Blog Tag: pathogens

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.

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.