As we all know breathing in clean, pure air is important for our health. So you should get a good quality air cleaner installed in your office or home. The market is flooded with hosts of air cleaning products. These products use a lot of acronyms that can leave any average user bewildered. I would like to your answer some of your questions on understanding these acronyms to assist you in purchasing the right product for your use.
What is HEPA?
High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters were originated during the Second World War. They were designed to prevent the radioactive particles from entering the human respiratory system. Today, they are the best air cleaners in the market with their filtration rate slightly below 100%. They can remove all particles of size 0.3 microns.
Who is OEM?
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is the manufacturer who not only sells you the product but also provides the spare parts when the parts in the product deteriorate. You might get generic parts in the market, which can be cheaper. But the quality cannot be guaranteed. When you purchase the product from the OEM, you are assured a good quality not only on the product but also on the spares that you buy. Besides, OEM also takes the responsibility for maintaining the air cleaners. This ensures you get a good quality service for your air cleaners.
What is MERV?
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) denotes the efficiency of the filter. It is the ability of the filter to remove the particles. The value lies in the range of 12 to 16. A low value tells you that the filter is inefficient at removing the particles. Values of 12 to 16 denote that the filter is highly efficient in removing more particles. This is the standard used by all the air cleaner manufacturers. This makes comparison among different products very easy.
What is CADR?
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the amount of filtered air that is free from three major pollutants viz. dust, pollen and cigarette smoke. Higher number indicates higher rate of filtration and thus an efficient filter. Ideally, buy an air cleaner whose CADR is around two third of the area of the room whose air you want to filter. These numbers are marked on the box, but they indicate the performance when you use the parts supplied by OEM and not by the generic manufacturers.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Monday, 23 March 2009
How To Choose An Air Cleaner
Nowadays, it can be confusing to the average consumer on how to choose an air cleaner. With the myriad of new air cleaner technology and the wide variety of brands available, no wonder it can be a challenge to choose a good air cleaner. Here are some tips to assist you in picking an air cleaner
The CADR Level
CADR stands for clean air delivery rate. It is usually represented by numbers. Technically speaking, the higher the number, the better the air cleaner as it indicate the filtration rate is high. On any air cleaner, you should be able to see three numbers which indicate the volume of processed air for each of the three most common contaminants, namely, pollen, dust and smoke.
The MERV Rating
MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value. The MERV rating gives a rough indication of the efficiency of the air filter. It is represented in numbers and usually the higher the number, the better. The MERV rating is a common standard used by most air cleaner manufacturers, therefore you can use this rating to gauge the efficiency of an air cleaner. Generally speaking, you should aim for an air cleaner with a MERV rating of between 6 to 12. By the way, the MERV rating scale is from 1 to 16.
Original Equipment Air Filters
One of the consumable items you need to replace often is the air filter. Some manufacturers decided to produce cheap, generic air filters and other replacement parts for air cleaners. You need to decide if you want to replace your air filter with generic air filters or get one from the original manufacturer. Obviously, air filters from the original equipment manufacturer is more expensive but bear in mind it is of higher quality and also using generic air filter can affect the efficiency of your air cleaner in the long run.
For replacement parts, I would highly recommend getting them from the original manufacturer since they are of higher quality and usually has a guarantee after repair. Using generic replacement parts can damage your air cleaner in the long run.
If the cost is a big concern for you, then it might be better to go with a cheaper air cleaner. However, you would want to get the air filters and any replacement parts from the original manufacturer. Doing so will prolong the longevity of your air cleaner and save you more money in the long run.
The CADR Level
CADR stands for clean air delivery rate. It is usually represented by numbers. Technically speaking, the higher the number, the better the air cleaner as it indicate the filtration rate is high. On any air cleaner, you should be able to see three numbers which indicate the volume of processed air for each of the three most common contaminants, namely, pollen, dust and smoke.
The MERV Rating
MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value. The MERV rating gives a rough indication of the efficiency of the air filter. It is represented in numbers and usually the higher the number, the better. The MERV rating is a common standard used by most air cleaner manufacturers, therefore you can use this rating to gauge the efficiency of an air cleaner. Generally speaking, you should aim for an air cleaner with a MERV rating of between 6 to 12. By the way, the MERV rating scale is from 1 to 16.
