Select and Compare Air Purifiers by Air Pollution Problem
How to Demystify the Process
of Selecting
the RIGHT Air Purifier for Your Needs
It's no mystery that the air inside our homes, offices and nearly
every building we enter is contaminated with air pollution problems.
But wading through the plethora of air purification technologies and
models to make our living and working space free of pollution can be
a daunting task, especially with the misinformation presented by so
many salespeople.
There are many different air purification technologies and air filters
on the market, but no one air purifier technology can solve every air
pollution problem, which is why we carry different technologies and
brands. This page will help to demystify the process of determining
which technology is right for your air pollution problem, and help
you select the models that suit your environment and budget.
Important Factors that Affect Which Air Purifier Will Work for Your
Space
When helping people to decide which technology and which model is
right for their particular air pollution problems, the following are
factors that we consider:
Pollution Problem (most important factor) - Knowing
what air pollution problems you want to get rid of is the most important
factor in selecting the right air purifier, because not all technologies
get rid of all indoor air pollutants. For instance, if odors, chemicals
or VOCs are your problem, you need to get a UV Oxidation or Carbon
technology to get rid of the problem. A HEPA will NOT get rid of
VOCs or chemical fumes and gases.
Cubic Air Space - All air purifiers list the maximum
square footage it can cover, but that assumes ideal conditions and
a standard eight foot ceiling. If your ceiling is higher, you must
consider the cubic air space that is to be treated. For instance,
if your space is 20' x 20' with an eight foot ceiling, you have 400
square feet to treat. However, if your 20' x 20' room had a twelve
foot ceiling, you have 600 cubic air space to treat.
Contaminant Factor - The higher the contaminant
factor, the lower the square footage the unit can cover. For example,
the Surround XJ-3000D can cover 600 square foot, but if the unit
is for a pack-a-day smoker, the XJ-3000D will only be able to cover
about 300 square foot because cigarette smoke is a tough pollution
source.
Occupancy - People bring pollutants inside the
space through their shoes and clothes, and that adds to the
existing pollution levels already in the space, so the more people
occupy the space, the higher the pollution levels and the smaller
the square footage the air purifier can treat. Thus, a space with
3 people in it generally doesn't change the treatable area, but 12
people in the space will. This is even more true with children.
Animals - Animals bring a lot of pollution with
them in the form of odors, dander, hair and diseases like kennel
cough, so the number of animals, their body size and hair type are
always factored into the equation.
Call Us for Help
If you are unsure of your needs, give us a call toll free at 866-875-4386
for help. With nearly 10 years experience with seven different air purification
technologies and thousands of unit sold, we are uniquely qualified
to help you solve your air pollution problems.
Select and Compare Air Purifiers by Air
Pollution Problem
The following are the most common air pollution problems. Select the
one that is most important to you, then click the "more info" link
for more information about that contaminant and a list of the air purifier
technologies that can solve that problem.
Animal Odors and Infectious Diseases
Animal treatment rooms and kennel areas have high levels
of viruses and bacterial, canine infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel
cough) being one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in dogs. Specific
air purification technologies can significantly reduce
the viral and bacterial infections spreading throughout the kennel, solving
a major problem boarding facilities face. Additionally, these specially designed
systems eliminate unpleasant odors, improving the quality of air for those
who work with pets, as well as creating clean, fresh, healthy air to greet
your clients when they enter your business. Air
Purifiers for Animal Odors and Infectious Diseases
Cigarette, Cigar and Pipe Smoke (Residential and Commercial)
Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, more than 40 of which
are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and many of which are strong
irritants. Plus, many people find the smell of smoke offensive, and will
often refuse to patronize businesses who allow smokers. And any non-smoker
will tell you that smoke-free sections in bars, restaurants, casinos, bingo
halls and offices are NEVER smoke free. Smoke odors, chemicals and fumes
have a way of traveling to every nook and cranny, highly offending most non-smokers. Air
Purifiers for Cigarette, Cigar and Pipe Smoke
Food Spoilage and Odors in Refrigerators
Once cut, fresh produce, flowers and plants produce ethylene gas while
aging. If allowed to accumulate, the ethylene further accelerates the aging
process. Continuous or intermittent use of appropriate levels of ozone in
refrigerated spaces has shown to be effective in reducing the rate of plant
and produce aging by destroying ethylene without producing any negative side
effects on the product, thus reducing spoilage and extending the quality
and shelf life of most produce. A side benefit is that it also gets rid of
odors. The following product is designed for refrigerator odors and food
spoilage: Refrigerator
Ozonator for Odors and Food Spoilage
Humidity Control and Fresh Air Exchange
For the past two decades mounting evidence suggests that dependence on the
natural exchange of air between the indoors and outdoors through air infiltration
and exfiltration may not be sufficient for good moisture control and indoor
air quality. It also has become increasingly obvious that traditional ventilation
methods, like opening a window or use of a common bath fan, are not providing
adequate ventilation. A properly designed and installed ventilation system
is the key to positive moisture control and will help ensure a healthy indoor
environment for the occupant.
