History Is History

It is always interesting to see how many people believe the historians view of history. The fact is, the legends and stories are usually more hyperbole than truth. The more “glory in the story” the better we like it and the more often the story is told. We often refer to game-changing  historical events when we want to make point in the present. But can we carry the same tune forward 100 years? Is that point really relevant in today’s society? As the world grows up and the connections of current global events now touch our neighborhoods, do we recognize what is happening?  Do we use old catch phrases because we don’t really have a “quick witted comment” to address this new and ever changing society? Are we stepping off a cliff…or just climbing up a hill?

As the world goes through this economic transition one thing stays the same, the product, process and dedication of Pure Air Systems. Started in 1985, PAS is one of the leaders in the commercial HEPA and Carbon based air filtration product markets. With over 27 years of experience and thousands of systems in use around the world, Pure Air Systems has a unique history in this style of product.

In 1985 the term HEPA was only used in a few distinct markets. The newly evolving electronics industry, some medical markets and the asbestos remediation market. Other than that, few people even knew HEPA filtration technology existed. Bringing commercial grade, certified HEPA based air filtration systems to the residential market was a large jump for PAS in 1985. However, the unique filtration capabilities of he HEPA filters were perfectly suited to dealing with small, sub-micron sized airborne allergens and pathogens and their related health challenges.

After 3 years of installing the HEPA systems, specifically the model 600H unit in homes across the US, the name Pure Air Systems became synonymous with high performance and great reliability. From the beginning, PAS decided to build only commercial grade units and not develop a less durable residential grade model. While this meant the cost of the systems would be higher than other air filtration devices aimed at the residential market, their mission was to provide the best available air filtration product that would actually perform above and beyond the expectations of their customers. That philosophy still exists today.

Today, the PAS line consists of 7 different units, all designed with the same commercial grade construction and built to perform. These units are now used in the military, governmental, commercial, institutional, medical, industrial and residential markets. The systems can either be used attached to an existing HVAC or air handling unit or as stand-alone systems. They incorporate the latest in variable speed drive motors and can be HEPA and Carbon or Carbon only systems for applications where odors and gases are the main problem.

Historically speaking, most new companies starting up today have only a 30% chance of still being around after 5 years. Less than 20% of companies make it past 10 years. Being in business for over 27 years means PAS is doing something right.  For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or follow us on Twitter @pureairsystems. You can also like us on our Facebook page or call us at anytime on our toll free number: 800-869-8025.

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It’s Not What You See That Can Hurt You

As a young man I was intrigued by the “Invisible Man” movies. Filmed in black and white they offered a look into what it would be like to go anywhere and not be seen. Of course you had to be naked as clothing was not invisible, so outside temperatures had to be taken into consideration as well as some other issues. Being invisible gave you the opportunity to strike without warning and that was the premise behind the story line. Realizing the invisible man was in the same room but not knowing when or how he would attack you created a special element of fear.

When we take in a breath of air we inhale a fairly large volume of airborne particles made up from dust generated by the carpet, floor, books, plants, etc. You don’t notice this because these particles because they are invisible to the naked eye. As an example of size, one strand of your hair is about 100 microns in diameter. Particles that are smaller than 20 microns are not visible and the amount of particles under 10 microns in most residential environments ranges from 200,000 particles per cubic foot to over 900,000 particles per cubic foot.

The lungs have a tremendous capacity to filter out a very large percentage of these particles. However, the smaller, less than 1 micron sized particles may remain in the lungs or mucus membranes for a period of time as these tiny particles are not easily expelled. This could be a problem as most bacteria range in size from 1 micron to 20 microns and viruses are usually less than .01 microns in size and these particles will remain in the body for long periods of time.

There is no doubt that larger sized airborne particles, those you can see with the naked eye, can be a real health threat as well. Industrial and heavy commercial construction and manufacturing operations can produce harmful airborne particles larger than 100 microns in size. In most cases, however, individuals working in these conditions wear masks or respirators to reduce the ingestion of these particles.

To remove and or reduce the levels of small, harmful airborne contaminants requires special air filtration systems that use HEPA filters. These commercial grade, certified filters are designed to remove over 99.99% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger and approach that same efficiency below that size range. HEPA filters are used in a wide range of commercial, institutional, medical and industrial applications as well as many residential applications.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing commercial grade HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985 and is the leader in large capacity HEPA systems. Their HEPA systems range in capacity from 100 CFM to 2,000 CFM and are designed to be used in either a stand-alone configuration or attached to an existing ducted HVAC or air handler  system. For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems go to their website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or, follow them on Twitter @pureairsytems or you can contact them on their toll-free number at: 800-869-8025.

