FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Ultraviolet

Q: Why are CaluTech products so inexpensive? Are they "cheap air purifiers" ?

A: When buying on our website the air purifiers come straight from manufacturing to your door, unless you want us to install it for you. This cuts costs on our side so we pass the savings on to you. Are they cheap? Hardly. These units are professional and operate at optimum levels. They are heavy duty and made in USA, manufactured in Illinois.

A: Five Star Maintenance of New Jersey/New York is your clean air source on the East coast. We are the New Jersey and New York distribution point for CaluTech (in Illinois), serving metro New Jersey & New York. We also install the UV air purifier products upon request.

A: Download the Indoor Air Quality research data, or visit our Snapcat page for brochure downloads which better explain the Snapcat air oxidation process.

Q: Are these UV air purifiers able to kill Bird Flu / Avian Flu or Influenza?

A: Should the virus indeed mutate into an airborne pathogen that spreads like the more common flu, yes, all CaluTech products have more UV energy than required to destroy the bird flu virus, but it is mainly spread by surface contact.

Q: I saw a similar item, called an ozone generator. Is this the same thing?

A: The CaluTech products are not ozone generating air cleaners. Ozone is harmful to your health. See our "More Information" page to learn more about what an ozone system really does. In September 2007 the State of California issued a ban on ozone generator air purifiers and air cleaners.

Q: Do your UV lamps produce ozone?

A: Many UV lamps intentionally produce ozone in large amounts, which we do not recommend, nor does the EPA or American Lung Association. The UV lamps we use have special tubing that filters out the 185nm ozone wavelength, however all UV lamps that are considered 'ozone free' do produce some ozone, but the amount of ozone produced is so minute it is not considered an ozone producing lamp.

Q: How does your product compare to the ionic purifier on TV?

A: Simply put, to date, there is no known scientific evidence that ionic air purifiers actually help people in any way, just opinions, no proof. UV-C is proven. That's a good marketing department they have!

Q: How long are UV lamps good for?

A: CaluTech products use UV-C germicidal lamps which operate at a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers and can last as long as 3 years. Each lamp is under warranty for 30 days (but the UV air product itself has a 10 year warranty), and 36W replacements are only $22.99 each, not $40 or $80 each like other companies (we don't mark them up). Replacement 18W lamps are $22.49 and 60W lamps range from $32 to $49 depending on availablility. It is a very cost effective UV air purifier. We recommend annual changes of the UV lamps for maximum ultraviolet air sterilization.

Q: Why are your UV-C germicidal lamps / bulbs so inexpensive?

A: It's very common for customers to think our UV lamps are not efficient like competitors because they are under $25, but the fact is they are more powerful than most UV-C germicidal lamp products used in other UV air purifier systems. Plain and simple, we don't mark them up. You can find our same style lamp used in our UV air purifier at a competitor site for $45 each, and we even found another for $107 each, that's just ridiculous.

Q: How much maintenance does the unit require?

A: CaluTech air purifiers require minimal maintenance. All you need to do is change the lamps once a year for maximum UV air sterilization. Once your unit is installed, you simply plug it in. Portable units need filter changes twice per year, and 2 years of filters are supplied with each unit. Replacements are only $10 to $20 per year, that's it!

Q: Is this something the average homeowner can install themselves?

A: Yes. Installation is simple, but if you prefer you can arrange installation with Five Star Maintenance. We're EPA certified, licensed, insured and handle residential and commercial HVAC. The unit can be installed in as little as 20 minutes. If you do not wish to install a furnace duct mounted germicidal air purifier you should have us install for you. Installation is very simple and only requires a drill with a 2" holesaw and a phillips screwdriver, that's it! (holesaw can be 1 3/4, 1 7/8, 2, 2 1/4, or 2 1/2)

Q: What kind of warranty does CaluTech offer?

A: The CaluTech Blue, Mini-Blue and Blueray UV air purifiers carry a warranty of 10 years against parts and labor. The Airtronics UV purifier carries a 5 year warranty, and the Hurricane portable UV air purifier carries a 90 day warranty. We also offer replacement parts here.

Q: I've seen other units available that claim to be high powered air purification utilizing UV. How does CaluTech's unit compare?