Original Equipment Air Filters
One of the consumable items you need to replace often is the air filter. Some manufacturers decided to produce cheap, generic air filters and other replacement parts for air cleaners. You need to decide if you want to replace your air filter with generic air filters or get one from the original manufacturer. Obviously, air filters from the original equipment manufacturer is more expensive but bear in mind it is of higher quality and also using generic air filter can affect the efficiency of your air cleaner in the long run.
For replacement parts, I would highly recommend getting them from the original manufacturer since they are of higher quality and usually has a guarantee after repair. Using generic replacement parts can damage your air cleaner in the long run.
If the cost is a big concern for you, then it might be better to go with a cheaper air cleaner. However, you would want to get the air filters and any replacement parts from the original manufacturer. Doing so will prolong the longevity of your air cleaner and save you more money in the long run.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Use Carbon Air Filters When Gardening
Use carbon air filters when gardening. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more cost-effective and efficient method of water and air purification than activated carbon filters. If you are serious about maintaining the health of your hydroponics supplies, you’ll want to invest in a good air purification system as well. There are several types on the market today that are available via mail order online as well as local purveyors of hydroponic supplies, and you’ll need to change out your carbon filters periodically.
Why Carbon Air Filters?
Like people and animals, plants benefit from fresh air, and air purification systems can be the environment free of organic contaminants that can damage indoor gardens and compromise the health of hydroponic systems. Carbon filters, because of their unique chemistry, are excellent at doing this job and in fact are used aboard submarines of the U.S. Navy.
This last fact is also applicable to you; without proper air purification systems with activated carbon filters, your indoor horticulture project is likely to give off unpleasant smells.
Choices
You can choose from three different kinds of carbon filters; however, these are not all effective for air purification.
The three major types are:
• Powdered activated carbon (PAC)
• Granulated activated carbon (GAC)
• Extruded activated carbon (EAC)
In addition, there is “impregnated” carbon, polymers coated carbon and activated carbon fiber, which is actually a form of cloth. The granulated GAC type is actually the best for use with hydroponic systems and indoor gardens. These granulated activated carbon filters have a much larger surface area, and thus are better for air filtration than the powdered variety of activated carbon air filters.
It’s Pure Magnetism
Carbon is “activated” by oxygenation, which creates millions of microscopic pores on the surfaces of the granules in which organic molecules become trapped, as well as chlorine. Carbon air filters are less effective when it comes to inorganic chemicals however. This is not usually an issue, because plants don’t give off such chemicals, and it’s unlikely that any chemical toxins will enter your garden space unless you live next door to a DuPont or Union Carbide facility.
There Are Limits
Activated carbon filters can absorb a tremendous amount of organic contaminants, but eventually reach the saturation point. Therefore, it is necessary to change these filters as recommended by the manufacturer. The useful working life of these filters can be extended substantially be using them in conjunction with HEPA filters, however. In addition, HEPA filters can trap particulate matter that carbon filters may miss – and vice-v
Why Carbon Air Filters?
Like people and animals, plants benefit from fresh air, and air purification systems can be the environment free of organic contaminants that can damage indoor gardens and compromise the health of hydroponic systems. Carbon filters, because of their unique chemistry, are excellent at doing this job and in fact are used aboard submarines of the U.S. Navy.
This last fact is also applicable to you; without proper air purification systems with activated carbon filters, your indoor horticulture project is likely to give off unpleasant smells.
Choices
You can choose from three different kinds of carbon filters; however, these are not all effective for air purification.
The three major types are:
• Powdered activated carbon (PAC)
• Granulated activated carbon (GAC)
• Extruded activated carbon (EAC)
In addition, there is “impregnated” carbon, polymers coated carbon and activated carbon fiber, which is actually a form of cloth. The granulated GAC type is actually the best for use with hydroponic systems and indoor gardens. These granulated activated carbon filters have a much larger surface area, and thus are better for air filtration than the powdered variety of activated carbon air filters.
