cleaner is a different product than for example, a heater
or an air conditioner. With a heater or air conditioner, you
feel heat or cool instantly. With an air cleaner users typically
notice a decrease of allergic reactions or other symptoms
over time - generally within 2-3 days of continuous use. Or
they may notice they have less house dust (a mite allergen
home) or they sleep better. Observing the filter also indicates
the air cleaner is working, as the filter turns color as contaminants
build up.
Most
manufacturers have a device to signal when to change the filters.
Better quality products use pressure switches that actually
measure the point when filters become clogged, and need changing.
This pressure switch is usually for the main filter. Less
expensive products use a simple timer to approximate when
the filter might be clogged.
Consumers
can also feel where the air comes out. If it appears no air
is coming out, or the air is "puffing" the filter probably
is clogged, and needs to be changed.
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| Q. |
Are
there any benefits to using a room air cleaner as opposed to
a central HEPA or electrostatic system? |
| A. |
A
central forced heat or air conditioning system generally has
a filter that is not high efficiency and is not very dense;
so only larger particles may be captured. Larger particles are
seldom the issue for respiratory problems, it is the smaller
ones that can get into your lungs, and cause reactions and trigger
breathing attacks. I always recommend that consumers use at
least a middle grade efficiency filter in their central system,
to get some smaller particles. Central systems do not clean
rooms at a high level because they do not set up a strong enough
air current in the room to get all the air space "scrubbed"
and then back though the central filter system. To have the
best indoor air quality, use a good, middle grade central filter,
along with a high efficiency room air cleaner for the spaces
of greatest health concern. |
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| Q. |
Ok,
here you can make a plug for your Healthway product line. I
know you believe passionately in its superiority - Why?
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| A. |
I
do. As we look at indoor spaces, and the contaminants airborne
within these spaces, I believe Healthway's patented EMF technology
certified by independent laboratory testing; demonstrates
a true advancement for healthier indoor air. This machine
is designed to remove 99.99% of particles that are 0.3 microns
in size. To me the more serious health issue is the spread
of airborne viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. Our EMF Filtration
System "Kills" 100% of airborne viruses, 98-100% of bacteria
and 94% of mold spores. To me, the high efficiency of our
machine "killing" microorganisms is a clear technology advancement.
HEPA "does not" kill microorganisms. These microorganisms
are present in our homes, offices and certainly our school
classrooms. The EPA defines Biological pollutants as:
- Animal
Dander (minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin)
-
Dust Mite & Cockroach parts
- Fungi
(Molds)
-
Infectious Agents (bacteria or viruses)
- Pollen
According
to the EPA "Biological pollutants promote poor indoor air
quality and may be a major cause in days lost from work or
school, and of doctor and hospital visits. Biological pollutants
can travel through the air and are often invisible". Under
Health Effects of Biological Pollutants the EPA states, "except
for the spread of infections indoors, allergic reactions may
be the most common health problem with indoor air quality
in homes. Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable
to life threatening, as in a severe asthma "attack". I believe
the Healthway patented EMF Filtration System gives you the
performance edge of it's advanced technology to provide increased
protection for you and all your indoor spaces.
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| Q. |
In
what circumstances does the Healthway product line do best and
why? |
| A. |
I
believe our best applications are any non-smoking environment.
Our only criteria is that the indoor space match the capacity
of the air cleaner. The EMF Filtration System captures allergy
particles at a higher efficiency that HEPA. Observing viruses,
bacteria and mold spores on the rise as a growing indoor air
health issue caused Healthway to focus on obtaining exclusive
proven technology that guarantees a high level of "germ" kill
in the air cleaner. Think for a moment about the air environment
at work - a person has a cold or flu like symptoms.what happens..others
get it. Protecting children is another environment our technology
excels. As it relates especially to smaller children.in the
December issue of CHILD magazine, talking about school environments,
the article states, "children are especially vulnerable to
environmental hazards because, per pound of body weight, they
eat, drink and breathe three to four times as much as adults
do". The article suggests that in addition to focusing on
the excellence of a schools curriculum and teachers, parents
might be well served to research the indoor "health" of the
physical building itself. It seems; just like our offices
are an adults work environment..a child's school is their
work environment. I also believe an excellent application
for our room air cleaner is a childs bedroom; whether allergies
are an issue or not, respiratory systems that are still developing
in the child can certainly benefit from cleaner healthier
air.
In
my opinion, air cleaning is about a person having control
over the air quality of any indoor space they occupy home,
office or school - it is a choice, and air quality can be
controlled. Fortunately, the technology is now available in
our patented, uniquely designed room air cleaners to provide
excellent performance for cleaning the air in all your indoor
spaces. I believe our technology achieves improved personal
comfort, a more protected air environment, and safer, healthier
indoor spaces.
Thank
you Mercia for the opportunity to share my thoughts with your
members to enable them to have "control" of their indoor air
quality.
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Contributed
by Thad Godish, Ph.D.
Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Ball State University
For
Indoor Environmental Notebook click here.
www.bsu.edu/web/ien/archives/archive_list.htm
This
article was printed with permission.
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