1. Do air cleaners really work?
There are various types of air cleaners and generally, the most effective are those with high quality filters. With any air cleansing, there are two factors to consider:
1. Particles removal: Commonly described nowadays as "PM2.5", this means any particulate matter up to 2.5 microns in size. This is dust, pollens, mould spores, allergens, bacteria and viruses, etc
2. Gaseous Removal: contaminants that are dissolved in the air such as VOC's, gases, toxins, odours, fumes, smoke - these are not captured by fabric filters but by adsorbtion onto special substances such as carbon or permanganate.
As with all appliances, there are vast differences between the effectiveness of different brands. These differences are caused by the quality of the filtration, the amount of leakage within the unit and the volume of air generated. Our two brands, IQAir and Blueair are engineered and designed to last a lifetime and are both covered by a 5 years warranty.
2. Will an air cleaner cure my allergies, hayfever or asthma?
We never claim that our air cleaners are medical devices or offer cures for any ailments. However, it is widely accepted that dust, pollens, allergens, chemicals, fumes, etc can be the triggers for many respiratory complaints and removing as much as possible of them from our breathing space therefore offers the chance of relief. This is so especially for respiratory sufferers such as asthmatics where a sterile air environment is desirable.
3. Which brands are the most efficient?
Our research and experience over more than 30 years specialising in the air filtration industry, we believe that two brands stand out over the rest – IQAir (Switzerland) and Blueair (Sweden). Tests and analyses on these brands can be found at our website aircleanersaus.com.au
4. Do you have something that cleans the air throughout the whole house?
Yes – IQAir's Perfect 16 series is the most effective and economical way to ensure the air inside your home or office is healthy. These units are installed into the HVAC ducting so that all the air passing through the system is purified. More about: Whole House and Office Ducted Purifiers
5. What size unit do I need?
Take the measurements of the room or area you wish to clean the air in. Multiply the Length x Width x Height to get the cubic metres (air volume). Then look at the models that suit that air volume. For example, a bedroom of 4L x 5W x 2.5H = 50 m3. Blueair's 205 model produces 100m3 on lowest speed 1 – this means the entire air in the bedroom will be purified twice every hour at a certified cleaning efficiency of 99.97% for particles down to 0.1 microns such as dust, pollen, bacteria, virus, pet dander, mould spores and other airborne particles. At such efficiency, twice an hour is more than sufficient.
6. What does 99.97% mean?
Many standard air cleaners make this claim without certification. However, it's true that in most of these, there will be significant leakage – or air that passes through the unit but not through the filter/s. In some cases, this might mean that as much as 50% of the air passes through the machine without being filtered. For certified units such as IQAir and Blueair, 99.97% means that ALL the air except for an insignificant .03% passes through the filters and is purified.
7. What is a micron?
A micron is a millionth of a metre. For comparison, a human hair varies between 80-100 microns. On average, the human eye cannot see particles that are smaller than 50 to 60 microns. Particles that are 10 microns or less are considered respirable and can settle deep into the lungs – often causing adverse health effects. Respirable particles make up greater than 99% of the 7 million particles in every one of the 25,000 breaths you take every day.
8. What are UFP's?
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are particulate matter of nanoscale size (approx 0.1 micron) - UFPs are the main constituent of airborne particulate matter. Due to their numerous quantity and ability to penetrate deep within the lung, UFPs are a major concern for respiratory exposure and health. All IQAir and Blueair filters will remove UFP's given their certified efficiency of 0.1 micron (Blueair) and .003 micron (IQAir).
9. How will I know when filters need to be replaced?
You can at any given moment check the calculated remaining life-time (in hours or days) of each individual filter. When a specific filter comes to the end of its calculated life span, the user is alerted (via a red LED light on the control panel) that this filter needs to be changed.
10. Will I still get replacement filters for my IQAir in several years' time?
Air Cleaners Australia boasts over 30 years track record in air filtration. IQAir and Blueair are both companies of over 50 years standing and both offer an availability guarantee for replacement filters to match their long-term performance.
11. Are your air cleaning systems silent?
Noise from air purifiers are mainly produced from the fan or motor and the air pressure through the filter. High noise can cause severe annoyance and even affect health, causing physical and mental stress.
To clean the air effectively, an air cleaner must have
a. high-efficiency filters that are
b. extremely well sealed and
c. a powerful fan to circulate as much room air as possible through these filters.
The following references can be used as guidelines when comparing noise levels:
- Normal speech at 1 metre distance: 65 dB
- Standard vacuum cleaner: 70 dB
- Normal business office: 50 to 60 dB.
- Bedrooms at night-time (for adequate rest and sleep): 35-40 dB
This fact means that no effective air cleaner can be totally silent. If an air cleaner is advertised as "silent", it either has no fan, a weak fan or ineffective filters. Both IQAir and Blueair are the quietest on the market today.
12. What maintenance is required for an air cleaner?
Apart from regular filter changes, our systems are 100% maintenance free.
13. What happens if my unit breaks down?
Both IQAir and Blueair are renowned for their reliability and robustness. They are engineered to last a lifetime. However, should there be a need for service, Air Cleaners Australia is Australia's authorised dealer with a full range of spare parts and offers full technical services and advice.
