FAQs of the Catalytic PURE AIR puifier

What size area will the Catalytic PURE AIR purifier treat?

For good indoor air quality, an air change rate of 4-6 time per hour. The air change rate is the all the air in an indoor being replaced by new air. The Catalytic PURE AIR purifier will deliver 4 changes per hour per 500 sq. ft. or 6 changes per 325 sq. ft. Air quality will depend on the occupancy and activity of a given area.

Why is air exchange important?The air change rate is managed through natural and/or mechanical ventilation. Natural ventilation occurs when air moves through opened doors and windows by wind or temperature differences. Mechanical ventilation occurs when air handling systems or air purifiers change the air. A proper air exchange rate it is vital for maintaining healthy indoor air. The air change rate is very important because indoor pollutants can add up and create unhealthy indoor air. With buildings being built air tight for energy efficiency, often the air change rate is insufficient.

Is the QA-20 the only model of the air purifiers?

Currently, we only offer the QA-20. However, currently we are developing a wall mount 

How does the filter indicator work?

The filter indicator lights are also on a microprocessor that expires after 16,000 hrs. of operation. At 15,000 hrs the indicator turns yellow. After 16,000 hrs., the indicator turns red. Reset the microprocessor by inserting a small pin or the straightened end of a paper clip into the 2 small holes marked “Reset” directly beneath the lamp and filter indicating lights.

Filter Indicator Lights The filters have a useful life of two years in a typical residential environment. The three Filter lights on the Service Panel mean:?

Green light is On ­ The filters have been in service for less than 24 months.
Yellow SERVICE SOON light is On ­ The filters have been in service for more than 24 months. It’s time to order new filter package.
Red SERVICE NOW light is On ­ The filters have been in service for more than 25 months. The filters may not be effective and must be replaced.

How does the UV lamp indicator work?The UV lamp indicator is on a microprocessor that expires after 8,000 hrs. of operation. At 8,000 hrs the indicator turns yellow. After 9,000 hrs., the indicator turns red. Reset the microprocessor by inserting a small pin or the straightened end of a paper clip into the 2 small holes marked “Reset” directly beneath the lamp and filter indicating lights.

Indicator lights on the Service Panel tell you if either the ultraviolet lamp, or the air filters, will soon need to be replaced, or if they must be replaced before using the Purifier again. UV Lamp Indicator Lights The ultraviolet lamp has a useful life of one year (9,000 hours) with a one-month grace period.
Green light is On ­ The lamp has been in service for less than 12 months.
Yellow SERVICE SOON light is On ­ The lamp has been in service for more than 12 months. It’s time to order a new lamp.
Red SERVICE NOW light is On ­ The lamp has been in service for more than 13 months. The lamp may not be effective and must be replaced.

 How does the chemical sensor work?

The sensor operates on the principle of photoionization . This sensor is not sensitive to oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Non-harmful compounds commonly found in air.

It is sensitive to carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, exhaust fumes, hydrocarbons, alcohols, gasses such as methane or propane, high particle counts and odors which are caused by chemical or particles. Keep in mind the nose is very sensitive and can detect some chemicals and odors as low as?1 part per billion.

The level of sensitivity varies somewhat from one compound to another, however the second green light will turn on at about (0.5) parts per million. The red light will turn on at about (1.0) parts per million.

The sensor has a heated electrical element inside and causes chemical or particles in the air to ionize. This changes the electrical resistance of the sensor, resulting in an increase in analog voltage output. The microprocessor reads the voltage fluctuation and determines the level chemical activity. The higher the level of chemicals or particles, the higher the voltage output. 

How does the UV lamp kill bacteria and other diseases?

Testing by an EPA registered laboratory was conducted as follows on the Catalytic PURE AIR Air Purifier Model No.QA-20 for bacteria kill capabilities for the UV lamp.

Measurement of ultraviolet output the 254 nm wave length at a distance of (1) inch from the lamp indicated an average output of 11,700 microwatts per centimeter sq. The energy required to kill most disease causing viruses and bacteria is approximately 6,000 to 8,000 microwatts of UV light.

Calculation determined by:
1) Tested at 3 locations.
2) Test height 1.0 inch from the lamp surface.
3) Test equipment: calibrated UVX digital Radiometer, model #97-0015-02 uses 254 nm sensor.

Instrument range: 0.1 µW/ cm2 to 20 µW/ cm2 . Precision traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (NIST)

The UV lamp can be seen through the top of the grill. Is this harmful or dangerous?

Testing has been done on the UV radiance from the UV lamp coming through the grill and is has been determined not to be harmful. The slanted air channel grill top plate of the unit and the positioning of the UV aluminum lamp cover have been designed so the no harmful UV light is emitted from the unit. The blue color seen is the glow from the UV lamp and not harmful UV light.

Testing for UV emotions by an EPA registered laboratory was conducted as follows on the Catalytic PURE AIR Air Purifier Model No.CPA QA-20.