It’s Pure Magnetism
Carbon is “activated” by oxygenation, which creates millions of microscopic pores on the surfaces of the granules in which organic molecules become trapped, as well as chlorine. Carbon air filters are less effective when it comes to inorganic chemicals however. This is not usually an issue, because plants don’t give off such chemicals, and it’s unlikely that any chemical toxins will enter your garden space unless you live next door to a DuPont or Union Carbide facility.
There Are Limits
Activated carbon filters can absorb a tremendous amount of organic contaminants, but eventually reach the saturation point. Therefore, it is necessary to change these filters as recommended by the manufacturer. The useful working life of these filters can be extended substantially be using them in conjunction with HEPA filters, however. In addition, HEPA filters can trap particulate matter that carbon filters may miss – and vice-v
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Three Things to Consider Before Investing on an Air Purifier
You read about the threat posed by breathing in air that is in your rooms. You decide to buy an air purifier. But before you went ahead and bought it, a friend of yours asks you to do some research about the product. Like every one else you too rely on the internet for your background reading. And now you are just bombarded with never ending pop-ups and spam mails are flooding your inbox. And in all that you are now even more confused as to what should be the deciding factors for your air purifier.
The good thing is that you didn't give up on your search and finally you have managed to land yourself up in front of an article that will at least give you a basic idea as to what should be the factors you need to consider before you choose an air purifier.
The Maintenance
When you are buying an air purifier remember that although you are investing for the purifier only once but you will have to allocate a separate budget for the maintenance of the purifier. The main expense would be towards replacing the filters. The filters need to be changed at regular intervals and you shouldn't be delaying the replacement. So before you buy the purifier, learn how often you would need to change the filter for each model. There are some air purifiers that are now being introduced in the market which come with permanent filters. However, their cleansing capabilities are still very much in doubt.
There is also the cost of electricity. Make it a point to check the wattage of the air purifier. This will be an indicator as too how energy efficient your purifier is.
The third factor you must consider when it comes to air purifiers is the warranty. The longer the warranty period is the better it is. Generally most purifiers would come with five years of warranty while some even have ten years. Also look for if there are any hidden clauses in the warranty provided.
The Noise
Some air purifiers come fitted with a fan to draw in the air. This is specially true for purifiers with HEPA filters. Now such purifiers can produce serious noise. Before you take one home, get a demo of the model. Buy the model only if you think the noise levels are comfortable. Don't even settle for bearable levels.
The Rooms
The choice of the purifier will also depend on the room you are buying it for. If you have pets you need to tackle pet dander. If you are using it for the kitchen then it should be able to deal with smoke and odor. If it is for the bedroom, then getting one effective against only the particulates would be good enough.
The good thing is that you didn't give up on your search and finally you have managed to land yourself up in front of an article that will at least give you a basic idea as to what should be the factors you need to consider before you choose an air purifier.
The Maintenance
When you are buying an air purifier remember that although you are investing for the purifier only once but you will have to allocate a separate budget for the maintenance of the purifier. The main expense would be towards replacing the filters. The filters need to be changed at regular intervals and you shouldn't be delaying the replacement. So before you buy the purifier, learn how often you would need to change the filter for each model. There are some air purifiers that are now being introduced in the market which come with permanent filters. However, their cleansing capabilities are still very much in doubt.
There is also the cost of electricity. Make it a point to check the wattage of the air purifier. This will be an indicator as too how energy efficient your purifier is.
The third factor you must consider when it comes to air purifiers is the warranty. The longer the warranty period is the better it is. Generally most purifiers would come with five years of warranty while some even have ten years. Also look for if there are any hidden clauses in the warranty provided.
The Noise
Some air purifiers come fitted with a fan to draw in the air. This is specially true for purifiers with HEPA filters. Now such purifiers can produce serious noise. Before you take one home, get a demo of the model. Buy the model only if you think the noise levels are comfortable. Don't even settle for bearable levels.
