- How should I use a Healthway Air Purifier?
- What is the clean air delivery rate (CADR)?
- Are the air purifiers quiet and still effective on low speed?
- What is the main filter life, and can the pre-filter be washed easily?
- Do the units control odors?
- Is the HealthWay air system and FDA Medical Device?
- Are the units portable or wall mounted?
- How long is the warranty?
- What is the life of the carbon post filter?
- Can it be easily moved around?
- How is the performance of the machines affected by air conditioning?
- Are there any other on-going costs associated with ownership?
- What are the most common misconceptions that people have about air cleaning?
- If someone works in an office cubicle and wants to reduce the allergens in their work area what should they do?
- Should we move an air cleaner from room to room?
- What difference does the fan speed make to the cleaning effectiveness of a machine?
- Do you recommend turning an air cleaner on high when you are out of a room and on low when in the room?
- How do you know whether a HEPA filter is really doing its job? When would you change the filter?
- Are there any benefits to using a room air cleaner as opposed to a central HEPA or electrostatic system?
- Is there any regular maintenance required on the Healthway air purifiers?
How should I use a Healthway Purifier?
Answer:
- Install room-size units in rooms where you spend most of your time or have the worst symptoms.
- Locate the units as close as possible to any identifiable pollution source.
- Locate the unit away from doors, windows, and foot traffic, but not close to walls, corners, furniture, or other obstructions. This is so that air may easily reach the air cleaner.
- Continually run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Air cleaners should always be used and maintained according the manufacturer’s instructions (Top)
What is the clean air delivery rate?
Answer: CADR is a standard that ASHRAE uses to measure and classify an air cleaner. Our CADR is at the average of 340. We do not measure our device by this measure; instead we have focused on first pass efficiency and micro-organism destruction. This rating also does not take into consideration by-pass particulates. Our filter is 100% sealed allowing no bypass.(Top)
Are the air purifiers quiet on low speed and is it still effective on low speed?
Answer: Where most units are ineffective on their “quiet/low” speed, we are effective on every level. Both of our units our quiet by design and use a dual ball bearing sealed motor.(Top)
What is the main filter life, and can the pre-filter be washed easily?
Answer: We have a permanent pre-filter that should be cleaned once a month with a damp rag or vacuum. Our main filter life span is between 12-16 months depending on environment. Our devices utilize a filter efficiency monitor which actually measures the efficiency of the filter. The monitor will let you know when to change the filter.(Top)
Answer: Our patented technology destroys bacteria which is the first step in destroying odors. In addition we use a charcoal post filter which helps control odors as well. The 20600-3 unit has an extra 4 lbs of charcoal/zeolite mix; this unit is superior at controlling odors.(Top)
Is the HealthWay air system and FDA Medical Device?
Answer: The HealthWay advanced air cleaner system is a Regulatory Class II Medical Device.(Top)
Are the units portable or wall mounted?
Answer: Our units are portable with a weight of 21 lbs and 31 lbs respectively.(Top)
Answer: We offer a 5 years manufacturers limited warranty.(Top)
What is the life of the carbon post filter?
Answer: We base our filters on running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since air purifiers are most effective when in continuous use. The life span is 3-6 months depending on environment.(Top)
Can it be easily moved around?
Answer: The weight of our units is 21 lbs and 31 lbs respectively and is equipped with handles on the side for easy movement. Our 1,000 sq. ft. units come with casters for easy movement.(Top)
How is the performance of the machines affected by air conditioning?
Answer: Healthway units are designed to operate in a commercial and residential setting where air conditioners operate. The effects would be positive due to the reduction of airborne particulate matter.(Top)
Are there any other on-going costs associated with ownership?
Answer: The only other on going cost would be the replacement of the filters. See price list.(Top)
What are the most common misconceptions people have about air cleaning?
Answer: Many people believe cleaning the air is an “event”, like vacuuming the carpet or floor. I turned the air cleaner on for 2 hours or some other time period, and the room is “clean”. The job is finished. Actually, air within any indoor space is in a state of constant change, adding particles, microorganisms and gases “into” that space continuously. A roomful or air is anything but “static”. Every indoor space is continuously bombarded with among other things:
- Foot traffic, stirring up dust and other particle that can trigger allergy/asthma attacks
- Microorganisms, airborne from coughing and sneezing
- Shedding or our skin as a normal process
- Particles coming in through our central heating and cooling systems. Since contaminant levels in indoor spaces are constantly changing, an air cleaner should be left on as continuously as possible to get optimum cleaning benefit.(Top)
If someone works in an office and wants to reduce the allergens in their work area what should they do?
