Blog Tag: pollen

Most people who suffer from allergies caused by grass, ragweed, tree pollen or animal dander connect with this allergen through ingestion through their nose or mouth. All of these allergens are airborne and whether you are inside a home, building, school or other indoor environment avoiding the outdoors will not protect you from breathing in these tiny, airborne particles.

Often you will see pollen residue on a table outside or even on windows in your car. However, much of the airborne particulate are smaller than 20 microns which makes them invisible to see with the naked eye. These  tiny particles are carried into the home or building on your clothes as you transport them from one location to another. Then when you walk or move you shake off the allergen particles and they become airborne again which brings them into the air for you to inhale…..again.

Home air filters or furnace filters are not capable of removing these small, sub-micron sized particles. Only HEPA filters will actually remove these tiny airborne particles and the best solution for your home is to install a whole-house HEPA system from Pure Air Systems.

PAS has been making whole-house HEPA filtration systems since 1985 and is the leader in producing a wide range of fan powered, commercial grade, HEPA air filtration systems that use variable speed drive blower/motor units which allow for use as part of your HVAC system or as stand-alone units where you can control the fan speed in 1% increments up to  100% of fan speed.

These systems come with a scanned 99.99% commercial grade HEPA systems, a ring panel prefilter and a true Carbon filter. The PAS housings are all metal as is the blower. Typical life span of these systems is 15 to 20 years.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon filters please go to our website at:  https://www.pureairsystems.com or call us on our toll-free number at: 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..

When we hear the term “fresh air” we often think about being outside next to the ocean feeling the breeze or on top of a mountain breathing the cool, crisp air. Or, when you are stuck indoors in a building or home for long periods of time you might say, “I’m going outside to get some fresh air.” If we really believe the air is better outside, why do we spend so much time indoors? And, more importantly, what is fresh air?

In reality the term “Fresh Air” is really a misnomer. While it is true that air outdoors is not prone to have that “stale air” smell you have indoors due to lack of ventilation, the levels of airborne contaminants and gaseous molecules outdoors is often not any lower. Yes, that is correct. Depending upon where you are outdoors the levels of harmful airborne particulate and gaseous pollutants can be extremely high.

You already know that during the spring and fall of the year various grasses, weeds, trees, etc. produce pollen of all sorts creating significant allergic reactions and health problems. Is this fresh air? You are outside…aren’t you? Or if you are in a downtown area of a large city you can sometimes feel some stinging in you eyes and throat. That’s usually caused by the high levels of gases such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and hydrocarbons from all the vehicles. Of course you also have all the airborne particulate that is produced by tires grinding dirt into sub-micron particles. So now that we have identified fresh air let’s take a look at the process of using outside air for ventilation and reduction of CO2 in homes and buildings.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based fan powered, commercial grade air filtration systems since 1985. These units were not only designed to filter the air in a room, home or commercial facility but also to concurrently introduce small amounts of outside air and filter that air prior to introducing it to the indoor environment. As we mentioned before, the term fresh air is really a misnomer. Unless the outside air source is filtered prior to mixing with the indoor environment, it is not fresh air.

The PAS product line is capable of introducing high percentages of outside air that is filtered by three different medias. First there is a polyester dual-layer ring panel filter that is designed to take out the larger particles. Second the carbon media removes many of the odors and gases. Third, is the HEPA filter itself which is a certified HEPA rated at 99.99% removal of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. This three stage filtration ensures that any outside air will be in actuality, “Fresh Filtered Air.”

So the next time you hear the term fresh air remember there are levels of fresh air and you need to make sure that you use the right filtration process to ensure you and your family are breathing fresh air.

For more information on this concept and the complete product line offered by PAS please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. You can also contact us on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

In 1662 the “Book of Common Prayer” was written an one of the prayers in the book was dedicated to burial services.  The prayer is four lines long but part of it reads “….we therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. It’s interesting that this part of the burial service prayer is the most often used in TV, movies and books when showing a burial scene or describing one in print. It’s also interesting to note that all things that die and have died and that have decomposed above ground and turned into dust are still with us.

All this dust keeps getting pushed around by the winds. It continues to get smaller as it comes in contact with a solid object or another particle when it is picked up by the wind. These particles are so small that they can’t be seen with the naked eye ( usually less than 20 microns in size, your hair is 100 microns in diameter ) but they are there none the less. Many of these particles are in the sub-micron range, meaning they are less than 1 micron in diameter. These small particles are easily inhaled and a large percentage of them can be trapped in the mucus membranes and lungs. And, these particles can create havoc with your respiratory system.