The Rooms
The choice of the purifier will also depend on the room you are buying it for. If you have pets you need to tackle pet dander. If you are using it for the kitchen then it should be able to deal with smoke and odor. If it is for the bedroom, then getting one effective against only the particulates would be good enough.
Friday, 6 March 2009
How to Choose an Air Purifier – a Helpful Guide
We inhale roughly 10,000 quarts of air every day, and this can bring not only oxygen into our lungs, but also harmful pollutants such as mold, pollen, dust, VOCs, smoke, and chemicals. The EPA has even noted that indoor air can be many times worse than the air outside, but yet, every winter, to save on energy bills, most Americans still insist on bundling up and sealing themselves indoors, therefore decreasing ventilation and perhaps causing even further damage to the respiratory system.
Fortunately, studies have shown that the use of a high-quality air purifier with filter media such as HEPA or Activated Carbon can significantly reduce indoor pollution levels and leave you with clean, fresh air. To promote healthy air, an air purifier can help clean the air by any of methods or by a combination of technologies: by attracting and collecting particulates using either mechanical or chemical filters (such as HEPA or Carbon), by emitting ions via an ion generator to charge and attract particles, or by passing airborne particles through a UV lamp to change the DNA of microorganisms. Here is a quick overview on how to find the best air purifier and how to use it properly:
Choose Your Purification Method Wisely
While companies like Sharper Image often tout the benefits of their negative ion air purifiers, these types of air purifiers do little when it comes to actually filtering out particles. For complete and thorough control of particulates such as dust, dander, and pollen, air purifiers with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filters are still the most effective. With 99.97% efficiency at removing particulates as small as 0.3 microns (one micron is 1/100 width of a human hair), HEPA air cleaners are also used in hospitals and government buildings.
For odor control, look for air purifiers with Activated Carbon filters which absorb noxious smells, gases, and chemicals, and if microbiological contaminants such as mold or bacteria are concerns, an air purifier offering UV sterilization can do the job. In fact, many high-end air purifiers on the market often use a combination of the above purification methods to achieve complete results. Two independently-tested models utilizing multiple technologies, including HEPA filtration, include the Airgle BY750 and the Blueair 601.
Pay Attention to Room Size
Air purifiers are usually rated based on area sizes. To ensure proper filtration of your area, look for an air cleaner that can handle your room's square footage. If you are trying to purify the air in your living room but use an air purifier designed for personal spaces up to 150 square feet, it won’t work as well.
Change Filters Regularly
Replace the filters in your air purifier according to manufacturer’s instructions. For example, if not replaced every four to six months, activated carbon filters can start releasing pollutants back into the air.
Whether you're an asthmatic looking to decrease the amount of dander in your home, or whether you need to maintain germ-free air for your clean room, choosing an air purification system can be simple when you know what to look for.
Fortunately, studies have shown that the use of a high-quality air purifier with filter media such as HEPA or Activated Carbon can significantly reduce indoor pollution levels and leave you with clean, fresh air. To promote healthy air, an air purifier can help clean the air by any of methods or by a combination of technologies: by attracting and collecting particulates using either mechanical or chemical filters (such as HEPA or Carbon), by emitting ions via an ion generator to charge and attract particles, or by passing airborne particles through a UV lamp to change the DNA of microorganisms. Here is a quick overview on how to find the best air purifier and how to use it properly:
Choose Your Purification Method Wisely
While companies like Sharper Image often tout the benefits of their negative ion air purifiers, these types of air purifiers do little when it comes to actually filtering out particles. For complete and thorough control of particulates such as dust, dander, and pollen, air purifiers with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filters are still the most effective. With 99.97% efficiency at removing particulates as small as 0.3 microns (one micron is 1/100 width of a human hair), HEPA air cleaners are also used in hospitals and government buildings.
For odor control, look for air purifiers with Activated Carbon filters which absorb noxious smells, gases, and chemicals, and if microbiological contaminants such as mold or bacteria are concerns, an air purifier offering UV sterilization can do the job. In fact, many high-end air purifiers on the market often use a combination of the above purification methods to achieve complete results. Two independently-tested models utilizing multiple technologies, including HEPA filtration, include the Airgle BY750 and the Blueair 601.
