Blog Tag: allergies

There is a visual misconception that happens to most people when it comes to identifying what objects will do them harm. The normal train of thought is…”if I can’t see it, it won’t hurt me.” In essence, nothing could be further from the truth. Tiny, airborne and surface mounted sub-micron sized viruses and bacteria are invisible to the naked eye but can often be deadly to humans. Finely ground dust from any mineral source or pollen, ragweed and grasses range in size from 100 microns down to less than 1 micron in size. You can only see down to about 20 microns with the naked eye.

Ingestion of small amounts of tiny airborne pathogens and allergens over long periods of time can create severe and chronic health issues. And for the under 3 years, over 60 population the ratio of amount inhaled vs time may be shortened dramatically. Of course, for those individuals who are allergy sufferers or have weakened immune systems due to injury or cancer, even small amounts inhaled over a few days can create significant health challenges. While you can’t control the elements of the environment, you can control your personal environment.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing commercial grade, certified HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. For over 27 years PAS has provided high performance HEPA systems to reduce and remove these fine, harmful airborne particulate in a wide array of applications. Commercial, institutional, industrial, medical and residential customers around the world have relied on the performance of the PAS HEPA units to help them maintain a clean, healthy environment.

Air filters, the type you put in your heating/cooling air handler system, have been around for over 70 years. Originally made from metal strands they evolved to fiberglass media then cotton and now man made fibers. They became more efficient over time. However, they also became more resistant to air flow and created adverse air flow restriction problems for the heating/cooling systems. In order to actually remove the small, less than 10 micron sized particles with any efficiency ( up to 90% and greater removal) you require a HEPA media filter. The filters used in most HVAC systems today have an efficiency of less than 20% on these smaller, more harmful particles. And, some furnace filters have almost no effectiveness on anything smaller than 20 microns.

There is a reason that hospitals, clean rooms, surgery rooms, optical manufacturers, food processors, micro-chip companies, medical and commercial laboratories and many other environment-critical operations ONLY use HEPA filters or air filtration systems using HEPA filters. General duty air filters, electronic air cleaners and ionizers are basically useless when it comes to actually removing airborne particulate. The only way to deal with real airborne pathogens and allergens is to use HEPA filtration systems. Real Dust, Real Filters.

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

Taken from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the term two ships passing in the night references two people that meet for a brief but intense moment then go their separate ways never to see each other again. This may be familiar to many people that have experienced a brief meeting or opportunity to interact with someone for a short time where something significant happened but then never to see that individual again. But the memory lingers on.

You are looking for something specific on Google using every key word you can think of  that should get you to that site or page or photo that will connect you to your goal. Through a series of websites and re-directs you actually find what you are looking for. Forgetting to bookmark the page after you’ve retrieved some of the information, you tell yourself you can find it again. You attempt to   locate it again only to find out you can’t get back to it.

When trying to locate information on a particular company or product a great source of information often comes from a more active website, especially one that produces a weekly blog or update. Since this information is pushed throughout the internet world in a number of forms, even using an indirect search can often result in success.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing commercial grade, certified HEPA based air filtration systems since 1985. Their first website was developed in the early 1990’s and they have made it bigger and better ever since. Searching for HEPA filtration systems or directly for Pure Air Systems will take you to the very first page on every search engine. However, in today’s world, the search engines no longer keep sites up in a certain position unless they are active and producing value added content material on a regular basis. This is why new blogs, like this one, are written for the site every week.

Using Google analytics to track activity for Pure Air Systems shows a high number of visitors each month ( in excess of 2,000) with a fairly high number of new visitors. In addition, the average amount of time each visitor spent on the site is in excess of 2:00 minutes. The bounce rate is relatively low ( 40%) so this tells us a number of people are finding what they are looking for and some are coming back for more information.

The PAS site has a section called “Pure Air University” that consists of a number of individual sections dedicated to providing educational information on everything you wanted to know about air filtration, filter systems, heat exchangers, positive and negative pressure and how to apply the systems.  When looking  at the analytics this particular section has the greatest amount of viewership. This tells us that people are looking for information they can use and that will allow them to make a more objective evaluation of their next filter or air filtration purchase.

Searching for and finding Pure Air Systems on the internet the first time and subsequent times is easy. Even if you don’t bookmark the site, and we recommend you do, coming back to us is simple…unlike two ships passing in the night.

For more information on Pure Air Systems and its 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 find us on Facebook and of course call us at anytime on our toll-free number at: 800-869-8025.