Measurements were made using a UVP Radiometer, Model Number UVX 25, S/ N E025702, calibrated by UVP. The radiometer was zeroed and the room light measured and had a reading of 0.0. Measurements were made directly on top of the exhaust grill facing the interior of the unit. The measurements were made on the left side, middle and right side. Each area was measured three times, one near the back, one in the middle and one in the front. The grill was also scanned and the highest reading and location recorded. The results are below.:

Reading, µwatts/ cm2
Location Rear Middle Front
Measured on grill surface:
Left 0.0 0.0 0.0
Middle 0.0 0.0 0.0
Right 0.0 0.0 0.0
Highest Reading: 0.0

 

What removes the VOC's using the Catalytic PURE AIR air purifier?

Carbon filtration and the catalytic converter both function to treat VOC’s.

Carbon “adsorbs” VOC’s to treat them. Carbon is located in the carbon filter as well as on the back side of the hepa filter.

If the VOC’s bypass the carbon filters because the carbon media has been saturated by “adsorbing” VOC’s and other contaminants, the catalytic converter with the UV light will burn up the VOC’s and convert them into water and carbon dioxide.

This is a very important selling point because other air purifiers do not have a catalytic converter so once the carbon and or hepa filters are saturated or bypassed, the VOC’s and other contaminants are released into the air. This will not happen with the Catalytic PURE AIR air purifier 

I have removed either the top or front grill to examine my new Catalytic PURE AIR air purifier, and now the unit will not turn on. What is wrong with the unit?

Both the top and front grill have safety interlocks that will turn the unit off if removed when in operation. If either grill isn’t properly reinstalled the unit will not operate. Make sure the top grill is completely snapped into place and the front grill is completely secured at the bottom.

I notice a slight odor when I am close to my new air purifier?

You will notice a slight odor exiting from the air purifier when it is very new or you have recently replaced the filter package. This odor will only be present for a couple of days and come from accumulated moisture in the gas absorbing carbon, potassium permanganate and zeolite layers of the filter pack.

 

What is the SLEEP MODE: This mode saves energy cost during hours when the room is 

My control panel indicated the ultraviolet lamp must be replaced, but I can see it in operation. Is it absolutely necessary to replace the lamp?

Yes, even though the ultraviolet lamp is operating, it has diminished ultra violet output. To keep the system killing germs and bacteria effectively, the ultraviolet lamp must be replaced once a year or the equivalent elapsed time of the one year.

Can the filters be cleaned?

Yes, but only the 5 micron pre-filter. Catalytic PURE AIR recommends simply vacuuming off the excess material collected on the front of the green pre-filter approximately every six months. The second stage hepa filter cannot be cleaned and both filters must be replaced when the control panel indicates replacement.

How much noise does the Catalytic PURE AIR air purifier make?

The impeller motor is very quiet. Most sound from the unit is created by the air being drawn through the HEPA  filter which is 0.3 microns. Due to the low micron size, which provides excellent filtration, some sound is heard. Even with the filters in place the highest sound level of the unit is appx. 65 decibels. This low sound level is the same as a common household appliance like a refrigerator. Also please note that when a unit is first installed, the automatic sensors will detect an unclean environment and work at a higher level to purify the environment. As the air becomes cleaner, the air purifier will work at a lower level an be quieter.

Also please note when a unit is first installed it will work hard to purify the air so many larger particles will be captured by the carbon prefilter. A simple inspection by removing the front grill will observe the outer surface of the black material of the carbon filter turning gray. This gray matter may be lightly vacuumed off increase the efficiency of the air purifier.

When desiging and producing the Catalytic PURE AIR air purifier, we wanted to offer the the best possible air purifier available. We discussed often the issue of sounds with regards to the trade off of the air purifier’s performance. Our decision was to accept the sound levels so not compromise basic performance.

We have done readings on the following household appliances for reference:

Dishwashers: 40 to 60 dBA
Room Air Conditioners: 40 – 60 dBA
Refrigerators: 40 to 50 dBA

The Catalytic PURE AIR purifier is in appx. this range. During the day, most persons find the Catalytic PURE AIR purifier just another background sound.

We understand that some people may find it difficult to sleep with during the night when first using the Catalytic PURE AIR unit, but eventually get used to the sound. Some customers have reported that the sound is soothing during sleep.

Another option is to turn off the unit while sleeping. In a room of 23 sq. meters, the air is exchanged six times per hour @ 24 hours per day = 144 times per 24 hours per day at 265 cfm. However, if the unit is turned off during sleep for 8 hrs. per day the air is still exchanged 96 times per day to provide the necessary air quality.

We understand that the Catalytic PURE AIR purifier may have noticeable ssound levels when first introduced to the customer, but the engineering group did not want to sacrifice quality (air exchange) of the unit with reference to sound levels.

The red UV replacement light is on, but the ultraviolet light appears to be operating correctly.

The ultraviolet lamp is rate for continual use of one year. After that time the bulb will continue to operate, but the germ and bacteria killing ultraviolet radiation has diminished to a point where it is no longer effective. Replace the component and “reset the microprocessor time. Please note the microprocessor keeps and store time only when the unit is in operation.