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Leap Year

A leap year is a year containing one additional day in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. So this year , 2012, we will have 366 days instead of 365 days. What does that really mean?  According to Irish tradition a man who receives a marriage proposal from a woman on February 29 must accept it. Or if you are born on 2/29 does that mean you only have  a birthday every four years? And if you are married on the 29th of February do you only have a wedding anniversary every fourth year? Interesting thought.

With an event happening only every four years we only think about it during that specific time frame. We never talk about leap year other than during leap year and then only on one day…Feb. 29th.  Yet being born on that date or married on that date…or even dying on that date could have a significant impact on the events of your life and lives of the people around you.

Being exposed to a particularly virulent  airborne pathogen, chemical compound or allergen on any given day can also alter your life forever. Our experience in dealing with individuals who suffer from chronic illnesses by being exposed to one of these is interesting to say the least. Since Pure Air Systems was founded in 1985, literally 40% of our residential customers use our HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems to help them cope with continuing respiratory and sensitivity issues caused by a one time or over time exposure.

Because many of these individuals have had their immune systems compromised by these airborne incidents and have difficulty living and working in environments that most people would consider safe and harmless. For example, small amounts of dust or pollen or even odors from dish washing detergent can significantly affect these immuno-suppressed individuals. The ability to remove small concentrations of odors and gasesous pollutants as well as minute amounts of sub-micron particulate is the key to helping these individuals.

Pure Air Systems commercial grade, certified HEPA and Carbon air filtration systems are recognized as some of the best high performance filtration systems on the market today. The HEPA filters in our systems are some of the only mechanical methods of removing the small, sub-micron airborne allergens and pathogens. And the carbon media is all commercial grade and designed to adsorb high concentrations of odors and gaseous compounds. Together, these filters in our units offer the best chance to allow these individuals to lead a fairly normal life in both their homes and at work.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com or find us on Twitter @pureairsystems and like us on Facebook. Of course you can always call us on our toll-free number at: 800-869-8025.

 

 

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Process Of Elimination

Whenever I have a problem with a mechanical device I try to use the “process of elimination” approach to resolve the problem. This is usually done by determining what the problem “isn’t” and then solve for what it could be. This process allows me to better isolate the real problem, since once you know what the problem is…the solution should not be far behind.

It is funny how many people have a pre-determined idea of what the problem is that they are facing based upon a one time incident that took place years ago. They automatically assume it is the same issue without even attempting to see if it could be something else. This is especially true with people who suffer from allergies and airborne contaminants. Many individuals will develop allergy  symptoms that they believe can only be caused by one allergen because their symptoms mimic the ones they suffered in prior experiences.

As an example: a woman who has suffered from contact with certain grasses or tree pollen has the same reaction when she is exposed to certain molds. She believes the problem to be grasses or tree pollen even though it is late fall when there is no pollen present in the air. This precludes her from looking at other possible allergens so she decides that the solution is just to stay indoors as much as possible. In reality, the mold in her HVAC duct system or mold that is growing behind walls that got wet during the summer rains due to the small hole in the roof is the real culprit….so the woman continues to suffer through the fall and into the winter.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985 and has supplied thousands of allergy sufferers with air filtration systems that have significantly reduced or eliminated their symptoms. Dealing with airborne particles that are invisible to the naked eye can only be accomplished with HEPA filters as all other mechanical or electronic devices are simply not effective in removing the small, respirable sized particles that cause most of the allergic reactions. And, because of the amount of experience Pure Air Systems has in dealing with allergy sufferers, we can offer some constructive comments on what we believe the real problems to be. We understand how to use the process of elimination to determine the real problems. This allows us to better select the best HEPA system for your specific issue.

Pure Air Systems has a significant amount of information on their website that will educate you on the types of allergens present in the air and the HEPA systems available from PAS that will assist you in removing or reducing these airborne contaminants. For more information please go to: www.pureairsystems.com.

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Over The Counter Allergy Drugs Just Mask The Problem

More and more of the ” prescription only ” allergy drugs are now sold over the counter. While these drugs are relatively safe when taken as directed, they are  more powerful and more effective at reducing the bodies reaction to the allergens invading your body. The good part is that these drugs allow you to operate more normally even during the height of allergy season. The downside is that you are subjecting yourself to higher concentrations of these allergens and creating more long term problems for your immune system.

