Frequently
Asked Questions
(FAQ)
Purchasing | Technology
| Operation | Performance
| Maintenance | Guarantee
Purchasing Questions
What
factors should I look for when purchasing an air purifier?
When you purchase an air purifier, the most important
things to consider are what the machine can remove from the air
and how it removes it. Look at the particulate size the machine
is capable of removing, square-footage coverage, cost per square
foot purified, cost of replacement parts and how often they need
to be replaced, electricity cost, noise generated, warranty,
physical size, money-back guarantee. We're confident that we
offer you the most technologically-advanced, affordable air cleaning
unit on the market today and the longest warranty in the industry.
Our units consistently out-perform other air cleaners in all
categories. Also read Biozone
Buying Guide
I see units in my local department store that are
much less expensive than any of these. What's the difference?
The key to making a wise decision regarding which
unit to purchase lies in knowing what you're buying. Educating
yourself about the technology available will enable you to see
advantages and disadvantages a little more clearly. The units
you see in department stores are usually filtration systems and
do not use advanced air purification technology, simply because
most shoppers just don't know that technology like Biozone's
exists or how it works. Myths about ozone also
contribute to misunderstandings about the safety of ozonating
air purifiers. Here are some main points to consider:
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Air filtration is not air purification.
Even the very best air filters (HEPA, etc.)
cannot remove small particulate matter from the air and are ineffective
against mold, mildew, most allergens, bacteria, viruses and odors.
And, air isn't that smart - it doesn't know you want it to go
through your filter. So you need a method that actually seeks
out odors and contaminants and destroys them. |
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Ozone is an extremely safe and effective
method of air cleaning when used intelligently and appropriately.
Medical facilities and industrial "clean rooms" have
used ozone to sterilize air for decades. The key is ensuring
your air cleaner keeps ozone levels below .05 ppm, the Federal
guideline for safe ozone levels. Biozone ensures, through it's
patented SafeZone™ technology, that its units never go
above .04 ppm. In fact, in most units the amount of ozone required
is very, very low. Our proprietary gas plasma
purification process does not require the higher levels of ozone
other units require. |
Biozone's patented technology
employs 4 different methods of purifying your air to ensure that
it is as clean, pure and healthy as possible. Other air filtration
systems offer only one or, at best, 2 or 3 different ways to
clean your air. But no other product on the market can purify
the air as completely as Biozone, nor guarantee complete ozone
safety. Also read Technology
Comparisons.
How will
the unit work with other filtration or air cleaning devices I already use?
It will work great.
The different units will only compliment each other, reducing
the total work each has to do and provide a very clean, pure
environment.
What different kinds of air cleaners does Biozone
offer?
We have a broad range of models for home, office,
business, commercial, industrial, agricultural, vehicle and personal
use. See our Product
Catalog.
How do I
figure out which model is best for me?
There are 2 factors
that determine which Biozone unit you need. The first is how
big an area do you want to purify: one room, a floor (upstairs
/ downstairs), the entire house, etc. The amount of square feet
to be purified (actually the cubic feet - we assume an average
of 8' ceiling height), generally determines which unit you need.
The second determining factor is the level of contaminants to
be purified. For example, a 2000 square foot house normally would
use a model 2000. If there were a dog and cat on the premises,
then a model 3000 would be better. If there were two cigarette
smokers, then a model 4000 would be best or two model 2000s.
(See Selecting
the Right Biozone Air Purifier for Your Needs)
Will insurance companies
reimburse for the cost of a Biozone unit?
Most
insurance carriers as well as Medicare and Medicaid will reimburse
for prescribed and medically necessary air purification devices.
Check with your healthcare provider.
Is it safe
to purchase through this website?
Absolutely. Making
our website a friendly, secure place to shop is our number one
concern. We use LinkPoint to ensure the security of your online
purchase; however, we are happy to take your order by phone,
mail or fax. We also accept checks, money orders and purchase
orders by fax or mail. Our Store
offers the option of printing a Purchase Order or Mail Payment
Form. Just add the products you want to order into the shopping
cart, enter the Shipping and Tax information, then in the Method
of Payment drop-down menu, select Send Check or Purchase Order
and you will receive a Print Form option, which you can then
either fax or mail to us.
What shipping costs will I have to pay if I
purchase a product at this website?
If you live in the USA (except Alaska and Hawaii),
shipping is free via UPS Ground. Please contact
us for shipping rates to Alaska and Hawaii and for
International prices and shipping.
Technology Questions
How is Biozone Air Purification
technology different?