Walking through an old grave yard the other day I noticed some unusual scripting on some of the tombstones. The typical “born date” “died date” were present on all of them but a few had more creative wording on the granite markers. One of the most popular epitaphs that has been written in dozens of languages world wide is…”I Told You I Was Sick.” I found this on two head stones. I’m sure the deceased relatives didn’t think it was funny, but somehow I think this comment says it all.

People complain about everything today. And with the help of social media they can do it 24/7  and have the world be their sounding board. For many people, complaining about their health or how certain issues affect their health has become their favorite hobby. However, in many instances these “cry wolf”  health concerns are actually valid complaints. Negative reactions to various foods, environmental conditions and industrial pollutants, both liquid and air, are more common than ever.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing commercial grade, certified HEPA and Carbon based fan powered air filtration devices since 1985. Our experience in working with individuals, environmental specialists, Allergists, Physicians and Industrial Hygienists has provided us with a wealth of  practical application knowledge regarding the overall effectiveness of our HEPA filtration systems.

Individuals who either are pre-disposed to a specific type of allergen or pathogen or those who have weakened immune systems due to  constant contact with airborne contaminants (both particulate and gaseous) and who have used one of the Pure Air Systems HEPA units in their living and/or work environment, have achieved excellent results with the systems. In almost every case where an individual was experiencing some physical or respiratory distress from their polluted environment, the introduction of the PAS HEPA systems provided a minimum of 70% relief with the majority of individuals having virtually no symptoms at all.

While these results are not derived from a scientific, long-term study, the fact that people have continued to purchase the PAS products for over 27 years has proven the market recognizes the ability for the systems to excel and provide the performance as promised by Pure Air Systems.

For years individuals have complained about certain health issues that they believe are directly related to their living or work environment. Often these health issues are discarded by the medical profession as emotional or psychosomatic. While there are some instances where this is true, for the most part the symptoms and the suffering is real. Recently the medical profession has determined that the underlying cause for many of the “environmental illness” issues are now related to fibromyalgia…which can be treated to a certain extent with medication.  However, contact with our customers who have been diagnosed with this disease have found that it is the “easy out” diagnosis for everything environmental.

The fact is that those people who suffer from constant contact with any type of allergen, gaseous pollutant or pathogens continue to find more relief when living and working in a cleaner environment. Especially when they use one of the PAS HEPA systems. For individuals who do have an issue with the air they breathe contacting us now is better than having to write something too soon like, “I told you I was sick,” as your epitaph.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com or follow us on Twitter @pureairsystems or like us on our Facebook page. You can also call us on our toll-free number: 800-869-8025.

During the late 70’s and early 80’s people that experienced symptoms that resembled allergies, asthma and disorientation were classified as Environmentally Ill or EI for short. These symptoms were often associated with chemical sensitivities due to various types of building materials, carpet sizing, paints, varnishes and house hold cleaning chemicals. In most cases these materials would off-gas into the living space and the exposure to these chemicals over time would be deemed the cause of Environmental Illness.

One of the challenges with EI was the fact that the medical industry did not recognize this as a real illness. Most general practitioners would discount this illness as nothing more than an over reaction to what patients called strong odors and funny tastes in their mouths. The symptoms were so much like a typical allergic reaction or a cold or the flu that the normal treatment was antibiotics or antihistamines.

The Allergists, on the other hand, did recognize that there were significant symptoms and would treat this problem more aggressively usually by doing skin testing to attempt to isolate the allergen or contaminant to which the patient would react. Over time the Allergists began to identify the causes to in fact be from the living environments of their patients.

Fast forward to today. The building industry, both commercial and residential, have significantly changed the types of chemicals and additives used in the fabrication of most building materials. The green approach has been the mantra from the builders now for the past 10 years. There are better ventilation systems and a better understanding of how to make an office, room or home under positive pressure so that any off-gassing of any chemicals will be pushed out of the living environment while introducing small amounts of fresh, outside filtered air.

Founded in 1985, Pure Air Systems introduced one of the first commercial grade, certified HEPA and Carbon based fan powered air filtration systems for the removal of airborne allergens and pathogens in the residential and commercial markets. Many of the residential customers who purchased the PAS HEPA systems were categorized as environmentally ill. As far as they were concerned their homes were slowly killing them. Since the PAS systems were of all metal construction using only hospital grade components, the units did not contribute any chemicals or off-gassing materials to their environment. In addition to removing airborne particulate and gaseous pollutants, the units were able to introduce small amounts of outside, filtered fresh air to assist in diluting any gases trapped in the living environment.