A: There is no comparison. The Calutech Blue™ produces over 24,000 microwatts of complete air sterilization and has been tested to safely sanitize between 98 and 99.9 percent of the indoor air. The Blueray produces 40,000! No other unit we're aware of on the market can compete. CaluTech UV sterilizes the air in the United Nations building right here in New York, chosen for their power & strong performance. The effect of irradiation is based on microwatts and time of exposure. The lethal exposure period of an organism is determined by its susceptibility. The wavelength of radiation, the density of the radiation flux (watts per unit area) and time exposure. These UV lamps are regulated at 253.7 nm energy. The germicidal effectiveness is proportional to the product of intensity time from one micro-second to a few hours. CaluTech estimated a typical air velocity of a home furnace and doubled the amount of UV actually needed. Now fast moving air can be sterilized. Other units can't even do the job, they just light up but do not have enough UV to kill anything when the air is moving.

Some references you can check:

Ultraviolet and Infrared engineering by Summer, Interscience Publishers
American conference of Governmental and industrial hygienist, Threshold limits for workroom air.
Ultra-Violet Radiation by Koller, Pub. John Wiley and sons.
Any state government agency should also have information on the technology used in the wastewater field which is much more critical than air sterilization. UV is commonly used in place of chlorine for disinfections and the technology has been used extensively in the pharmaceutical industry.

Q: There are a lot of units on the market. Where does the CaluTech Blue™ fall into place?

A: Because of the recent scare of bio-terrorism, companies have virtually popped up overnight selling units that look a lot like the CaluTech Blue™ UV air purification system. These are NOT CaluTech units and they do not perform to the level of CaluTech standards.

Q: Is the CaluTech Blue™ constructed in a solid manner, and are the electrical components safe?

A: The Calutech Blue™ is encased in a steel housing, no cheap plastic, and the air purifiers are certified for US (UL) and Canada (CSA). All CaluTech inner components use only UL / CSA certified parts. Our certifcation covers shock and fire hazard and installation in damp locations. In New York State the law requires certification so don't make a mistake and buy an un-certified product, it's not legal. Los Angeles has the same law as well as other states and major cities. It's for your own safety.

Q: How many watts? What are the details of the bulb?

A: UV-C: 24-26 Watts. Bulb: 36 watts each, Hot Cathode. This is the spec for the Blue, Hurricane, and Airtronics UV air purifiers. The Blueray duct mounted UV air purifier features 120 watts. The Mini-Blue furnace / A/C duct mount air purifier features 2 18w lamps with short lamps for tight areas.

Q: Is Hot Cathode better than Cold Cathode?

A: In the uppermost vertical section of your plenum both hot and cold cathode tubes suffer diminished effectivness based on cooler temperatures. We overcompensate with excessive UV-C wattage to get a maximum kill without ozone. Adding Snapcat increases kill rates outside of the air duct.

Q: What is Snapcat?

A: Snapcat is an advanced air oxidation technology, commonly called Photocatalytic Oxidation. A Photocatalyst for air purification. Read more here.

Q: How much does all this cost?

A: The CaluTech air purifier line is fully guaranteed. Pricing can be viewed in the shopping cart.

Q: I've had a CaluTech UV air purifier system in my home for over a year and have never changed the lamps. Does this mean it is no longer cleaning the air?

A: No. Although the lamps should be changed yearly for maximum UV air sterilization, your UV air purifier is still cleaning the air. Not changing the lamps every year lowers the effectiveness of the sanitizing cycle. Lamps can last up to 3 years.

Q: Similar UV air cleaners sell for $700 or more. Why is the CaluTech Blue sold for such a low price?

A: CaluTech is a manufacturer of air purification equipment in Orland Park, Illinois. There's no overseas shipping charges or customs expenses because their products are all made in USA. They distribute through HVAC and heating and air conditioning companies like ours, and we are the air purifier distribution point for New York and New Jersey. Outside of this area you can still buy here and we'll ship it to you, or have it drop-shipped from the factory in Orland Park, Illinois.

Q: I'd like to benefit from the use of a UV air cleaner, but I do not have forced air ducts in my home. Can I use the CaluTech Blue?