Biozone has taken four of the most powerful, accepted
and well-documented air purification methods and united them
with an exciting technology called PureWave™. The unique synergy created by this
marriage of science and electronics
results in a truly superlative air cleaning technology.
Is there any research supporting
the effectiveness of Biozone Air Purifiers?
There is a lot
of research on a variety of aspects and applications of ultraviolet
light, ozone and other active oxygen atoms, hydroxyls radicals,
negative ions and plasmas. Biozone also has independent
testing results on the effectiveness of its units.
I am a little confused about the safety of using
Ultraviolet rays; stated as a positive feature of these units.
Are not we supposed to stay away from UV rays?
You
are correct that exposure to excessive amounts of shortwave and
midrange ultraviolet radiation can cause injury to the skin and
eyes. As such, it is important to know the ultraviolet intensity
at any distance the skin or eyes will be exposed from the source.
OSHA's
published permissible dose for Biozone's type of ultraviolet
light is 6.0mW-sec/cm2, which is the permissible exposure time
(PET). When using a radiometer to measure mW (milliwatts) this
means the PET = 6.0/radiometer reading second. For example, if
you had a radiometer reading of .05 mW/cm, you would have PET
= 6.0/.05 = 120 seconds. That would be the amount of time you
could be exposed to that dose of ultraviolet light without damage.
Using
a radiometer to measure the UV level at the vents of Biozone
units (touching the vent opening), the radiometer reading is
.0005 mW. That means you could have exposure of 3 hours before
damage IF your eye or skin was directly on the vent. At 1/2 inch
away from the vent, there is no reading on the radiometer. It
can't get much safer than that.
I have seen
some scientific reports that say ozone is dangerous. What gives?
Yes, ozone could
be dangerous, but only when occurring in extremely high concentrations
- much higher than what a Biozone ozonating air purifier is capable
of producing.
There
are numerous reports that say breathing ozone can have detrimental
health effects. Most effects are short term and all have to do
with higher levels of ozone. Some scientific papers, however,
report health concerns with low levels. There is a difference
in what is considered low levels. The low levels they refer to
are usually between 0.08 to 0.9 ppm. These low levels are 4 -
50 times higher than the low levels that are produced by our
residential machines.
Ozone is much like just about any other element
in that it has its range of effects. It is harmless or useful
at moderate concentrations, but harmful at extremely high levels.
For example, chlorine, an extremely powerful sanitizing agent,
can be extremely dangerous if misused. However, we have learned
to use it appropriately and thus can enjoy things like safe water
in our swimming pools and even from our tap (you might prefer
an UltraPure
Water Purifier, however!)
Ozone levels produced as part
of the Biozone Purifying Plasma do not surpass the Federal Government
safety guideline of 0.05 - 0.06 ppm. In fact, our units only
need a modest amount of ozone to fuel our unique purifying process. Since ozone is
a very small part of our Purifying Plasma, Biozone's Air Purifiers
are not generally considered an ozone generator type device.
Also read SafeZone Guarantees Safe Ozone Levels),
How does ozone work?
Ozone
oxidizes (burns) pollutants, destroying them altogether. The
ozone molecule (O3) is highly reactive, so whenever it encounters
a floating particulate, one of the oxygen atoms breaks away to
oxidize the pollutant. This leaves behind O2 (pure oxygen), refreshing
the air even more. Ozone has the 2nd highest oxidation potential
out of all the elements. Also read How Does Ozone Purify
Air and Misconceptions About Ozone.
Are some
people over-sensitive to ozone?
Yes,
about 2% of the population is super-sensitive to ozone. At even
extreme low levels of ozone (like the amount in our Purifying
Plasma) they may develop the usual over-ozonation symptoms.
What's a hydroxyl radical?
Hydroxyl radicals, which occur naturally in our
atmosphere, are formed when an oxygen singlet (O1) plucks a Hydrogen
atom (H) from natural humidity (H2O) to form the radical OH.
Biozone's hydroxyl radicals are 33% more effective at oxidizing
pollutants in the air than ozone, and 2.5 times more germicidal
and fungicidal than chlorine, making them the most effective
method of destroying mold, bacteria, viruses and germs that you
can buy. Biozone's proprietary process produces large volumes
of these powerful air cleaning agents with only a very small
amount of ozone - far less than what is required by other ozonating
air cleaners. Also read Hydroxyls: Powerful Air Purification
Do these
units produce nitric oxide?
Since
the Biozone uses UV light to produce ozone (not corona discharge),
no nitric oxide or contingent substances are produced.
How do negative ions work?
