Read Frequently Asked Questions About the Ionic Breeze Quadra
- What does the Ionic Breeze® Quadra® do?
- What makes the New Professional Series Quadra and GP better than the Original?
- What are the advantages of the Germicidal Protection in the Professional Series GP?
- Is the Ionic Breeze Professional Series GP ultraviolet light safe?
- Are there other air cleaners with UV germicidal lamps? Is this idea new?
- Is the Ionic Breeze Quadra effective against allergens?
- How expensive is an Ionic Breeze compared to a HEPA air cleaner?
- How does the Ionic Breeze Quadra clean the air?
- How do the Ionic Breeze Quadra move air without a motor or fan?
- Why should I run my air cleaner continuously?
- What size and type of particles do the Ionic Breeze GP and Quadra trap?
- Does the room size affect how the Ionic Breeze GP or Quadra clean?
- In what size room are the Ionic Breeze GP or Quadra effective?
- What's the difference between the Ionic Breeze Quadra and the Compact Ionic Breeze Quadra?
- What effect does an air cleaner's "high air velocity" have on air quality?
- How often do the collection blades need to be cleaned?
- How are the collection blades cleaned?
- What can be done if the Ionic Breeze starts to make noise?
- What is the fresh scent the Ionic Breeze sometimes produces?
- Is the Ionic Breeze GP or Quadra an "ozone generator"?
- What is CADR?
- Does CADR measure the effectiveness of the Ionic Breeze GP or Quadra?
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1. What does the Ionic Breeze®
Quadra® do?
The Ionic Breeze Silent Air Purifiers are efficient,
high-quality air cleaners that circulate air with silent electronic propulsion.
Both products operate silently and continuously, with very low power demands.
Both trap airborne irritants, bacteria, allergens, dust and other contaminants
on permanent, stainless steel collection blades. Costly replacement filters are
not required. Click
here to view Professional Series Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier with
OzoneGuard.
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2. What makes the New Professional Series Quadra and GP better than the Original?
- Faster air cleaning. Special 3+2 collection blade configuration significantly improves the capture rate of pollen, dander, tobacco smoke, dust and other airborne allergens and irritants.
- Five-minute Boost. Press a button for five quick minutes of high-speed air cleaning and rapid odor removal.
- Removable grills. The front and back grills slide off for easy cleaning. Just rinse or put in the dishwasher to help keep your Professional Series air cleaner looking good as new.
- Negative-Ion FeatureTM. This popular feature from our Feel-Good Fan® program gives you the option to increase the balance of negative ions in your indoor environment, to make it more like a refreshing outdoor place.
- Power-safe controls. Easy-access control switches automatically return to your selected settings when power is restored after unplugging or any unexpected power interruption.
- Cord wrap. Attractiveness is enhanced by a hidden cord wrap in the base.
- Distinctive trim. Graceful tower design is enhanced by “silver onyx” or BurltechTM
3. What are the advantages of the Germicidal Protection
in the Professional Series GP?
In the Ionic Breeze Professional Series
GP, the Philips Sterilamp helps to kill a wide variety of airborne bacteria, mold
and viruses that circulate into the unit. The specific energy found in the photons
of UVC ultraviolet light – at a wavelength in the range of 254 nanometers – is
just the right amount to physically destroy the DNA of microorganisms. This ultraviolet
germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology has been used for decades in hospitals,
health-care clinics, the food industry and elsewhere to reduce bacteria, mold
and viruses. Viruses are especially susceptible to destruction by brief exposure
to UVC light. You are welcome to research the basics of UVGI yourself on the Web
to learn about the full range of infectious microorganisms that are destroyed
by this particular wavelength. Click
here to view Professional Series Ionic Breeze GP Silent Air Purifier with OzoneGuard.
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4.
Is the Ionic Breeze Professional Series GP ultraviolet light safe?
Yes.
The germ-killing UVC light is created by a Philips Sterilamp, manufactured in
Holland; it resembles an ordinary fluorescent tube. In the Ionic Breeze GP, this
Sterilamp is completely shielded inside the unit and meets all government safety
standards for home appliances. (The visible blue light is not the UVC, which is
invisible.) The Sterilamp turns off automatically when the back panel is removed.
There are important usage and safety guidelines in the instructions, but the Ionic
Breeze GP is as safe as other common electric appliances, even in homes with pets
and toddlers.
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5.
Are there other air cleaners with UV germicidal lamps? Is this idea new?
There are no other air purifiers on the market that match Ionic Breeze GP's unique
technology and features — totally silent operation; ultra-low power consumption;
no replacement filters; continuous 24-7 operation; plus UV germicidal protection.
There are a handful of HEPA-style air cleaners with built-in UVC ultraviolet germicidal
irradiation, but they have initial purchase prices in the range of $1,000 to $1,700
— with significant added downstream costs for replacement filters and power.
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6. Is the Ionic Breeze Quadra effective against allergens?