Working with the EI group was the catalyst for PAS to develop larger and more effective HEPA and Carbon based systems as well as having a much better understanding of how to use the units for both introduction of fresh air and the use of positive pressure. For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based 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 anytime on our toll-free number: 800-869-8025.

Change for the sake of change often is not a good thing….unless the change is really needed. For the most part, people resist change even if they know taking a step in a different direction may actually be good for them. Studies have shown that changing someone’s belief in any subject matter is extremely difficult, even if you can show them actual proof their beliefs are not correct.

Getting people to accept that “process interrupt” is difficult. Getting someone to change their habits is usually most effective when the change affects their health. One of the areas associated with healthy living is the use of or the addition of air filters or air filtration systems for those individuals who suffer from severe allergies or other airborne particle induced respiratory dysfunctions.

Pure Air Systems has been making HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. They also offer a complete line of dual-layer polyester ring panel filters that can be used individually from the HEPA systems. For most home owners with allergies, the ability to maintain a high level of clean air is very important. They know that airborne dust and allergens ( including pollen, ragweed, grasses, mold, etc.) are not always just outside the home environment. Much of this material is brought into the living spaces and is distributed through out the house via the heating/cooling system.

Removing the smaller airborne particles from the air in your home is most often done by placing a filter in the main return air duct at the junction of the heating/cooling air handler section. This is the most common location for filters. It is important to remember that filtration only occurs when the air handler fan is running so it is better to have the fan switch in the on position on the thermostat all the time so filtration takes place even when heating or cooling of the environment is not required.

Selecting the correct air filter is important. There are many styles and types but you want one that has the greatest efficiency for removing small, micron sized particles without creating too much static pressure resistance for the air handler. Pure Air Systems offers a wide range of sizes of their ring panel filters. These filters have a wire frame which is wrapped with the polyester media allowing for a very tight seal in the return air duct filter slot. This means no particulate bypass of the filter and total capture of all the airborne contaminants.

Most importantly, the filter will need to be changed on a regular basis. Whether you use the PAS filters or another brand, changing the filters at least once every three months or more often is necessary. The filters are constantly loading up with dirt and dust and as they load up the pressure drop across the filter increases and this can actually reduce the air flow through the air handler. Then there is less air being pulled through the entire system and cooling and heating efficiency is dramatically reduced. As is the ability to capture the airborne particles.

Make a rule that every quarter you change the air filter in your HVAC system. Both you and your air handler will breathe better for it.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA, Carbon and Air Filters from PAS please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or follow us on Twitter: @pureairsystems. Of course you can also call us on our toll free number. 800-869-8025.

How many times a day do you hear the phrase..”it is what it is!” Some people use it as a statement of fact or as an answer to some yet to be explained action of some individual. In either case, it is becoming a bit annoying. Using it as a catch phrase for any question is the epitome of mental laziness and pure lack of effort to even try to come up with an intelligent response. The real problem is how easily we accept this response as an answer.

This same mental thought process is often used in trying to solve a technical problem. Depending upon our depth of knowledge on the subject at hand we may come up with the answer or, more often than not, let someone else deal with it. With all the tools at our disposal it should be easy to find the information on your hand held digital device or through your social network. In today’s social media based world content is king.

In the IAQ arena there are thousands of product references that provide information on how to deal with indoor air quality problems. For many people who suffer from allergies and asthma, their common challenge is avoiding contact with the airborne allergens and pathogens that are the root cause for their allergy symptoms. When you ask these sufferers what they do to get relief from their allergies most just tell you they use over the counter allergy medicines, as Allergist and other medical professionals are more of an added expense than they really want to use. So, they just accept the fact that every Spring and/or Fall they will suffer for a few months.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. These commercial grade, certified HEPA units have provided significant relief for thousands of homeowners who have allergies and other respiratory dysfunctions. Since HEPA filters remove over 99.99% of all airborne particulate smaller that 0.3 microns in size these systems can effectively remove those allergens from the air that can trigger allergy symptoms or Asthma attacks.

Allergy sufferers can now find some relief by using these HEPA based systems either as whole house filtration or when using a portable HEPA unit in their bedroom or other living space. In many cases customers who have used the HEPA units have been able to significantly reduce or eliminate their allergy medication for long periods of time.  They no longer have to just resolve themselves to saying they just have to deal with their allergies because “it is what it is.” They have a real option to help themselves by choosing the best available air filtration on the market.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based filtration systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com or follow us on twitter at: @pureairsystems or like us on Facebook. You can also call us on our toll-free number. 800-869-8025..