A: It is for ventilation only but you can benefit from the UV photo catalyst plasma air purifer for rooms, a portable system that we created for people who do not have forced air ventilation. The United Nations uses this air purifier.

Q: I've just received my furnace air duct UV lights air purifier. The instructions explain everything well, but I'm still not sure where to put it?

A: If you have A/C we recommend installation above the coils. If you do not know where they are look for a drain hose or copper lines entering your air duct. This is where the coil is. You want to install the unit above this coil. Because coils are always wet, even when the A/C is not running, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, dust mites, and mold. The UV light shining down on this coil burns all of these pathogens up. DO NOT drill right into the duct where the drain or copper lines are coming out. You must install it above the coil. If you run a drill bit into this coil all the freon will come out and you will need to call us, an HVAC contractor, to open the duct and repair the coil, or even replace it. A good idea is to drill a small inspection hole above where the coil is, or even open the air duct to look at where it sits, so you know you've installed it in the right spot. If you do not have A/C you can install the unit easily in the cold air return line, which is the duct that brings the air in the home or building to the furnace so it can be heated. If you're in doubt, call us, we're an EPA Certified heating & air conditioning company and we will install it for you. It doesn't cost much to have it professionally installed. Install time is usually less than 15 minutes.

Q: I have a humidifier on my supply duct. Can I install the UV air purifier near the humidifier?

A: Yes, above the humidifier. If you install it below the humidifier water droplets can drip down on the lamps and shorten their life. The product is certified by an OSHA NRTL for damp locations.

Q: These just plug-in? Shouldn't they be wired to the fan for on/off?

A: You are better off with the unit on always, not connected to a relay or switch on the fan. When the fan isn't running the pathogens and mold spores in the air don't stop too. In addition, the dust mites don't stop mating and multiplying. You want the UV on whenever possible. If mounted at the coils keep in mind that they are always wet, even when the fan shuts off. If the UV goes off at the coil for even 10 minutes mold already begins to form. Keep it on for cleaner air. This extends the lamp life and the electrical cost is no more than a single light bulb. ($15-20 yearly expense)

Q: If the air duct mounted air purifiers fail how do I get my replacement?

A: That's easy, just send us an email for help.

Q: What exactly is ultraviolet light?

A: Ultraviolet light is an invisible light (to humans) but many insects can see it (known as phototactic eye sight). UV light emits at different levels called nanometers (a unit of measurement that is one billionth of a meter). Ultraviolet light is separated into three common spectrums. UVA operates between 315 and 400 nanometers (nm). These are known as black lights and many insect zappers use this UV lamp to attract insects to the zapper because the insects think the light they see is the sun. UVB is used for tanning beds and operates between 280 and 315 nm. UVC is used for UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) and this is what our units operate at. This light has a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm. Our products operate at 253.7 nm which is the optimal level of UVC light for sterilization of the air, and even water. UV light is present in a fluorescent lamp tube which contains a mixture of 3 mgs of mercury and a phosphor coating. When UV lamps are energized the electrical current is mixed through the lamp tube that contains the phosphor and mercury vapor. The atoms in the Mercury absorb the energy from the electrical current which causes the atoms to become unstable. The atoms seek to become stable again so in order to do this they must lose any extra energy they contain. When the atoms release this energy it is released in the form of ultraviolet radiation. When the UV radiation is present in the tube lamps it attempts to get out of the phosphor coated lamps (coated inside the tubes). When this happens UV light is released. The more or less amount of phosphor coating inside the lamp tubes the higher or lower the amount of nanometers. With different mixes of phosphor the desired amount of UV is produced (A, B, or C).

CaluTech's UVC light air purifier penetrates the outer membrane of viruses, bacteria, mold, and even yeasts. When this happens the DNA of the microbes is modified, which causes modifications to the DNA structure, and eliminates the possibility of these microbes to reproduce, so they eventually all die off just as humans would if we could no longer produce. All microorganisms have different levels of tolerance to radiation and these levels are measured (known as a D Value) which makes it possible to estimate the time of exposure required to destroy these different microorganisms. The chart on our home page shows many of these values and where possible we also link to more information about the virus, mold, bacteria, yeast, etc.

More Questions? Call us in New Jersey at: 1-973-208-8769