Air quality is only a concern outdoors, isn’t it?
Not really. While it’s easy to focus on visible pollutants…smokestacks…vehicle exhaust, etc., the air inside your home can be even more hazardous to your health. And, studies have estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. Even though they are invisible to the naked eye, billions of tiny particles of dust, smoke, pollen, animal dander and microscopic dust mites can literally cover your carpet, drapes, furniture–even the clothes you wear. Left alone, your home can quickly turn into a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause or inflame a wide variety of physical and respiratory ailments. Your home can also harbor noxious fumes and gases. Foul odors not only disrupt comfort but can lead to headaches, dizziness and nausea.
Where do the pollutants come from?
These tiny creatures and particles occur naturally. When they infiltrate your home and multiply unchecked that’s when the trouble starts. Homes today are built much “tighter” so less fresh air enters and the concentration of pollutants in the air inside the home rises dramatically. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air pollution is several times greater than outdoor air pollution.
How dangerous are these pollutants?
Dust and other airborne particles can be articularly troublesome to the over 40 million North Americans who suffer from allergies. Response to indoor pollutants can range from mild congestion and sneezing to severe allergic reactions. The American College of Allergy and Immunology reports that house dust is a major cause of allergies in persons with yearround complaints. Further, it is estimated that the average six room house collects over 40 pounds of dust each year. In addition to health risks posed by chemical irritants, smoke and cooking grease drawn into your ventilation system can build up on the inside of ducts and other surfaces and reduce the efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner.
I vacuum regularly. Isn’t that enough?
Normal vacuuming removes some contaminants and dust mites but, at the same time, stirs millions more from the carpet, drapes and upholstery into the air you and your family breathe. Ceiling fans, likewise, stir and add to the airborne “soup” of contaminants. Once in the air, these pollutants ride the air currents from room to room only to settle once again on the carpet, drapes, furniture and bedding. My furnace came with a disposable air filter that I change every heating season.
Do I need something more?
Unfortunately, standard, disposable furnace air filters capture only about 5% of the dust and other pollutants circulating in your home. In fact, less than 3% of particles smaller than 0.5 microns are captured. Disposable furnace filters also are completely ineffective against noxious fumes and odors. The primary function of the standard furnace filter is to intercept large particles that could potentially damage the blower in your furnace. They were never intended to filter out microscopic contaminants or vapors. Electrostatic filters, while an improvement over standard disposable furnace filters, still remove only about 8%-10% of microscopic airborne contaminants.
What can I do to improve the air quality in my home?
A two-pronged approach is best. First, use a high efficiency air cleaner capable of filtering out contaminants as small as 0.01 microns. In tests conducted according to standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) GENERALAire’s glass microfiber filtering media captured 97% by weight of the test dust with particles ranging from 2500 down to 0.01 microns in size. Second, to eliminate noxious odors and gases, use GENERALAire’s activated carbon air purifier. Activated carbon (a term used interchangeably with activated charcoal) is more effective at capturing offensive gases or vapors than any other known natural or manufactured material. GENERALAire’s AC-2 activated carbon air purifier contains nearly 4-1/2 pounds of activated carbon pellets -- sufficient for an entire heating or cooling season.
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Model AC-500 HEPA New! |
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Application: Forced air heating and cooling systems
Cabinet Size: 22" high x 17" wide x 13" deep
Duct Mount Dimension: Intake 3-7/8" high x 16" wide; Discharge 9-7/8" high x 16" wide
Remote Mount Dimension: Intake 8" round; Discharge 8" round |
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Model AC-1 Air Cleaner |
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Application: Forced air heating and cooling systems
Cabinet Size: 21-1/2" high x 25-3/4" wide x 7-3/4" wide (9-1/4" deep including flanges)
Flange Dimension: Inlet-19-3/4" high x 24" wide Outlet-19-3/4" high x 23-1/4" wide, 14 mounting holes |
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Model AC-2 Air Cleaner |
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Application: Forced air heating and cooling systems
Cabinet Size: 21-1/2" high x 25-3/4" wide x 4-1/2" deep including flange
Flange Dimension: Inlet and outlet - 19-3/4" high x 23-1/4" wide, 14 mounting holes |
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Model AC-3 Complete Indoor Air System |
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Application: Forced air heating and cooling systems
Cabinet Size: 21-3/8" high x 25-3/4" wide x 11-1/4" deep (12-11/16" deep including flanges)
Flange Dimension: Inlet and outlet - 19-7/8" high x 23-3/8" wide, 14 mounting holes |
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Model AC-4 Low Profile Air Cleaner |
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Application: Forced air heating and cooling systems
Cabinet Size: 17-1/2" high x 25-3/4" wide x 7-3/4" deep (9-1/4" deep including flanges)
Flange Dimension: Inlet and outlet - 15-3/4" high x 23-1/4" wide, 14 mounting holes |
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