For most children the ability to explore their surroundings  is usually conditional to the restraints put on by  their parents…more often than not, their Mother.  Most children have more energy than they know what to do with and running is one way of using that energy. “Don’t run,” is the most often constraint placed on kids. A large number of accidents occur when children run with abandon. It is, however, more challenging when children run with something sharp in their hands….like scissors.

Telling someone not to do something because it may cause them harm often falls on deaf ears until that person has an unfortunate experience with that specific situation. Learning the hard way is often the only way for some.

For people who have severe allergies or companies and technicians who want to control their environment, the use of sub-standard air filtration systems and devices is not uncommon. The decision, however, to use  a filtration device that will not remove the small, sub-micron sized particles to minimize or reduce the allergy problems is as dangerous as running with scissors. Sooner or later something bad will happen.

Over the counter allergy medicine is at best, psychologically helpful. Most of these are anti-histamines and will provide minimal relief, usually just masking the symptoms. Removal of the allergens or removing yourself from the source of the allergens is the only way to really provide some relief. Just like allowing the child to still hold the scissors but not allow them to run, is only a partial solution to the problem.

General duty air filters that are found in your HVAC return or in your return air grills are good for removing large particles and then only when the air handler fan is running. During the off cycles nothing is being pulled through the filters. It is always best to have your fan setting on the thermostat set on run. While this uses a little more electricity, in the long run it will maintain a more even temperature in all rooms of the home or office and keep the air moving toward and through the air filters. This process alone of running the fan continuously is helpful even if you are using standard air filters.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. These commercial grade, certified HEPA systems are used in the residential, commercial, institutional, medical and high-tech manufacturing markets around the world. These systems incorporate some of the most effective and advanced motor and controller devices available on the market today.

Using HEPA filers or HEPA based air filtration systems is still the most effective method of removing the respirable size airborne allergens. The difference in reduction of these particles in using the HEPA filters rather than standard duty air filters is significant. In cases where PAS customers have switched to a HEPA filtration system, over 80% of those with significant allergies found they slept better, had fewer symptoms and needed fewer or no additional allergy medications.

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: @purairsystems. You can also reach us on our toll-free number. 800-869-8025.

In 1954 Alfred Hitchcock directed the movie “Dial M For Murder” starring Ray Miland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings.  The story is about a husband who carefully plans to have his wife murdered. If the plot goes as planned the wife is gone and the husband is never suspected. As with many ideas, controlling all aspects of the concept often is seldom accomplished.

In the world where air pollution and airborne contaminants are a common occurrence, it is interesting to see how many individuals, maintenance companies, contractors and IAQ professionals under estimate the ability to control the levels of these contaminants. The initial plan often include using the least expensive filters or filtration device as many mistakenly believe one type of air filter is as good as another. This is seldom true.

One of the common mistakes is to only look at the particles we can see with the naked eye as the harmful contaminants. The irony is that particles you can see with the naked eye are about 20 microns or larger. Most of the particles that are harmful or that are aspirated into the lungs are less than 10 microns in size. These tiny particles are not easily trapped in general duty filter media, which are typically the type used when attempting to provide a cleaner environment.

Most HVAC systems use filter racks located in return air grills. These are normally the place for standard pleated media or ring panel filters and typically have a low MERV rating. (usually  MERV 5 to 7) These air filters will capture almost all of the 20 micron particles but their efficiency drops off dramatically as the size of the particles gets smaller. The other variable to take into consideration is the resistance of the filters relative to their overall efficiency.

The standard air filters used in most HVAC systems have a lower efficiency but also a lower pressure drop or resistance. This is important in the scheme of things as putting in a more resistant filter would reduce the air flow. On the up side though, they would be more effective in removing the harmful airborne contaminants.

HEPA filters are extremely effective at removing very high percentages of extremely small particles, those particles that are truly harmful. Their standard efficiency is 99.97% at o.3 microns. For comparison, the standard air filters used in most HVAC systems are approximately 15% to 20% effective at removing these tiny particles and that only takes place close to the time they have to be replaced.

Because of the design of HEPA filters, they are normally part of a system or package that also includes another blower/motor assembly to assist in moving the air across the HEPA as well as picking up the additional resistance across the filter. For this reason most HEPA filter systems are attached in a partial bypass mode to the HVAC ducting systems so no additional resistance is added to the entire air handling unit.