People that suffer from allergies due to exposure to ragweed, pollen, grasses and other airborne allergens are much more susceptible to reacting to other airborne particulate that may not necessarily be one of their known allergens. This may be why allergy sufferers who get shots or take anti-histamines may still have their allergic symptoms. For these individuals being outside, especially during the warmer weather, can be a problem. Even being indoors doesn’t always help as these fine particles are brought in on their clothing and through any communications between the outdoors and inside.

To remove these fine particles from the air in your home you will need to use air filtration systems or filters that can trap and contain these finer, smaller particles. While there are a number filtration and air purifying systems available on the market today, only HEPA based filtration systems can really remove the smaller, sub-micron particulate.

Pure Air Systems has been making commercial grade, certified, HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. They have thousands of systems installed in commercial, residential, industrial, institutional and medical facilities around the world. Their wide range of HEPA filtration platforms allows you to select the filtration system that fits your specific needs. Whether you want to install the systems as part of your HVAC unit or use it as a stand-alone filtration device PAS units will meet your requirements.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or call us at: 800-869-8025.

William Bendix was first introduced as the bumbling husband who was a riveter for an Aircraft company in California. It is somewhat of an oxymoron that the show was called the Life of Riley, which really refers to someone with money and who has few cares in the world. Riley’s life was just the opposite. Money was always an issue and he had challenges with all of his friends and especially his wife Babs. Riley’s famous line was, ” What a revoltin development this is!” You have to hand it to him, he was honest to a fault.

We all like our lives to be simple, with minimal challenges and drama and yet sometimes the simplest thing will interrupt our perfect world. Like going outside in the Spring time to enjoy the beautiful weather after a nasty winter only to find that the pollen and ragweed levels have gone through the roof. Or all that rain you had to help your drought stricken lawn after a hot dry summer has found its way into a small hole in the roof and now water is in the walls of your house and so is the mold.

Changes that affect our health seem to be more challenging than most other problems we incur. The people at Pure Air Systems understand these issues. With over 25 years of experience in dealing with hundreds of different airborne pollutant problems and installing  thousands of air filtration systems installed around the world, PAS has the answer to your allergy or air pollution problem.

Beginning in 1985, Pure Air Systems started manufacturing commercial grade, certified HEPA based air filtration systems for the residential, commercial and institutional markets. Today, PAS is considered one of the leaders in high performance HEPA and Carbon based, fan powered air filtration systems. Their system range in air volume from 50 CFM to 2000 CFM. The new, smaller portable unit can produce over 400 CFM from a unit only 13″ high and 21″ long. The larger systems can either be attached to an existing HVAC system or used as stand-alone units.

The combination of employing  HEPA filters, Carbon media and polyester ring-panel prefilters makes these systems some of the most effective in the world in removing and reducing high levels of sub-micron particulate, odors and gases. In addition, the motors used in the PAS systems are rated 120/240 volt, 50/60 Hz so they can be used in commercial applications and are completely adaptable to all the electrical systems used around the world.

For more information about the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please go to our website at: https://www.pureairsystems.com

This set up line for a joke is iconic.  Anybody who has ever heard a joke or told a joke knows one of these “three guys walk into a bar” type jokes. As soon as someone starts to use this style of humor you automatically think of one you heard recently or like to tell. And, sometimes you can guess the punch line even before the joke is told….making this type of set up a powerful memory trigger .

For many people these “trigger” or ” anticipation” moments are not of the humorous type but based  more on fear or concern. For example, take someone who has severe allergies to pollen, ragweed, grasses, etc. When Spring approaches and they start to see flowers blooming and trees and grass growing they anticipate that they will start having the typical allergy symptoms of itching eyes, running nose, sinus pressure and and all around crappy feeling.

Sometimes just watching the news at night and seeing the projected pollen count for the next few days can trigger an emotional response that almost mimics the physical symptom response. This person knows that even with the over the counter allergy medications or shoots from the allergist, as long as the grasses and trees are growing they will suffer.

Allergy medications tend to make people groggy and have difficulty concentrating on anything. This is why for most allergy sufferers the best solution to minimizing the suffering is to stay indoors preferably with the air conditioning running. And, when possible use some form of air filtration or air purifying device to assist  in removing the airborne allergens and particulate.