Pay Attention to Room Size
Air purifiers are usually rated based on area sizes. To ensure proper filtration of your area, look for an air cleaner that can handle your room's square footage. If you are trying to purify the air in your living room but use an air purifier designed for personal spaces up to 150 square feet, it won’t work as well.
Change Filters Regularly
Replace the filters in your air purifier according to manufacturer’s instructions. For example, if not replaced every four to six months, activated carbon filters can start releasing pollutants back into the air.
Whether you're an asthmatic looking to decrease the amount of dander in your home, or whether you need to maintain germ-free air for your clean room, choosing an air purification system can be simple when you know what to look for.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
How to Tell if you Should Install an Air Cleaner in your Home – What to Look for
Some individuals are much more sensitive to pollutants than are others. The extent to which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, i.e. the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals involved. Continuous exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and can aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. Research into the health effects of air pollution is ongoing.
A lot of things add to indoor air pollution. Pollen, pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, tobacco, cooking smoke particles, and other indoor pollutants all pose risks to allergy and asthma sufferers. There are three basic ways to get better quality of indoor air: controlling the source of the irritants and pollutants, ventilating the home, and filtering the air. Air filters can get rid of most contaminants in the home and office, such as pollen, pet dander, dust and mold spores, but the majority of air cleaners are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.
Most air cleaners sold today use High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) technology, such as the Duracraft HEPA filter, and these filters are made of a paper-thin maze of fibers. Another type of filter is the activated carbon filter, which adsorbs (not absorbs) chemicals from the airflow. Electronic or electrostatic air cleaners are often used in industrial or commercial buildings like restaurants and bars.
For guidance, go through Consumer Reports. You may learn to steer clear of ozone-generating air filters in the course of your research. These machines may in fact raise indoor ozone to levels above federal health limits, though their makers maintain that they clean the air of pollutants and bacteria.
A whole house air filter is one powerful air filter installed in your ventilation system. Why would you use a whole house air filter? It may be more practical to have one home air filter instead of several portable air purifiers scattered all over the house, especially if you want to clean air of a relatively large area of your home or office. A central air cleaner is also helpful if you live in an area with significant outdoor pollution, or if you are sensitive to any outdoor pollutants near your home.
Consumers are influenced by a number of factors when choosing air purifiers, including visual appeal, noise level, and frequency of filter replacement. The American Lung Association concludes that it is best to choose an air purifier with the best efficiency rate over the longest period of time. Before you buy an air purifier, review these tips.
A lot of things add to indoor air pollution. Pollen, pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, tobacco, cooking smoke particles, and other indoor pollutants all pose risks to allergy and asthma sufferers. There are three basic ways to get better quality of indoor air: controlling the source of the irritants and pollutants, ventilating the home, and filtering the air. Air filters can get rid of most contaminants in the home and office, such as pollen, pet dander, dust and mold spores, but the majority of air cleaners are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.
Most air cleaners sold today use High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) technology, such as the Duracraft HEPA filter, and these filters are made of a paper-thin maze of fibers. Another type of filter is the activated carbon filter, which adsorbs (not absorbs) chemicals from the airflow. Electronic or electrostatic air cleaners are often used in industrial or commercial buildings like restaurants and bars.
For guidance, go through Consumer Reports. You may learn to steer clear of ozone-generating air filters in the course of your research. These machines may in fact raise indoor ozone to levels above federal health limits, though their makers maintain that they clean the air of pollutants and bacteria.
A whole house air filter is one powerful air filter installed in your ventilation system. Why would you use a whole house air filter? It may be more practical to have one home air filter instead of several portable air purifiers scattered all over the house, especially if you want to clean air of a relatively large area of your home or office. A central air cleaner is also helpful if you live in an area with significant outdoor pollution, or if you are sensitive to any outdoor pollutants near your home.
Consumers are influenced by a number of factors when choosing air purifiers, including visual appeal, noise level, and frequency of filter replacement. The American Lung Association concludes that it is best to choose an air purifier with the best efficiency rate over the longest period of time. Before you buy an air purifier, review these tips.
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