Yes. In fact, Ionic Breeze is the only brand of air cleaner with the Seal of the
Asthma and Allergy Association of America and the Seal of Approval and endorsement
of the British Allergy Foundation (based on their independent testing). Compared
the HEPA air cleaners, the Ionic Breeze is the better choice for home use. Both
HEPA and Ionic Breeze effectively remove airborne particles in submicron ranges.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) technology drives air by fan through
a super-fine disposable filter made of paper. Ionic Breeze is preferable because:
- Ionic Breeze's permanent collectors simply wipe clean. Ionic Breeze has no disposable filters to find, buy, store and replace. HEPA machines require expensive replacement filters.
- Ionic Breeze is silent, runs on 10 watts (Quadra) or 12 watts (Quadra Professional Series) and is designed to clean the air continuously. HEPA machines are noisy, use up to 10 times the power and are impractical to run continuously.
Ionic
Breeze technology has been extensively tested at two prominent U.S. universities
and at America's foremost allergy research center. In one recent report, the center's
director wrote, "When running (Ionic Breeze) in a house with a cat, results provide
overwhelming evidence that the Ionic Breeze can remove large quantities of cat
allergen from the air; that the quantities collected suggest that it can clean
large volumes of air.." Other tests — which are ongoing — show that Ionic Breeze
does a great job capturing particles that contain pollen and other airborne irritants.
Used in conjunction with other allergen removal steps suggested by medical specialists
(e.g., limiting carpeting in the home and using mite-proof bedding), the reduction
in airborne particles by the Ionic Breeze helps to create a low-allergen environment.
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7. How expensive is an Ionic Breeze compared to a HEPA
air cleaner?
The initial purchase prices for an Ionic Breeze air purifier
and a good-quality HEPA air cleaner are close. But the annual operating costs
for a HEPA are much higher. Ionic Breeze runs 24 hours a day on no more than 10
(or 12) watts — like a night-light; a HEPA's motor-driven fan demands up to 250
watts. With a HEPA, one would pay about $150 more per year for electricity. What's
more, the Ionic Breeze has no expensive replacement filters, so there are no added
costs. In contrast, a HEPA will typically cost an additional $150 every year for
filter replacements. That's why we say the Ionic Breeze is "practically free".
Your $300 savings — compared to a HEPA — means the Ionic Breeze pays for itself
in 14 months. For the same results, a HEPA will cost $1,500 more over a five-year
period.
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8.
How does the Ionic Breeze GP and Quadra clean the air?
The Ionic Breeze
cleans the air by trapping airborne particles as they circulate past an array
of electrically charged stainless steel blades. Contaminated air from the room
is drawn in through the vents at the back of the unit. As the particles enter,
they are electrically charged and are attracted to the oppositely charged collection
blades inside. These charged particles will stick to the blades until wiped off
by the user.
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9.
How does the Ionic Breeze Quadra move air without a motor or fan?
A regular
fan works by rotating and physically pushing air with its blades. In a typical
HEPA air filter, a noisy motor will power a rotating fan that makes noise as it
spins. In contrast, Ionic Breeze works by using electrostatic forces to move air
molecules — think of the power of same-pole magnets to push away from each other;
the process is proprietary and patented (Zenion Effect Technology U.S. Patent
No. 4,789,801). This solid-state technology uses an electrical charge to create
air that is densely packed with positively charged ions and negatively charged
electrons. (An ion is an atom with a positive or negative charge.) This "electronic
linear propulsion" is absolutely silent.
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10. Why should I run my air cleaner continuously?
To be truly effective, ALL air cleaners should be run continuously. Our own tests,
and those of others, confirm that indoor air pollution rapidly returns to pretreatment
levels when an air filter is turned off. Air cleaners with noisy fans and big
250-watt power demands are rarely run continuously for obvious reasons. In contrast,
Ionic Breeze is DESIGNED to run 24 hours a day, every day of the year. First,
Ionic Breeze technology is TOTALLY SILENT and second, it's powered by no more
than 10 to 40 watts (depending on the model) to run all functions on their highest
settings.
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11.
What size and type of particles does the Ionic Breeze Quadra trap?
Ionic
Breeze technology is effective at trapping airborne particles ranging in size
from .05 to 30 microns. (A micron is SMALL. The width of a human hair ranges from
50 to 200 microns!) The very small particles include tobacco smoke, viruses and
some allergens; medium-size particles include other kinds of smoke, bacteria and
other types of allergens; and larger-size particles include mold spores, pollen
and dust.
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12.
Does the room size affect how the Ionic Breeze Quadra cleans?
The size
of a room affects the time it takes to reduce airborne particles to the lowest
concentration. Additionally, other important environmental factors can affect
particle levels, including:
- Types of flooring and carpeting
- Furniture type and quantity
- Presence of pets
- Activity in a room
- Ventilation
- Level of outdoor air pollution
13. In what size room are the Ionic Breeze Quadra and New
Ionic Breeze Quadra Professional Series effective?