With the countless numbers and types of airborne contaminants that may cause reactions to your system, it is essential that you know which ones they are and to minimize your contact with them. Taking allergy medicine and then playing ball outside in your backyard during ragweed and pollen season is not a healthy thing to do. Keep in mind, just because your don’t suffer as much with the medication doesn’t mean your body and immune system are not being challenged.

In order to gage  which of the allergens create the greatest health issues you will need to sense or feel how your body reacts to certain types and levels of airborne allergens. This means you will need to use either a lighter dose of allergy medicine or none at all. Granted you may suffer for a day or two but this process will enable you to determine what affects you most, when and where. It also allows you to use a stronger or milder allergy drug or change the dose to suit the requirement. This means you won’t be drowsy or have any significant operational limitations when taking that dosage.

The allergy symptoms can persist indoors as well as outside. Even with the windows closed and A/C  running many allergy sufferers still have challenges during the peak of ragweed and pollen season. For that reason we suggest using an air filtration device in your home. Preferably one that attaches to the main heating cooling system like the HEPA systems made by Pure Air Systems.

These units use a true, commercial grade, certified HEPA filter capable of capturing 99.99% of all particles 0.3 microns or larger and is almost as efficient on smaller particles. This system can significantly reduce the levels of airborne allergens and contaminants and allow you to either reduce or eliminate the use of allergy medicine while inside your home.

The use of HEPA filtration or good air filters in your HVAC unit will significantly help you feel better as well as reduce the use of allergy medicine. For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com

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The Pros & Cons Of Using UV Lights In Your Heating/Cooling System

The use of Ultra Violet light for reduction and removal of bacteria ( germs) on surfaces has been used for years in the food industry. In the early years “black lights” were placed above the produce in the grocery stores to help maintain a bacterial free environment. While UV lights are no longer used in these food operations, they are used in the residential and light commercial HVAC markets.

We are all familiar with the term UV as we hear this term used when they describe the rays from the sun as being UV A or B or C. UV A is the most dangerous because the UV A wavelength can be harmful to human skin as well as various material. Long term exposure can damage the skin and increase the possibility for skin cancer.

The use of UV Lights for reduction and removal of bacteria in heating/cooling systems, ductwork and air handler cooling coils has been around for over 25 years. The UV Lights produce a specific wavelength; approximately 285 nanometers, designed to kill or destroy the nuclei of most molds and bacteria. UV has minimal effect on viruses.

For many years UV lights were placed in the return air side of the ductwork close to the air handler and were supposed to kill or destroy the mold and bacteria as it passed by the UV Lamps. There were a number of challenges with this installation configuration. First, the UV lights were often not shielded and the dirt, dust and particulate in the return air stream would coat the lamps and significantly reduce the effectiveness of the lamps. And, second, the speed at which the air passed  by the lamps did not allow enough residence time or light exposure time on the mold or bacteria to really kill or destroy the particle. Even adding shielding to minimize dust build up on the lamps didn’t solve this problem.

Since most mold and some bacteria require a source of moisture or water a more obvious place to locate the UV Lights was over or close to the cooling coils located in the air handler.  This made more sense as it allowed the UV Lights to irradiate the entire coil area constantly and minimize the ability for mold and bacteria to grow on the coils surface. It also didn’t rely on air flow speed and the lights could be shielded in such a way as to direct the UV light source onto the coils and reduce the build up of dust on the lamps.

While this approach is much more effective it still doesn’t answer the question about removing the airborne mold, bacteria and other allergens. Using a UV light alone is only a small part of the solution.

Pure Air Systems, offers a complete line of  both media air filters and HEPA based air filtration systems used in conjunction with HVAC systems. The line of BioPanel furnace filters includes a dual-layer, polyester ring panel filter that offers a  MERV 8 filter with a high dust holding capacity, tight fitting and low pressure drop. The HEPA filter systems offered by Pure Air Systems have been in use since 1985 and are the most well known HEPA systems in the world.

For complete removal of harmful airborne pathogens and allergens in your home, office, laboratory or medical facility, Pure Air Systems has the solution. For more information go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com.

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Remove Dust Mites, Dust & Allergens

The problem of removing or capturing airborne allergens, dust, dust mite feces and other allergy producing particles has been an on-going challenge for homeowners and with good reason. The new housing construction designs are geared more and more toward the “green” building techniques which mean they are much tighter and more energy efficient. These new, tighter homes have little or no fresh air ventilation and, in essence, the home has become a terrarium.