Negative ions are
negatively-charged electrical particles that are magnetically
attracted to allergens and other airborne contaminates, which
are positively-charged. The newly-formed larger particles are
then able to fall harmlessly
to the ground, and out of the air we breathe. Also read How Negative Ions Purify the Air
What happens to the ionized particle once it
falls to the ground?
The ionized particle
becomes too heavy to remain airborne and falls to a nearby surface.
The most important thing is that these microscopic pollutants
are out of the air you breathe, which renders them harmless.
If they're not in the air, they cannot find their way into your
lungs where they do their damage. Remember, these are microscopic
particles we are talking about, not specks of dirt, so your floors,
furniture and other surfaces will not suddenly become "dirty"
once these pollutants begin falling out of the air. It is possible, though, for these particulates
to be collected as a result of your routine cleaning, like vacuuming
and dusting. It is also possible for these particles to become
"kicked up" again into the air. Fortunately, Biozone
air purifiers produce a continual supply of negative ions and
low levels of ozone, which means "kicked up" particulates
will find themselves grounded again very quickly.
My allergist advised me
to buy a HEPA filter. Are Biozone units as good as a HEPA filtration-type
air cleaner?
HEPA filters once
were the cutting-edge in filtration technology, utilizing a standard
of 97% efficiency in removing particulate matter of .3 microns
or larger. However, a HEPA filter can only filter out particles
that actually pass through it, making it ineffective for large
spaces. HEPA filters cannot remove smaller particulates from
the air nor are they effective in killing airborne bacteria and
viruses or eliminating irritating or unpleasant odors like cigarette
smoke. Biozone units do more than filter your air - Biozone Air
Purifiers CLEAN the air and can remove allergens and irritants
that a HEPA filter cannot.
Also read Biozone UV Air Purifiers versus HEPA Filtration
Systems
Operation
Questions
Can the
Biozone be run 24-hrs per day?
Biozone
Air Purifiers are designed to be run 24 hrs per day. In many
instances, however, all that is necessary to rid an environment
of pollutants is running the unit part time.
Can
I program
my air purifier to come on/shut off at certain times?
Yes.
You can purchase the optional Digital Timer to automatically
turn the unit on/off up to four times per day. See Catalog,
Purify Your Air, Accessories, Digital Timer.
How
expensive is the unit to operate?
While
many air filters can cost $10 - $30 per month to operate, the
Biozone runs on about $1 per month. Also see the Biozone
Buying Guide.
How can
I tell if the Biozone Air Purifier is really working?
This depends on
everyone's individual circumstances. With malodors, improvement
could be noticeable within minutes or it could be hours. People
with allergies and hay fever should see a marked improvement
in a very short period of time. People with animals in their
homes should also be able to notice a dramatic reduction in pet
odors within hours. Many health benefits, however, are less overt
and can only be noticed and evaluated over a longer period of
time. Other times, however, people do not notice a difference
in their environments when using our air purifier.
What often
happens is that people get used to what they are breathing. That's
why, for example, most people have no idea if their own home
has an odor - they simply have gotten used to it. As the Biozone
begins working, they also get used to the steady improvement
in their air quality. However, once they get used to that clean,
pure air, if they were to stop using the purifier, all the old
odors would come back pretty quickly and be extremely noticeable.
That is why we have many people use a unit on a 3-day trial basis.
After the unit is removed is when they notice the dramatic difference
the Biozone® Air Purifier made, and invariably, they want
the unit back as soon as possible.
Performance
Questions
Will the
unit get rid of unpleasant odors?
Biozone is extremely
effective in neutralizing unpleasant odors. Pet odors, cooking
odors, cleaning product odors, bathroom odors, musty odors, paint
odors, chemical odors, garbage odors, etc. - all can be eliminated.
How effective
is the unit on cigarette smoke?
There
are two parts to cigarette smoke: 1) the smoke itself or the
particulate, and 2) the chemical fumes and odors. Biozone's negative
ions and photoelectrons help remove the smoke particulate from
the air while the highly active oxygen atoms and purifying hydroxyls
neutralize the chemical fumes and odors. Overall, there will
be a noticeable improvement. It should be noted that a more powerful
unit should be recommended for use in dwellings with cigarette
and cigar smokers.
Will the unit remove cigarette
or cigar smoke or other odors from clothing and upholstered furniture?
Yes, but depending
on how saturated the odor is, it may take an hour or it may take
48 hours.
Do the units
get rid of mold and mildew?
Yes. The ultraviolet
light and purifying plasma are fungicidal (mold and mildew are
fungi).
