Negative Ion Air Cleaner

[LAggie1972]

I just had to get a new furnace and took the opportunity to get one of those photo hydroionization air cleaners that cleans the whole house via the duct. I've heard conflicing reports that they are good and some that they are bad because they can emit low levels of ozone.

This one supposedly emits non-detectable levels of ozone, but kills molds, viruses and bacteria. I'm horribly allergic to mold, so I'd rather keep it.

Any feelings one way or another about the UV light HVAC system air purifiers?

 

[LAggie1972]

I just had to get a new furnace and took the opportunity to get one of those photo hydroionization air cleaners that cleans the whole house via the duct. I've heard conflicing reports that they are good and some that they are bad because they can emit low levels of ozone.

This one supposedly emits non-detectable levels of ozone, but kills molds, viruses and bacteria. I'm horribly allergic to mold, so I'd rather keep it.

Any feelings one way or another about the UV light HVAC system air purifiers?

 

[LAggie1972]

I just had to get a new furnace and took the opportunity to get one of those photo hydroionization air cleaners that cleans the whole house via the duct. I've heard conflicing reports that they are good and some that they are bad because they can emit low levels of ozone.

This one supposedly emits non-detectable levels of ozone, but kills molds, viruses and bacteria. I'm horribly allergic to mold, so I'd rather keep it.

Any feelings one way or another about the UV light HVAC system air purifiers?

 

[ladybug]

I'm not certain about the ones that attach to entire furnace systems. I did, however, at one time have an ionic purifier that did use ozone to cut down dust, etc... I used it for years and never noticed a problem with it other than it DID cut down my dust and odors, but read once that in many countries the EPA has banned such machines as being bad for even "normal" people's health. So, I got rid of it right away. They said ozone cleaning can lead to ashthma, etc. and is NOT recommended. I haven't noticed a jump in FEV1 or less SOB since chucking the thing, but I figured better safe than sorry. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I hope you get some good replies. I'm also curious about things that you can hook up to your whole house to "clean" the air.

 

[ladybug]

I'm not certain about the ones that attach to entire furnace systems. I did, however, at one time have an ionic purifier that did use ozone to cut down dust, etc... I used it for years and never noticed a problem with it other than it DID cut down my dust and odors, but read once that in many countries the EPA has banned such machines as being bad for even "normal" people's health. So, I got rid of it right away. They said ozone cleaning can lead to ashthma, etc. and is NOT recommended. I haven't noticed a jump in FEV1 or less SOB since chucking the thing, but I figured better safe than sorry. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I hope you get some good replies. I'm also curious about things that you can hook up to your whole house to "clean" the air.

 

[ladybug]

I'm not certain about the ones that attach to entire furnace systems. I did, however, at one time have an ionic purifier that did use ozone to cut down dust, etc... I used it for years and never noticed a problem with it other than it DID cut down my dust and odors, but read once that in many countries the EPA has banned such machines as being bad for even "normal" people's health. So, I got rid of it right away. They said ozone cleaning can lead to ashthma, etc. and is NOT recommended. I haven't noticed a jump in FEV1 or less SOB since chucking the thing, but I figured better safe than sorry. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I hope you get some good replies. I'm also curious about things that you can hook up to your whole house to "clean" the air.

 

[lightNlife]

This topic caught my eye, and I thought I'd comment on it since this is my area of expertise (academically speaking).

When something says that it emits non-detectable amounts of ozone, that does NOT mean that the amounts of ozone are so low that they do not cause any problems. Non-detectable means that the amounts are so small that the equipment used in a lab to determine the concentration of ozone is not sensitive enough to pick it up. It's like putting a paper clip on a bathroom scale. The bathroom scale would read "0lbs" but you know that doesn't mean the paper clip doesn't weigh anything...it just means it weighs too little for the scale to notice.

I used to have a water purifier that used UV radiation, but I stopped using it. The thing that concerns me most about using UV for things like cleaning the air and water is that UV breaks apart the molecules in the air, resulting in ions. (An ion is a negatively charged particle.) These ions can "stick" to other things, and scientists don't really know yet the long term effects of what can happen when ions stick to other positively charged particles.

In all likelihood, the system you have is probably very safe. Most HVAC systems have to adhere to very strict regulations, and if the main goal is to kill mold, viruses and bacteria, you've made a good investment.

Would you maybe PM me with a little more information about your particular HVAC system? Is the UV housing a free standing unit somewhere in the home, or is it concealed up in the attic or crawlspace? Does it run all the time, or can you turn it on/off

As far as ozone emissions are concerned, you're probably not going to have a problem. Ground level ozone can reduce lung capacity, so if you notice yourself having more difficulties than normal, try leaving the unit off for a week and see if you notice a difference.

