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.

There is no need to completely install a new system if you wish to use a UV air cleaner such as the UV Air Cleaner 4400 or any other HVAC UV air cleaner. This is because the systems are all designed for retrofitting, simply requiring an installation in the air conditioning coils to eliminate the molds, bacteria, yeast and other contaminants that are found in those damp, humid and warm conditions. These systems are designed to work with either exterior-mounted types of UV air cleaners or mounted directly, which is called nested, into the existing system. The design of the UV air cleaners allows a full range of light 360 degrees around the unit, providing a very comprehensive air sterilization process.

Keep in mind that the UV air cleaners work on more than just the coil area. The HVAC system itself is kept clean including drip pans and drains. This ensures that spores from these traditional problem areas are not blown through the system and spread throughout the facility.

What about energy efficiency; doesn't the UV Air Cleaner 4400 or other types of UV air cleaner systems actually cost a lot to operate?

In virtually all cases the cost of the operation of the UV Air Cleaner 4400 or any other type of UV air cleaner system is going to be more than offset by the increase in indoor air quality, the increase in productivity on the job and the increase in efficiency of the HVAC system. This is because the system itself is not under attack from bacteria, yeast and molds that can inhibit cooling and efficiency, resulting in more electricity to keep the temperature managed.

UV air cleaner systems have been linked in studies by the EPA, McGill University, Journal of Asthma and the Air and Waste Management Association as dramatically reducing the cost of illness to companies, in some cases by as much as 20% with just a short study period.

How difficult is it to change out the UV lights in UV air cleaners?

New designs in soft glass UV lamps have made changing these lights a very simple and easy process that doesn't require any special tools or skills. Soft glass combines barium silicate as a surface treatment on the inside of the bulb, which allows the lamp to emit more UV even during continual use than traditional types of UV bulbs. In addition these bulbs don't produce ozone, making them a great option for use in any facility. Changing the bulbs in UV air cleaners is done about every 12 months, however there is no need to clean the bulbs between changes. They are changed just like a fluorescent bulb and should be disposed of in the same fashion. Hospitals or other medical facilities that require UV air cleaner systems for infectious disease control should change out the tubes more frequently as required by specific guidelines.

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.

In reality there are very few public buildings, private facilities and even private homes that would not benefit from some type of UV air sanitizer systems. The vast majority of buildings, regardless of their use will develop mold issues as well as airborne contaminants no matter how well kept and maintained they may be. The major problem with mold and airborne contaminants that may trigger respiratory problems or even increase the likelihood of viral and bacterial problems is that they are often found in areas that are not highly visible and areas that may not be cleaned on a regular basis. Leaving even a small area untreated can provide an opportunity for various types of microorganisms to continue to reproduce and spread, leading to reoccurring and highly drug resistant types of health concerns. Is it true that an ultraviolet air sanitizer can actually kill drug resistant Staphylococcus outbreaks? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA) is considered to be highly problematic in hospitals, detention facilities, schools, public buildings and even in gyms and other facilities. It is a type of bacteria that contributes to problems with infections in hospitals and in other public areas and it is very resistant to any type of drug treatment. It is also incredibly easy to transfer from patient or person to person, even a slight blemish or scratch on the surface of the skin can provide enough for the bacteria to enter the body and start causing significant health problems and even death in already ill individuals. UV air sanitizers have been proven in laboratory tests to be 99.9% effective at destroying the Staphylococcus aureas in approximate 5 minutes at a range of eight feet around the mobile UV air sanitizer. At the seventeen foot range the same high destruction percentage was noted at about the ten minute mark. This allows any room to be treated for the Staphylococcus aureas that may be present in the air, while alcohol wipes and disinfectant is equally as effective at treating it on surfaces. The duel action of surface cleaning plus UV air sanitizers is ideal for any type of area where Staph or other bacterial or viral diseases may be an issue. Don't air conditioners have filters and other types of cleaning options for treating the air? Many air conditioning systems do have filters; however they typically filter out only the very largest of the irritants and allergens that may be present in the air you breathe. Many people mistakenly believe that indoor air is actually clean, when in fact the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that indoor air can have two to five times the number of pollutants found in outdoor air. Ultraviolet air sanitizers kill the germs, bacteria, molds and the yeast that can also be found in the air, all which may contribute to respiratory problems, chronic illness and overall loss in productivity and health for everyone working or living within the facility or home.