The solution is an air exchanger, heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy
recovery ventilator (ERV). These mechanical ventilation systems use fans
to maintain a low-velocity flow of fresh outdoor air into the house (incoming
air stream) while exhausting out an equal amount of stale indoor air (exhaust
air stream). Fresh air is supplied to all levels of the house while stale
air is removed from areas with high levels of pollutants and moisture. Air
Ventilation for Humidity Control and Fresh Air Exchange
Microbial Air Purification (Mold, Bacteria, Viruses)
Microbial Air Purification. germs, microscopic bacteria, viruses,
fungi, mildew, mold spores and mycotoxins produced by a fungus, as
small as .001 microns. Microbials often thrive in heating and air
conditioning ducts. The most effective technologies to treat microbial
pollution are those that produce oxidizers that destroy microbials.
Air Purifiers for Microbial
Nail and Beauty Salons and Spas
Some of the most toxic indoor air is found in
nail salons. There are a number of noxious fumes in the polish, remover,
varnish and adhesives commonly used at nail salons. Chemicals that are used
in nail care products include, but are not limited to, toluene and formaldehyde,
which the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration classifies
as carcinogens (cancer-causing). Air
Purifiers for Nail and Beauty Salons and Spas
Odor Removing Air Purifiers
Odors comes from many sources, such as animals, food, bodies, cooking,
smelly sports and camping equipment, shoes, litter boxes, cigarettes, cigars,
pipe smoke, smoke damage, etc. Odor sponges, ozone and oxidation are three
technologies that remove odors the best. Ozone is an effective technology
to treat odors, however, many people are sensitive to ozone, and many others
don't want an ozone producing technology. If you have a tough industrial
odor problem, then high end ozone generators like the Air Oasis Ozone Generator
are the best choices. Air Purifiers
for Odor Control
Particulate Removing Air Cleaners (Dust Mites, Pollen, Dander, Dust)
Particulate includes dust, dust mites, dust mite feces, pollen, pet dander,
skin flakes (food for dust mites), smoke particles, allergens, etc. When
the sun shines through your window and you see things floating in the air,
that's particulate. Filtration and negative ions are the fastest technologies
to clean the air of particulate. Air Purifiers
for Particulate Removal
School Room Mold and Infectious Disease
In the past 20 years, an expanding body of evidence has shown the tremendous
impact indoor air pollution has on our health. All people, and especially
infants, children, the elderly and persons with chronic diseases, are most
susceptible. Since most children typically spend a large amount of their
time in school classrooms, they are often exposed to very high levels of
air pollutants, including mold in school rooms, airborne contagious diseases,
chemical fumes and gases, odors, etc. The effects of breathing indoor
air pollution, especially mold in school rooms, include dizziness, irritability,
coughing, sneezing, dry eyes, hay fever, allergies, asthma symptoms,
sinus problems, ear infections, depression, fatigue, headaches, nausea,
breathing problems, respiratory infections, etc. Plus the effects of
breathing contagious diseases -- spread by airborne germs, viruses and
bacteria -- promote increased student and teacher absenteeism. Air
Purifiers for School Rooms
VOCs and Chemicals
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are invisible gases
which are emitted from paints, adhesives, carpeting, wall coverings, new
furniture, building materials, solvents, cleaning solutions, copy machines,
laser printers, nail treatment products, cigarettes, cigars and pipes, plastic
products and more. Studies using experimental chambers have shown that VOCs
can cause irritation of the respiratory system in humans and animals. Controlled
experiments with people who suffer from Sick Building Syndrome confirm that
VOC exposure can cause headache, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Dozens
of VOCs have been identified in residential air. Air
Purifiers for VOCs and Chemicals
Find the Right Air Purifier for
Your Unique Problem
or Application
It's no mystery that the air inside our homes, offices and nearly every building
we enter is contaminated with
toxic air pollution problems. But wading through the plethora of air purification
technologies and models to make our living and working space free of pollution
can be a daunting task, especially with the misinformation presented by so
many salespeople and web sites. There are many different air purification technologies
and air filters on the market, but no one air purifier technology can solve
every air pollution problem, which is why we carry different brands. For help
determining which air purifier is right for you, click on one of the below
links or call us toll free at 866-875-4386 (US and Canada).