Good luck! I'm curious to hear more about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/78634/limiting_exposure_to_mold_in_the_home.html">Limiting Exposure to Mold in the Home</a>

 

[lightNlife]

This topic caught my eye, and I thought I'd comment on it since this is my area of expertise (academically speaking).

When something says that it emits non-detectable amounts of ozone, that does NOT mean that the amounts of ozone are so low that they do not cause any problems. Non-detectable means that the amounts are so small that the equipment used in a lab to determine the concentration of ozone is not sensitive enough to pick it up. It's like putting a paper clip on a bathroom scale. The bathroom scale would read "0lbs" but you know that doesn't mean the paper clip doesn't weigh anything...it just means it weighs too little for the scale to notice.

I used to have a water purifier that used UV radiation, but I stopped using it. The thing that concerns me most about using UV for things like cleaning the air and water is that UV breaks apart the molecules in the air, resulting in ions. (An ion is a negatively charged particle.) These ions can "stick" to other things, and scientists don't really know yet the long term effects of what can happen when ions stick to other positively charged particles.

In all likelihood, the system you have is probably very safe. Most HVAC systems have to adhere to very strict regulations, and if the main goal is to kill mold, viruses and bacteria, you've made a good investment.

Would you maybe PM me with a little more information about your particular HVAC system? Is the UV housing a free standing unit somewhere in the home, or is it concealed up in the attic or crawlspace? Does it run all the time, or can you turn it on/off

As far as ozone emissions are concerned, you're probably not going to have a problem. Ground level ozone can reduce lung capacity, so if you notice yourself having more difficulties than normal, try leaving the unit off for a week and see if you notice a difference.

Good luck! I'm curious to hear more about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/78634/limiting_exposure_to_mold_in_the_home.html">Limiting Exposure to Mold in the Home</a>

 

[lightNlife]

This topic caught my eye, and I thought I'd comment on it since this is my area of expertise (academically speaking).

When something says that it emits non-detectable amounts of ozone, that does NOT mean that the amounts of ozone are so low that they do not cause any problems. Non-detectable means that the amounts are so small that the equipment used in a lab to determine the concentration of ozone is not sensitive enough to pick it up. It's like putting a paper clip on a bathroom scale. The bathroom scale would read "0lbs" but you know that doesn't mean the paper clip doesn't weigh anything...it just means it weighs too little for the scale to notice.

I used to have a water purifier that used UV radiation, but I stopped using it. The thing that concerns me most about using UV for things like cleaning the air and water is that UV breaks apart the molecules in the air, resulting in ions. (An ion is a negatively charged particle.) These ions can "stick" to other things, and scientists don't really know yet the long term effects of what can happen when ions stick to other positively charged particles.

In all likelihood, the system you have is probably very safe. Most HVAC systems have to adhere to very strict regulations, and if the main goal is to kill mold, viruses and bacteria, you've made a good investment.

Would you maybe PM me with a little more information about your particular HVAC system? Is the UV housing a free standing unit somewhere in the home, or is it concealed up in the attic or crawlspace? Does it run all the time, or can you turn it on/off

As far as ozone emissions are concerned, you're probably not going to have a problem. Ground level ozone can reduce lung capacity, so if you notice yourself having more difficulties than normal, try leaving the unit off for a week and see if you notice a difference.

Good luck! I'm curious to hear more about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/78634/limiting_exposure_to_mold_in_the_home.html">Limiting Exposure to Mold in the Home</a>

 

[LAggie1972]

Thanks for your input. I just got a Goodman HVAC unit, and the air purifier is actually a uv tube that goes right into the duct work. So as the fan blows te air up through the duct, it passes by the unit to clean the air. It's made by RGF and it's called a PHI Cell or photohydroionization cell. Ever heard of it? I read a bit about it by the manufacturer, and because the levels of ozone it emits are between .01-.02 ppm and is therefore considered a non-ozone device, but that we can smell ozone at .01 (incidentally I love the clean smell).

 

[LAggie1972]

Thanks for your input. I just got a Goodman HVAC unit, and the air purifier is actually a uv tube that goes right into the duct work. So as the fan blows te air up through the duct, it passes by the unit to clean the air. It's made by RGF and it's called a PHI Cell or photohydroionization cell. Ever heard of it? I read a bit about it by the manufacturer, and because the levels of ozone it emits are between .01-.02 ppm and is therefore considered a non-ozone device, but that we can smell ozone at .01 (incidentally I love the clean smell).

 

[LAggie1972]

Thanks for your input. I just got a Goodman HVAC unit, and the air purifier is actually a uv tube that goes right into the duct work. So as the fan blows te air up through the duct, it passes by the unit to clean the air. It's made by RGF and it's called a PHI Cell or photohydroionization cell. Ever heard of it? I read a bit about it by the manufacturer, and because the levels of ozone it emits are between .01-.02 ppm and is therefore considered a non-ozone device, but that we can smell ozone at .01 (incidentally I love the clean smell).