Answer: In the office space, the potential for allergy particles in the air, and virus & bacteria transfer among people is very high. Many offices do not have daily vacuuming, nor do many vacuums have high efficiency filters. The concentration of contaminants left continuously airborne in the office environment is generally very high, potentially higher than you home. People can in fact; “protect” their own air space by using an air cleaner at their work station or in their office. By keeping the air cleaner “on”, you actually maintain a protected area even in an office cubicle, something like a “bubble” around you, where contaminants have difficulty entering “your space” because you are continuously pushing clean air into your work space.(Top)
Should an air cleaner be moved from room to room during the week, one day one room and then move onto the next room?
Answer: People get the highest satisfaction from their air cleaner when they focus its ability to clean, in a single indoor space. Ask yourself where do you spend the most time, or do you have trouble sleeping at night, does your office environment give you problems you don’t have in other spaces, etc. Pick a target area and it will do an excellent job in that space, continuously.(Top)
What difference does the fan speed make to the cleaning effectiveness of a machine?
Answer: The higher the fan speed, the more air is drawn into the machine. And the more clean air is distributed per hour back into the space. The purpose of an air cleaner is to clean the entire volume of air in the space, and clean it again, and again….remember, contaminants are continuously entering the air. LOW speed might clean a room air volume twice each hour. While HI speed on the same machine might clean it 6 times each hour. Especially to an allergy or asthma sufferer, the highest amount of clean air is best.(Top)
Is it recommended turning an air cleaner on high when you are out of a room and then on low when say you want to go to sleep?
Answer: This becomes a preference as it relates to the noise level. It is possible on HI speed to clean a space while no one is in it. And have a lower speed at night when the air cleaner “maintains” a good level of clean air through the night. The allergy sufferer may require a higher cleaning level continuously. Using the air cleaner in different ways gives you more of an understanding on how it works, and what to expect. The fan speeds are options for you to use, making the air cleaner more flexible for your needs and the air cleaning applications.(Top)
How do you know whether a HEPA filter is really doing its job?
Answer: An air cleaner is a different product than for example, a heater or an air conditioner; you feel heat or cool instantly. With an air cleaner users typically notice a decrease of allergic reactions or other symptoms over time – generally within 2-3 days of continuous use. Or they may notice they have less house dust (a mite allergen home) or they sleep better.(Top)
Are there any benefits to using a room air cleaner as opposed to a central HEPA or electrostatic system?
Answer: A central forced heat or air conditioning system generally has a filter that is not high efficiency and is not very dense; so only larger particles may be captured. Larger particles are seldom the issue for respiratory problems, it is the smaller ones that can get into your lungs, and cause reactions and trigger breathing attacks. It is also recommended that consumers use at least a middle grade efficiency filter in their central system, to get some smaller particles. Central systems do not clean rooms at a high level because they do not set up a strong enough air current in the room to get all the air space “scrubbed” and then back through the central filter system. To have the best indoor air quality, use a good, middle grade central filter, along with a high efficiency room air cleaner for the spaces of greatest health concern.(Top)
Is there any regular maintenance required on the Healthway products?
Answer: Yes. We have made the Healthway air purifiers very consumer friendly to use and safe to operate. The maintenance steps are listed below. But it is important to state that the frequency is different with every environment.
- Clean the permanent pre-filters at the base of the units with a damp cloth or vacuum. Turn the machine off (to stop air flow) and place it on its side, be careful not to puncture the material with anything sharp. Clean all four sides and the base. This should be done approximately once a month depending on environment. If there are cats and does this might need to be done more frequently.
- Replace the carbon post filters by turning off the machine and removing the lid. The post filters are located on the top of the lid. Slide them out and replace with new ones every 3-6 months depending on odor control. Some of our customers do not use the post filters so that there is more air flow.
- Replace the main filter when indicated by the control panel. The average expectancy of this filter is approximately 14-16 months. Turn off the machine and remove the lid. Rotate the gray handles to the side, lift off filter and discard entire filter. To place on the new filter simply align the copper contact and replace. Rotate the handles to lock and replace the lid.
- When you remove the filter you will notice thin wires that are inside the germ killing zone. From time to time some particulates will attach themselves to the wires. This happens infrequently and is easy to clean. Simply take a q-tip and lightly run it across the wires to remove any attached particulates.(Top)
