Air Purifier Mold

✕ Just the other day I received an email from a contractor client who was working with a homeowner who is receiving assistance from the state of New York for an updated HVAC and IAQ system. New York state was asking this contractor to supply the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the HVAC IAQ system to qualify the homeowner for this assistance as part of the requirement for this customer's application. So, in turn, the contractor asked us for the CADR on our products that were being installed, which included a 24-V polarized media air cleaner and a high-output UVC/UVV system. Simple enough request, right? Well, not so simple! FRESH AIR FILTRATION: A P1000 with a 1-inch panel. (Courtesy of Dynamic Air Quality Solutions) First, let's give credit where credit is due. The only existing test that looks at an air cleaner's impact on particles in a room space over time is the ANSI/AHAM AC-1-2020, often called the CADR. This is aimed at testing stand-alone, plug-in air ...

✕ As a result of the increasing focus the world has on indoor air quality (IAQ), there has been a demand for better ventilation and filtration — how effective products are at ridding of harmful contaminants while bringing in clean, fresh air — and better decarbonization and electrification efforts that are necessitated by evolving energy and building code requirements. All this means that manufacturers have to adapt products to meet these standards or get rid of products that don't. On the trade show floor at the AHR Expo in Chicago, manufacturers discussed these trends and showcased some product offerings that meet the current needs (and standards and regulations) of IAQ in the HVAC industry and real-world applications. Code Requirements Regardless of what is going on in the IAQ marketplace, there is always a need for IAQ solutions — healthier air is always better, and always the goal. At the same time, energy codes and standards are affecting the way those IAQ solutions...

If you've ever used the words musty, muggy, dank, fuggy, wet, mildewy, or the dreaded moist to describe the air in your home, you may get relief from a dehumidifier. We say may because, though dehumidifiers do measurably dry the air, they have also long suffered from a shocking rate of mechanical failure. The problem spans multiple brands and years of testing (although we're cautiously hopeful after the first couple of years with the Midea Cube and its innovative design). With any dehumidifier, we also suggest addressing the causes of moisture-infiltration issues to improve your odds of long-term success. Our pick The huge drainage bucket in this powerful, effective, and reliable dehumidifier means fewer trips to the sink for emptying—but can also mean heavy lifting. Buying Options The Energy Star Most Efficient–rated, Wi-Fi–equipped Midea 50 Pint Cube is unique among 50-pint dehumidifiers in that it can collect 4.25 gallons of water—twice the typical amount. That means fewe...

CEO Niklas Skogster, with the Genano 350 indoor air decontaminator which weighs only 17 kilos and has a small footprint. According to a recent scientific study by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, air purification technology by indoor air purification specialists Genano can eliminate 99.999% of the bacteria and viruses in indoor air, removing ultrafine particles down to 0,003 µm. Genano's air decontaminators use a patented cold-plasma technology based on powerful electronic air purification without any physical filters. Contaminated air is led inside the unit, where the negatively charged particles are attached to the positive collection surface. The particles are then destroyed with high voltage corona discharges. In the last step a 3-layer active carbon collector removes VOC gases and odours. Niklas Skogster, CEO of Genano, said: "As the study conducted by VTT shows, the outgoing air is completely free from particles of all sizes, microbes, harm...

Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in moist environments and can cause serious health problems, including respiratory diseases, fatigue, and headaches. Air purifiers may help remove common allergens like mold from the air , providing relief for people with allergies or chronic asthma. They can also aid in removing harmful particles in the air caused by smoke , which can occur during wildfires. While air purifiers can eliminate up to 99.97% of air particles (which can drastically improve the air quality of your home), it's important to note that even the best air purifiers can't completely remove all mold spores or particles from the air. Stanley Fineman, MD, a board-certified allergist and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology spokesperson, says mold results from humidity or moisture issues . Air filtration is generally not considered effective in removing mold. Humidity and moisture remediation are the best methods for handling this type of problem ....

Pestered by pollens and pervasive airborne particulates in spring? Filtration products can help by capturing these airborne particles Ah, springtime! There's something in the air…pollen?!   While green grass, budding leaves, and plants and flowers emerging from the ground may be welcome sights, they can also usher in a spike in airborne allergens.  The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently released its 20th annual Top 20 Allergy Capitals list for 2023. Tree and grass pollen scores are among several factors AAFA considers for its annual rankings. Wichita, Kansas received the dubious honors of top ranking. Florida has seven cities in the top 20 rankings. Oklahoma has two cities in the top five spots.   In its 2023 list news release, AAFA noted that since it began identifying allergy capitals 20 years ago, pollen counts have been rising as growing seasons lengthen, which leads to higher pollen concentrations i...

✔️ Type and capacity: For pitchers, water bottles and other dispensers that hold water after it's filtered, you'll want to keep in mind size and weight. Larger containers are ideal for refilling less often, but they will often be heavier and may take up more space in the fridge or your backpack. A countertop model saves space in the refrigerator and often holds more water, but it requires room on the counter and will be room temperature water. With under-the-sink water filters, faucet filters, shower filters and whole-house filters, there's no need to worry about size or capacity as these instantaneously filter water as it flows through. ✔️ Filtration method: One thing to note is that many filters incorporate multiple filter types to achieve various contaminant removal. With some, the contaminants they remove can vary widely, so it's best to check what the model actually filters, so it suits your needs. The surest way to determine this is by checking which NSF standard...

Participating in the WELL Building Standard ratings system is prompting building owners to increase levels of outdoor air in commercial towers. (photo: BusinessWire) It's well-known among mechanical engineers that outdoor air can mitigate airborne contaminants, but introducing unconditioned air is energy intensive. Therefore, how much outdoor air is enough to mitigate an indoor air quality (IAQ) situation such as a pandemic, or offset daily airborne CO2 or volatile organic compounds (VOC) without raising operating costs? Many organizations are studying this unknown, and the WELL Building Institute, a fairly new building certification geared toward comprehensive occupant health, safety, and well-being, might suggest helpful strategies. The WELL Health Safety Seal is an emblem a building displays that confirms it has achieved the WELL Building Standard (WELL) rating. The seal and the standard are programs created by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) which was for...

Nordic Pure's MERV 12 filters are not the only products that meet all our criteria, but they are perfectly good examples, and they're usually competitively priced and easy to find online. We like that they're genuinely MERV-certified, because unlike the proprietary ratings used by some bigger-name brands, the MERV criteria are publicly available. Being rated MERV 12, the Nordic Pures will remove at least 35 percent of particles in the 0.3-to-1.0-micron range, which includes bacteria and smoke; at least 80 percent of 1.0-to-3.0-micron particles, which include fine dust and soot; and at least 90 percent of larger pollen, dust, pet hair, and lint particles. Again, MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, so this is the worst performance measured during third-party testing to the ASHRAE 52.2 standard. And again: the MERV test measures a single pass of polluted air through the filter. In your home, the air will continuously recirculate when your HVAC system is, leadin...