The ability to capture general dust particles, or dust mite feces and other airborne allergens is normally accomplished by the air filter or furnace filter that is located in the HVAC system. Also, the use of portable, fan powered air filter or air purifying devices are often used and can also be helpful.

However, the use of these filtering devices is effective in removing dust and other particles only if they are airborne. Yes! The particles are not pulled off the floor or other surfaces to the filtering devices. They must be airborne.

The best way to ensure that you are removing these particles is to  always have your HVAC fan setting on your thermostat to the Fan On mode. This means the fan is running all the time even if the heating or cooling modes are not operating. Then, whenever you walk through the house or on the carpeting, or dust or vacuum the carpet, the small, sub-micron particles will become airborne and get picked up through the return air vents or drawn into the portable air filtration device.

The dust particles only become airborne for a short period of time; anywhere from 1 minute to 30 minutes depending upon the size of the particle. This is why constant air movement in the home is necessary to keep the environment as dust free as possible. Again, remember that even thought the dust particles are light and tiny, they will remain on any surface until moved or disturbed.

Once these tiny particles are airborne it is important to ensure that they are properly captured or removed. It is important that the furnace filters and portable filtering devices use a commercial grade filtering media or even HEPA filters for absolute capture.

Pure Air Systems offers a line of dual-layer, polyester ring panel filters that are a MERV 8 rated media. These commercial grade furnace filters fit very tightly into the filter frame and eliminate any bypass around the filter, unlike cardboard frame filters with little or no sealing capabilities.

The ability to seal tightly is important since the majority of the particles captured by the filter are less than 5 microns in size. In addition, the dual-layer media has the ability to hold a lot of dust without any appreciable increase in resistance or pressure drop. This means long life with fewer filter changes.

Pure Air Systems also offers a new, high capacity portable HEPA system that is small ( 13″ square by 21″ long) and powerful. This small HEPA unit can produce up to 500 CFM and offers four speeds, one to suit any room or application. This unit comes complete with a prefilter/carbon media filter and a true, certified 99.99% at 0.3 micron HEPA filter.

For more information on these and other air filtration products go to: www.pureairsystems.com.

 

 

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Home Health Care

You can’t pick up a newspaper or magazine or go on-line today without reading about health care. While much of the commentary is on changes to the health care system, a lot is also pointed toward the ways we can reduce health care costs by taking better care of our bodies.

While knowing more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle is important, it is just as critical to become better educated on how to maintain a healthy home.

Since we spend the majority of our lives inside our homes breathing the air in this enclosed, controlled environment, shouldn’t we know more about how this environment can affect us? I think we should. After all, breathing in even small quantities of airborne allergens, pathogens and gases over time can significantly affect you health.

New home construction techniques have made homes tighter and more energy efficient, they have also significantly reduced the amount of fresh air exchange while significantly increasing the concentration levels of all types of airborne contaminants. Yes, your furnace filter does remove some of the larger dust particles and yes some of the more sophisticated hybrid type electronic cleaners are more effective on smaller particles. However, both of these systems require you to run your furnace fan constantly to keep the airborne contaminants coming to the filters, and, neither of these filter systems allows for any fresh, filtered outside air.

Airborne contaminants, allergens, pathogens and gases are generated on a daily basis in all homes. Carpeting, cleaning chemicals, pets, hair spray, dust from clothing, books and outside the house and our own bodies, all contribute to this indoor air pollution.

Because the majority of these harmful particles are tiny, less than 20 microns in size ( the human eye can only detect particles about 100 microns in size) they are not visible therefore not noticed. Yet a large majority of these small particles are inhaled into our lungs and stay there. Our bodies naturally remove most of these but some can be harmful and some of the airborne allergens and pathogens can cause significant respiratory problems or severe allergic reactions that can become chronic.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing true, commercial and hospital grade HEPA based air filtration systems since 1985. These systems are designed to be installed as part of the HVAC system (heating/cooling unit) and filter all the air in the house up to 48  to 60 times per day. In addition, these units have the ability to introduce fresh, filtered outside air into to house.  The HEPA filter is designed to remove 99.99% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger and approaches this same level of efficiency on particles as small as .012 microns.

This unit can be used in conjunction with any type of forced air heating/cooling unit and the PAS units use the energy efficient ECM motor that can run continuously removing airborne contaminants 24/7  and operating for only pennies a day.

The cost of health care is one of the most critical issues we face today. Pure Air Systems has one solution to help you keep you home healthy and you healthy at the same time.

For  more information on the PAS HEPA systems go to. www.pureairsystems.com.

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