Indoor Air Purifiers: Home and Office Settings
Air purifiers have been used in the medical field for many decades. In recent years, they have been made available to consumers for the home and office environments. Here are our most frequently asked questions about indoor air purification:
Which product lines do you carry?
AAA Aircare Systems is an authorized dealer of Austin Air and Aireox products. These two product lines are known for high quality air filtration units with warranties that guarantee long-term satisfaction.
What are the warranties?
The motor, fan, and other working parts are guaranteed for 5 years.
What exactly is a HEPA filter?
The HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter was developed by the US Atomic Energy Commission to filter out sub-micron particles. All True Medical HEPA is laser-tested and must remove a minimum of 99.97% of all particulate matter greater than 0.3 microns in size. A human hair is about 300 times too large to penetrate a HEPA filter.
What is activated carbon?
Activated carbon is effective at removing gas molecules and odors. Activated carbon is the most common element in military gas masks. The most common method of activating carbon is a two-stage steaming process, which enlarges the carbon’s surface pore size. This in turn produces a more accessible internal surface area allowing for greater odor and gas adsorption.
What is Zeolite?
Zeolite is a natural mineral that has the distinct capability of adsorbing certain gas molecules. Zeolite is particularly effective in adsorbing formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide.
What do I need to know about maintenance?
No maintenance is required with the air purifiers other than filter replacement and cleaning on the external surface with a damp cloth when necessary. (Do not use harsh cleaners) Do Not Clean filter cartridge with water, although you can vacuum it, if needed, to remove excess dust.
How many filters are inside the *Austin Air* purifiers?
There are three filter mediums in the Austin Air units, although two of them are combined into one filter drum. This means there will be two filter components that need to be replaced in maintaining the units. The first filter is a pre-filter (known as Permafilt ) which is a cotton cloth that lines the inside wall of the unit. The purpose of the pre-filter is to stop hair or large dust particles from clogging the HEPA filter. In the HealthMate the main filter is comprised of two filter medium: activated granular carbon/zeolite mixture and True Medical HEPA paper. In the AllergyMachine there is the True Medical HEPA and the military carbon cloth filter known as HEGA.
What would cause an *Austin Air* filter drum to fill up in less than 5 years?
Using the air cleaner in an area having many pets, new carpeting, paint fumes, heavy smoking, urban pollution, photo studio, etc will diminish the filter’s life. The Austin Air unit has a pre-filter that needs to be replaced yearly.
How do I know when the *Austin Air* filter drum is full and should be replaced?
There are two ways to know. First, if you smell a unpleasant odor coming from the unit, the carbon is probably full. Second, if you notice a significantly reduced airflow, it is probably time to replace your filter.
How many filters are inside the *Aireox* purifiers?
There are two filter mediums in the Aireox units, although they are combined into one filter drum. The B-Model 45 purifier contains an activated coconut shell carbon and half micron particle filter. The D-Model 45 purifier is formulated specially for those with chemical sensitivity, and contains an activated coconut shell carbon/purafil mix and half micron particle filter. The D-Model 45 is formulated to remove mold spores, formaldehyde, and irritating gases. Both units will remove dust, bacteria, smog, pollens, and other particles.
How often do the Aireox filters need to be replaced?
Aireox filters should be changed yearly to maintain proper filtration and ensure longevity of the motor.
Where should I place the unit for maximum effectiveness?
It can be placed anywhere in a room, including corners, but must be at least four (4) inches from the wall to give consistent effective results. The air cleaner should be placed in the bedroom at night with the door closed in order to produce the best personal results. The best room in the house to use a single machine is the bedroom.
Is the air cleaner noisy to operate?
Depending on the fan setting used, the noise level ranges from less than 50 to 65 decibels, or from the sound of a whisper to the sound of a normal conversation.
How much square footage do the units cover?
Please call to discuss your particular space configurations for optimal performance with the correct air purifier.
What if I am Chemically Sensitive (MCS)?
