Are there residential air cleaning and purifying products that are as good as those used in hospitals and health care facilities?

There are several residential models of air purifiers and cleaners that are just as effective as the system wide treatment products used in hospitals and health care settings. Home systems can be used for treatment of individual rooms or the entire home, depending on the location of the system and what is required. In general air purifiers and cleaners with HEPA filters are a good start and combining HEPA filters with UV light in air purifiers and cleaners will provide the same level of control that hospitals and clinical settings use.

For controlling the smaller allergens that may go through a HEPA type of filter, UV light is really the most effective option. These types of allergy treatment programs can remove any organic types of matter from the air and literally destroy it before it causes any allergic reactions.

Can your air conditioning unit actually be causing allergy problems?

Molds, mildew, bacteria, yeast and other potential spore producing fungi can and do live in the air conditioning coils and drains of your air conditioning unit. These contaminants and allergens then are right within the unit, blowing out through your home every time the air conditioner comes on. The conditions around the coils are ideal for growth of these types of microorganisms since it is dark, wet and warm. UV light systems that provide cycles of UV light to the air conditioner coils kill both the spores as well as the adult organisms. Typically this results in a very quick decrease in the amount of allergens in the home or building, often with very dramatic positive health results.

Is Hay Fever the same as an allergy and what is the treatment?

Hay fever is a type of allergic reaction, typically to dust, smoke and pollen. Like any other type of allergy, reducing the contaminants that trigger the hay fever is the best way to avoid any complications as the symptoms of the allergy. Since HEPA filters, UV light treatment or a combination of both will remove dust, pollen and some smoke from the air they are great options. Active carbon and other types of filters can also be added to completely remove smoke, VOC's and other irritants that may be triggering the reaction.

What information proves that air cleaners and purifiers can help with allergy treatment and prevention?

There have been several studies done on the effectiveness of UV light types of air cleaners and purifiers in different buildings, hospitals and facilities. McGill University recently completed a study in November of 2003 that indicated that the use of UV germicidal lights resulted in a 20% decrease workers calling in sick and a 40% overall decrease in respiratory problems reported by those working in the building.

In addition HEPA filters have long been used in air purifiers and cleaners in hospital settings and can effectively remove 99.9% of all contaminants in the air that are 0.3 microns and larger.

Do the UV bulbs in UV air purifiers ever need to be cleaned or dusted, if so how can I do that safely?

In general a UV air purifier system should not need to have the bulbs cleaned on any type of routine basis. This is because in some systems there are filters that the air passes through before reaching the bulbs that actually remove most of the larger dust particles and other microscopic particles that may be present. Even in those UV air purifiers that don't have pre-bulb filters the UV rays from the light will actually degrade the particles over time, literally self-cleaning the surface. In some instances if oil from someone's hands or any other type of adhesive material gets on the bulbs, clean with a soft cloth and a solution of 99% alcohol. Always use a lint free cloth and only clean when necessary.

What does UV actually mean and can UV be seen by the naked eye?

UV air purifiers use a technology known as ultraviolet light. This is a naturally occurring light in the spectrum that is beyond what the human eye can detect. UVC is the type of UV light used in ultraviolet air purifier systems. It is also known as short wave UV and is the most effective at killing germs, molds, viruses, bacteria and other type of naturally occurring and man-made types of contaminants. Another common term for UVC is UVGI which stands for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. This type of UV, UVC or UVGI is potentially harmful to any living organism, including humans. Exposure to UVC light can have serious health effects as it does destroy organic material including DNA within individual cells. High levels of safety back-ups such as infrared motion detectors and LED displays that show the cycle of room type UV air purifiers make this advanced technology both safe and efficient for a wide range of home and facility applications.

If I already use a filter system in my home or office air conditioner, do I still need to consider a UV air purifier?

Standard filters, including HEPA filters and activated carbon filters are a good way to eliminate odors and some types of allergens and irritants from the air. However, they are not designed nor do they claim to remove the smallest particles, many which are the most problematic. Viruses, bacteria and even mold spores are simply too small to be trapped by these types of filters. UV air purifiers can be used in conjunction with other filtration systems to provide a very comprehensive improvement to indoor air quality. Filters are helpful in making the ultraviolet air purifier even more efficient as they remove the dust particles that the germs may be on. This then allows the UV light to immediately start destroying or deactivating the target microorganism. Some of the newer portable types of UV air purifiers incorporate all three types of air treatments, HEPA filters, activated charcoal and then UV light for fast and efficient cleaning.

Do all buildings have mold but not all people are actually sensitive enough to have respiratory and health problems due to mold in the enviroment?

In general all buildings and facilities, including private homes, schools, hospitals, long term care facilities, prisons, offices and stores all have some level of mold and mold spores in the air. UV air purifiers, if used either as stand alone units are as part of the HVAC air system in the building can significantly reduce the number of mold spores and mold colonies in any given building or room.

UV air purifiers are really essential in HVAC systems as they work to eliminate mold, yeast and bacteria from developing in the air conditioning coils. The drain pans and coils are an ideal location for these contaminants to grow as the area is dark, moist and typically very warm. Without the use of air purifiers with UV lights, these coils and the drains around them produce huge amounts of airborne spores and contaminants that are then blown throughout the building with the warm or cool air.

Not all molds in the air are harmful but it definitely is problematic for individuals. UV air purifiers reduce the viable spores, ensuring that the mold cannot grow and form new colonies, dramatically reducing the respiratory problems within a few weeks of use.

Can UV air purifiers reduce or eliminate black mold?

Black mold is considered to be the most problematic of all the molds, resulting in serious health complications and long term health effects with constant exposure. The correct name for black mold is Aspergillus Niger, and UV air purifiers that use high power UV lights are considered to be essential in completely remediating homes, office buildings and other facilities that have been found to have been contaminated with black mold.

It is also important to note that according to the Environmental Protection Agency exposure to molds and other irritants and contaminants in the air can actually not be seen immediately, but may cause serious health complications in later years. The length of exposure over time combined with the type of contaminant as well as any pre-existing respiratory or health conditions will all affect how significantly poor air quality impacts an individual.

What are other common molds besides black mold that UV air purifiers can reduce or eliminate?

There are several different types of molds that can be eradicated through the use of an ultraviolet air purifier. Two common types of molds and fungal spores found in indoor air are Penicillium italicum and Cladosporium. Penicillium italicum is a plant type of fungus that is often found as the bluish green fungus growing on citrus fruits that have spoiled. Cladosporium has 40 different species that are typically found in rotting organic matter such as plants and wood materials as well as soil. Both of these types of molds can produce very extreme reactions in those with respiratory problems or related allergies. Using UV air purifiers to prohibit the growth of spores and reduce existing colonies is essential to cut down on respiratory problems.