Pure Air Systems has been making HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985 and has thousands of its systems installed in homes, hospitals, commercial buildings, high tech manufacturing and specialty applications. For many of the homeowners the HEPA systems significantly help to minimize or eliminate that allergy “trigger” so the individual can be comfortable not suffer even when they watch the news and the ever climbing pollen count projections.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA, Carbon and air filtration products available from Pure  Air Systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com

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

Spring! The time of year when all the flowers bloom, the leave come out on the trees and the lawn needs to be cut three times a week due to the spring rain. Whether you use a push power mower or ride on one the amount of particulate that is cast into the air during the cutting process is amazing. Even if you use a bagger on your super-duper, riding, turn on a dime, mower, you really should wear a mask when cutting the grass.

Aside from small grass particles being thrown into the air around you there are particles that contain some of the lawn fertilizer you spread on the grass to make it green and grow thick. And, when you mow over weeds or dandelions you take the risk of throwing a number of potential allergens into your breathing space.

When it comes to the type of mask you should wear, we are not talking about a bio-chemical warfare type mask, but a good dust mask like the ones used when sanding wood. They are available at  any hardware or discount store and many can be reused. The mask should fit comfortably over your nose and mouth and have an adjustable elastic strap for proper tension on your face. It should also have a minimal amount of resistance when you breathe so it doesn’t create a labored breathing problem. There are hundreds of masks available on line but the ones you purchase at Walmart work very well.

For people with allergies, hay fever and asthma wearing a mask when cutting grass or working anywhere in your yard is a must. Even if you are not doing any work just walking around the yard all types of grass and plant spores are coming out especially in the spring.  And if your neighbors lawn is being sprayed with some form of fertilizer/pesticide then you must wear the mask if you are near the sprayed yard for at least a few days after application.

This may sound like over kill but on a warm spring day the small, micron sized particles from the plants become airborne and will hang in the air for a long time. Also, don’t forget to brush off your clothing before entering the house. Much of the pollen and grass spores will cling to your clothing and you will take them into the house unless you brush off your shirt and pants.

If you do have allergies or asthma you also have the option of using some form of air filtration system in your home. Pure Air Systems has been making HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. For information on the complete line of HEPA and other types of filtration systems offered  by PAS please go to their website at: www.pureairsystems.com

Of all the environmental processes that can create allergic reactions in humans, nature’s own products:  pollen and ragweed, are among the most prolific. While most people avoid close proximity to known, man-made allergy producing substances and effluents, it is impossible ( unless you never go outside) to avoid contact with these two allergens.

With the exception of living 11,000 feet above sea level, there are flowering plants, grasses, trees, and crops everywhere you go. Pollen and ragweed and other airborne particles are most prominent during the Spring and Summer months but can be an issue all year long in some parts of the US.

Once the flowers, grasses, trees and crops start to grow you can, during some times of the day, actually see the pollen floating in the air or deposited on the surface of a car parked outside. These particles ( 20 microns in size or larger) are more prominent since they can be seen with the naked eye. However, these airborne allergens can also be in the 5 to 10 micron range which would make them invisible to the naked eye.

These airborne particles are easily carried by light winds and on especially dry days they can travel for miles. In addition, these pollen and ragweed particles have a rough surface and will cling to or stick to almost any type of clothing and also your hair and skin.

If you are one of those people that suffer from allergic reactions to pollen and ragweed then you need to make sure you practice the following preventative measures.

First. If you are wearing a jacket or sweater or any type of outdoor protective clothing remove them outside before entering your home or residence. You may want to brush them off (keep you mouth closed and try not to breathe when doing this) and or shake gently. This will remove most of the particles from the clothing.

Second. DO NOT BRING THE CLOTHES INSIDE! Find a place outside in your garage or outside entry way wear you can store these clothes. Brushing or shaking the clothes will not remove all the pollen or ragweed. This can only be accomplished by washing or dry cleaning the items.

Third. If you do bring the clothes inside don’t hang them or place them next to other jackets or clothing. The pollen will easily transfer to the clean clothes.  Anytime you move, shake or hang these clothes some of the particles will fall off and either fall to the floor or become airborne again.

Fourth. Get a good air filtration system for your home or bedroom and make sure your furnace air filters are replaced often.

Pure Air Systems offers a complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems for both whole-house filtration or single room applications. These filters are designed to remove all the airborne particles that may cause respiratory issues or allergies. In addition, PAS has a complete line of furnace filters that are specifically designed to capture the smaller particles without challenging the performance of your HVAC system.

For more information our product line please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com