Pure Air Systems has been making HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems for over 26 years. They have a HEPA system that will work for any type of environment and any kind of HVAC system. Even for areas where no ventilation systems exist. For more information on their complete line of HEPA and Carbon based units please go to their website at: www.pureairsystems.com or on Twitter @pureairsystems. You can also call them on their toll free line. 800-869-8025.

For the past 20 years or so the term “thinking outside the box” has become ubiquitous in the meeting rooms of most corporations, small businesses, schools and universities. Most of the time it refers to thinking differently or looking at a problem from a totally different angle or point of view. Like many terms that have a unique beginning and meaning but through over use become less relevant, like “paradigm shift,” thinking outside the box is quickly following that path.

The question then is what is the next step in thought process beyond “outside the box?” The title of this blog would indicate  that we eliminate the box altogether. If that is the case then what do we call this new form of thought process if there is no box? How about “augmented reality” or “augmented thinking?”  Does it matter? How about just listening to your customers and providing the type of products and services they want and need?

If you look at the list of companies that are still in business after 25 years you realize they have done something right to be around that long. Consistently performing up to and often exceeding customers needs would be one really important part of this “longevity” equation. After all, it is difficult to be in business long term without having repeat business and a constant stream of new business. It isn’t luck….its listening.

Today, your customers have a multitude of methods of providing you feedback on your products and service. All too often we get caught up in our own success and forget that the reason for the constant stream of customers is our ability to get it right 99% of the time. When we take that for granted everyone loses. With the tremendous impact of “social media” in our society, there is no reason you should not have a pulse on the buying tendencies of your target market. You mess up they will tell you and 500 of their closest friends. Of course, when you get it right….the message is also relayed to their followers. Instantly.

Pure Air Systems has been in business since 1985. For over 26 years it has been providing some of the highest quality, best performing HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems in the world. The PAS systems use the most advanced digitally controlled, ECM motor systems available along with commercial grade, certified HEPA filters and carbon media housed in heavy gauge, powder coated steel enclosures.

In 1995 Pure Air Systems developed its first website. Shortly thereafter an email system was introduced and then eventually a Facebook and Twitter account along with this blog were added. Customers have the ability to ask specific questions about their individual IAQ problems and convey their feedback on any aspect of the PAS products or their performance, using any of the aforementioned social media programs.

Customers will tell you what they need and expect from your company. You need to have a process in place to evaluate their current needs and ascertain if you can meet them or need to modify, change or alter your current product and service programs to accommodate their current and future needs. Pure Air Systems does.

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

If you go to the comments section of any article published on-line that discusses the plight of the American manufacturing machine you find people complaining bitterly about the fact that nothing is made here anymore. In truth, the vast majority of major products are made here in the US. However, almost all of the consumer electronics and most of the general duty appliances are made outside the U.S., and therein lies the problem.

If you use a cell phone, computer of any style or type, tablet or other digital communication device, more than likely it is manufactured overseas. Yes, many of these companies, like Apple, are based right here in the U.S, but they have their devices made some place else. Small appliances also fit into the same category. Yet, it is interesting to note, consumers may complain about the perceived lack of American made products, but they will purchase the imported brands even if there is a similar product that is actually made right here. The main reason…price. Over time people have rationalized that one companies product is the same as another companies product and therefore price is the deciding factor.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing commercial grade, certified HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. These units were and still are made right here in the USA. In 1989 PAS began putting “Made in the USA” stickers on each unit. It was our way of telling people this product was fabricated from all US made components. The intent was to assure the public that we were not importing the products from overseas.

Over the years a number of  U.S. based companies offered alternate air filtration technology based systems that in some case competed with our smaller units. The majority of these systems were fabricated overseas and they were usually of a lesser quality but also considerably less expensive than our systems. And even though PAS has repeatedly shown to meet or exceed the performance requirements of our customers, many individuals and some companies continue to purchase the imported products.

Today, Pure Air Systems continues to manufacture all of its systems here in the U.S. Some of the electrical components and a few mechanical components are fabricated overseas as these required parts are no longer made in the U.S. However, our products are still some of the most powerful, effective and sophisticated HEPA air filtration systems made today. Customers from around the world now use our filtration systems and our reputation for quality and performance is seldom challenged.

There is no doubt, that companies around the world have access to the same technologies and components and the need to continue improving our products has never been greater. However, we will never sacrifice quality and performance for price. We know what is required to provide our customers with the best available air filtration technology and they rely on us to maintain that premise.

For more information on our complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration products please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com or follow us on Twitter @pureairsystems or go to our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pureairsystems.