Will my family get fewer
colds and flu by using the Biozone Air Purifier?
There
have been no official studies done that confirm this, but independent
laboratory testing has confirmed a remarkable reduction
in airborne bacteria as well as surface bacteria. Since the majority
of colds and flu are caught (transferred) at home, an overall
reduction in contagions in the air and on things you touch should
certainly have a positive effect.
Will a Biozone
Air Purifier cure allergies and asthma?
Biozone
Air Purifiers will not cure allergies, asthma or any healthcare
condition. It is not a medical device nor is it designed for
the treatment or prevention of any health ailment. However, most
asthma and allergy sufferers benefit greatly from the pollutant
free environment provided by the unit. Mold, pollen, dust, animal
dander, dust mites, chemical gases, etc. are all reduced in a
Biozone environment. (See Can
Allergies and Asthma Benefit by Using a Biozone Air Purifier?)
Maintenance Questions
Are there expensive filters that need to be replaced?
There are no expensive
filters to replace. Popular HEPA filters can easily cost from
$60 to $120 or more a year to replace. In Biozone units, there
is a special ultraviolet light bulb that needs to be replaced
every 12 to 15 months. The cost of this lamp varies with specific
models but is approximately $40.
I don't want to spend a lot of money maintaining
my Air Purifier.
Many air purifiers on the market actually cost more
in maintenance costs for parts such as filters in a single year
than their original purchase price.
Be particularly wary of units
that use disposable filters. These filters generally last roughly
three months, and in many cases cost more than $100 to replace.
Many unit manufacturers require that you replace your filter
at least 3 times a year in order to validate your warranty. This
is because dirty filters place more strain on the unit's fan
motor, resulting in a high likelihood of failure or malfunction.
Some air cleaner companies actually
offer furnace filters and air return filters as "free bonuses"
with a purchase. Beware - if an air cleaner company is offering
this kind of "incentive" it probably means that their
unit is not purifying as effectively as it should. Biozone®
Air Purifiers clean your air without the need for filters.
Also watch out for negative ion
and ozone generators using glass plates that require frequent
cleaning and maintenance and break very easily. Their replacement
cost can easily be almost as much as the cost of the original
unit.
Biozone® Air Purifiers use
the ultraviolet light method for UV light, ozone and negative
ion production and require only basic, periodic maintenance -
perhaps every 2-3 months depending on the contamination level.
To keep your unit working optimally, just wipe the bulb with
a damp cloth to remove excess dust. The UV bulbs also need to
be replaced every 12-15 months at a cost of $39.95 for most home
and office units (less for smaller units; up to $97.25 for commercial
and industrial units.
What kind of maintenance is there?
There really isn't
much maintenance to the product. On the smaller units (models
50, 50V, 100, 1000) there is nothing to maintain unless the device
is in a very heavy dusty or smoky area, then we recommend opening
the unit and wiping off the ultraviolet lamp with a soft cloth.
On our larger units (models 2000, 3000, etc.) there is also a
stainless steel filter on the back of the unit that may accumulate
dust and needs to be washed off occasionally (simply rinse under
water faucet).
Guarantee/Warranty
Questions
What if I buy
a Biozone air purifier, and it doesn't work as well as I had
hoped?
Thanks
to our 100% Ironclad Guarantee, you are guaranteed satisfaction
or you will be refunded all of your money, less shipping and
handling. You are given a 30-day risk-free period from the day
your machine arrives at your home or building. You can return
the machine any time during this period and receive a full refund
as long as you follow our Return Policy guidelines (See Guarantee).
Is there any cost
to me whatsoever if I decide to return an air purifier during
the 30-day risk-free period?
The
only cost you could ever incur if you return your machine is
the cost to ship it back to OurFamilysHealth.com. This would
cost you about $10 (give or take a few dollars, depending on
where you ship from). Wouldn't you agree that this is a very
reasonable cost to determine whether or not an Biozone unit is
the air-cleaning solution you've been hoping for to help you
and your family breathe better? Of course, we're extremely confident
that you will be pleased with our products, which is why we are
willing to risk the cost of having machines returned.
Does a returned
air cleaner have to arrive at OurFamilysHealth.com within the
30-day risk-free period in order for me to get my money back,
if I decide to return it?
No. It just needs to be post-marked by the final
day of your 30-day risk-free period, and you must obtain a Return
Merchandise Authorization from OurFamilysHealth.com - and the
correct return address - before returning the unit. For our protection,
units returned without an RMA (Return Materials Authorization)
will be refused, and we cannot be responsible for units not sent
to our authorized returned merchandise address.
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