The Aireox product is specially designed for the chemically sensitive. There are no sealants used in these products. Aireox uses special zero-outgassing cords and long lasting zero-outgassing paint.
AAA Aircare Systems is an authorized dealer of Austin Air and Aireox products. These two product lines are known for high quality air filtration units with warranties that guarantee long-term satisfaction.
What are the warranties?
The motor, fan, and other working parts are guaranteed for 5 years.
What exactly is a HEPA filter?
The HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter was developed by the US Atomic Energy Commission to filter out sub-micron particles. All True Medical HEPA is laser-tested and must remove a minimum of 99.97% of all particulate matter greater than 0.3 microns in size. A human hair is about 300 times too large to penetrate a HEPA filter.
What is activated carbon?
Activated carbon is effective at removing gas molecules and odors. Activated carbon is the most common element in military gas masks. The most common method of activating carbon is a two-stage steaming process, which enlarges the carbon’s surface pore size. This in turn produces a more accessible internal surface area allowing for greater odor and gas adsorption.
What is Zeolite?
Zeolite is a natural mineral that has the distinct capability of adsorbing certain gas molecules. Zeolite is particularly effective in adsorbing formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide.
What do I need to know about maintenance?
No maintenance is required with the air purifiers other than filter replacement and cleaning on the external surface with a damp cloth when necessary. (Do not use harsh cleaners) Do Not Clean filter cartridge with water, although you can vacuum it, if needed, to remove excess dust.
How many filters are inside the *Austin Air* purifiers?
There are three filter mediums in the Austin Air units, although two of them are combined into one filter drum. This means there will be two filter components that need to be replaced in maintaining the units. The first filter is a pre-filter (known as Permafilt ) which is a cotton cloth that lines the inside wall of the unit. The purpose of the pre-filter is to stop hair or large dust particles from clogging the HEPA filter. In the HealthMate the main filter is comprised of two filter medium: activated granular carbon/zeolite mixture and True Medical HEPA paper. In the AllergyMachine there is the True Medical HEPA and the military carbon cloth filter known as HEGA.
What would cause an *Austin Air* filter drum to fill up in less than 5 years?
Using the air cleaner in an area having many pets, new carpeting, paint fumes, heavy smoking, urban pollution, photo studio, etc will diminish the filter’s life. The Austin Air unit has a pre-filter that needs to be replaced yearly.
How do I know when the *Austin Air* filter drum is full and should be replaced?
There are two ways to know. First, if you smell a unpleasant odor coming from the unit, the carbon is probably full. Second, if you notice a significantly reduced airflow, it is probably time to replace your filter.
How many filters are inside the *Aireox* purifiers?
There are two filter mediums in the Aireox units, although they are combined into one filter drum. The B-Model 45 purifier contains an activated coconut shell carbon and half micron particle filter. The D-Model 45 purifier is formulated specially for those with chemical sensitivity, and contains an activated coconut shell carbon/purafil mix and half micron particle filter. The D-Model 45 is formulated to remove mold spores, formaldehyde, and irritating gases. Both units will remove dust, bacteria, smog, pollens, and other particles.
How often do the Aireox filters need to be replaced?
Aireox filters should be changed yearly to maintain proper filtration and ensure longevity of the motor.
Where should I place the unit for maximum effectiveness?
It can be placed anywhere in a room, including corners, but must be at least four (4) inches from the wall to give consistent effective results. The air cleaner should be placed in the bedroom at night with the door closed in order to produce the best personal results. The best room in the house to use a single machine is the bedroom.
Is the air cleaner noisy to operate?
Depending on the fan setting used, the noise level ranges from less than 50 to 65 decibels, or from the sound of a whisper to the sound of a normal conversation.
How much square footage do the units cover?
Please call to discuss your particular space configurations for optimal performance with the correct air purifier.
What if I am Chemically Sensitive (MCS)?
The Aireox product is specially designed for the chemically sensitive. There are no sealants used in these products. Aireox uses special zero-outgassing cords and long lasting zero-outgassing paint.