Air cleaner filters are made of a variety of materials, including fiberglass, cotton, carbon, paper and even metal.

Carbon (often found in HEPA air cleaner filters) is used because it is very safe and effective in eliminating harmful gases, molecules, chemicals, fumes and odors from the air. HEPA filters are made out of very fine glass threads with a diameter of less than 1 micron (a micron is 0.00004 in, 0.001 mm). By comparison, a human hair has a diameter of about 75 microns (0.003 in, 0.07 mm). The fine glass threads are tangled together and compressed to form a filter mat. HEPA filters will collect particles down to 0.3 microns (0.00001 in, 0.0003 mm) in diameter. While some HEPA air filtration systems combine HEPA filters with carbon-based materials, they stop mold spores, bacteria, viruses, pet dander and dust, and also help to eliminate stubborn gasses and odors from your home.

Not completely. There will always be some dust that settles on furniture, as is it is too heavy to stay airborne and travel through your air cleaner. To ensure your air cleaner is providing the greatest benefit, you may wish to run the furnace blower continuously or more often to keep air circulating through the air cleaner.  Be sure to change your air filter media as recommended; or in the case of an electronic air cleaner, clean it at the recommended intervals

The air cleaners we offer are installed with your HVAC system.  When the furnace blower is on (actively heating or cooling the house) it moves air through the air cleaner and filter within.  As the air passes through the filter, particulates, allergens and contaminates are trapped. The air leaving the air cleaner is free of particulates, allergens and other harmful contaminants.

Yes. The outdoor environment plays a key role in what happens inside. For instance, if the American Lung Association outdoor air rating is a C or worse, chances are you might benefit from installing an indoor air cleaner. Do you live near a dirt road, an airport, a busy highway or factory?  Do you frequently spray chemicals that kill weeds or bugs; or use lawn fertilizer? Are there trees, shrubs and flowers producing a high pollen count near your house in the spring? All these sources emit particulates and / or gasses that can easily find their way inside your home each time you enter or leave, and cause adverse effects to your health. Do you already have an air cleaner? Be sure to change your filter at the recommended frequencies; more often if your outdoor air environment includes any of the above described.

Be sure to perform regular suggested maintenance to ensure optimum performance and the longest life of your unit.

Electrostatic filters use an electrostatic charge to attract pollutants and trap them on collector plates. Electrostatic precipitators use electronic cells to charge particles within the purifier and immediately trap the impurities on collector plates. The main advantage with this type of air purifier is that the collector plates never have to be replaced; they can be easily washed in the dishwasher. But if the collection plates are not cleaned frequently, they quickly lose efficiency. Be aware that some electrostatic precipitators also generate ozone, which is a known lung irritant.

Dust is actually a combination of dirt, pollen, hair, dead skin, pet dander, dust mites, dust mite feces and a myriad of microbiological pollutants. Though there is no way to completely eliminate dust, you can control the dust with an adequate AC Filter or Furnace filter, or by simply changing or upgrading your current filter.

If you are concerned about carbon monoxide in your home then the smartest thing you can do is to buy a few carbon monoxide detectors and have a licensed Company install them for you, they will put them throughout your home. They are well worth the expense because they can save lives. Most reputable air conditioning contractors have carbon monoxide meters and almost all gas companies have them as well. We recommend that a licensed air conditioning company come to your home and measure the carbon monoxide levels and check your furnace to make sure that there is no leaks in your system.

There is more than one problem that can arise from not regularly changing your air filter. These problems can be broken down into three major categories: Energy Consumption, Mechanical, and Health. Energy Consumption: The harder your AC or Furnace system works, the more energy it will consume. The more energy it consumes, the higher your electric bills. Changing your filters on a regular basis can save you hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars each year. Mechanical: A dirty air filter of any type may result in extensive damage to the fan blower motor or compressor in your AC or furnace. Dirt and grime accumulate on crucial moving parts causing them to fail much quicker than expected. This can be very costly and sometimes leads to a total system replacement. At the very least, your system life expectancy will be reduced significantly.

Health: Most importantly, if you do not change your air filters on a regular basis, it can cause potential health problems for your family. Consider these facts from the EPA: Each person inhales over 3,500 gallons of air each day. Children inhale more particles for their size than adolescents or adults. Polluted air causes 94% of all respiratory problems. An estimated 10-15% of the entire population may be allergic to cat or dog dander. More than 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, about 1/3 are children under 18. About 40,000 dust mites, a common household allergen, can live in one ounce of dust. A person sheds up to 700,000 skin flakes per day. Your air conditioner filter is the primary defense to reduce and hold these health issues at bay. A quality home air filter changed on a regular basis is a small investment for your family’s health.

Many people try to wash or vacuum their furnace filters to extend the life. Washing your furnace filter is generally a bad idea. Many filtering materials do not hold up well when wet. Washing your furnace filter significantly increases the risk for mold or microbiological growth on the filter itself (which will release those mold spores into the air that is circulating throughout your home). Also, you can never get the filter clean enough, which puts a strain on your unit and restricts your air flow so your furnace has to run a lot longer to reach the desired temperature.

Vacuuming your furnace filter is a healthier alternative to washing your furnace filter, but is still not recommended. Although you may slightly prolong the life of your furnace filter, you will probably make a mess doing it, and a vacuumed filter will release a lot of dust and particles into the duct work when you first re-install it. Additionally, most furnace filters are made from a delicate filtering material and are prone to ripping or tearing, which will render the filter useless.