Any size room will
benefit from the continuous removal of harmful particles from the air. As a general
guideline, we suggest one Ionic Breeze Silent Air Purifier for areas up to about
500 square feet (one large room or two smaller rooms). While both models are effective,
the Professional Series Ionic Breeze Quadra has more cleaning power and will collect
more particles faster. For a larger room and/or for greater air pollution, the
Professional Series is recommended.
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14. What's the difference between the Ionic Breeze Quadra
and the Compact Ionic Breeze Quadra?
The compact version has about two-thirds
the cleaning power at about two-thirds the cost. Because of the smaller collection
area, more frequent cleaning is required. An extra collection grid is provided
to allow for quick exchange of the dirty grid to a clean one.
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15. What effect does an air cleaner's "high air velocity"
have on air quality?
In actual room settings, an air cleaner's high air
velocity tends to agitate and disturb small particles that have settled in carpets
and upholstery, on floors, tables and shelves. The Ionic Breeze Quadra and New
Ionic Breeze Quadra Professional Series, in contrast, have slow air velocity,
which helps them to maintain consistent quality and cleanliness of indoor air
as they operate 24-7.
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16. How often do the collection blades need to be cleaned?
Depending upon the amount of air pollutants, the collection blades should be wiped
or rinsed clean about every two weeks, or anytime the Ionic Breeze makes an audible
sound or whenever the cleaning indicator light flashes. (NOTE: Because smoke and
airborne residue from burning wood, wax logs or candles is so substantial, we
recommend wiping the blades clean as soon as possible after enjoying a fire or
candlelight.)
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17.
How are the collection blades cleaned?
Simply slide out the collection
blades and wipe them clean with a damp cloth, paper towel or sponge. The blades
also may be rinsed clean under the tap or with a kitchen sprayer. (NOTE: It is
very important that the collection blades are allowed to dry completely before
sliding them back into the main housing.)
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18. What can be done if the Ionic Breeze starts to make
noise?
If basic cleaning fails to stop the noise, try the following special
cleaning tips:
- Unplug the unit and remove the collection grid.
- Invert, rotate and shake the unit for several minutes. This aggressive action will cause the internal cleaning beads to scrape the ionizing wires inside the unit. Noise can be caused by particles clinging to the wires and the cleaning beads are designed to get rid of these small particles.
- The above procedure may require several attempts.
- With the grid removed, up-end the unit and shake out collected dust from the base.
Plug the unit back in and listen. If the noise persists:
- Unplug the unit and remove the grid.
- Remove the back cover to expose the germicidal lamp area. (GP model only.)
- Use compressed/canned air to blow away debris and dust from the wire and any visible parts inside the unit. (A hand-held hair dryer can also be used.)
Reassemble the unit and test again. If the noise persists, cautiously try the following:
- Unplug the unit and remove the collection grid.
- Use a cotton swab taped to a stick, cardboard from a dry-cleaner hanger, or a long tube of rolled newspaper to wipe down the ionizing wires inside. These thin wires run down the entire length of the unit. Use only gentle pressure to avoid breaking the wires.
- Blow away dust using canned/compressed air and reassemble the unit.
This should be a "last-ditch"
effort, since too much pressure could break the wires and cause the unit to become
defective. If the wires break or the noise persists, call 1-800-344-5555 for further
assistance.
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19.
What is the fresh scent the Ionic Breeze sometimes produces?
That faint
scent is ozone (O3), a molecule consisting of three
oxygen atoms. It is a common component of outdoor air. The U.S. government has
set safe standards for ozone and the Ionic Breeze
GP complies with those standards.
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20. Are any Ionic Breeze air purifiers "ozone generators"?
No.
An ozone generator is a device specifically designed to produce large amounts
of ozone as its primary method of treating and removing odors from indoor air.
The EPA regards such ozone generators as unsafe for home use. Ionic Breeze air
cleaners, in contrast, release only small, trace amounts of ozone — sufficient
to eliminate many common household odors but insufficient to cause any concern.
Because this amount is so small and incidental, Ionic Breeze Silent Air Purifiers
are considered not to be ozone generators. Ionic Breeze Silent Air Cleaners are
electrostatic air cleaners that meet all government standards for safety, including
ozone release. The Ionic Breeze complies with U.S. safety standards for low ozone
emission (less than 50 parts per billion). We recommend that individuals with
a history of respiratory disease consult their doctor about possible heightened
sensitivity to very low ozone.
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21. What is CADR?
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery
Rate, and it is a way to measure how fast an air cleaner removes airborne contaminants
over a short period of time. CADR is a standard laboratory test for some manufacturers
in the air-cleaner industry, using a specific size chamber with premeasured levels
of airborne particulates.
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22. Does CADR measure the effectiveness of the Ionic Breeze
GP or Quadra?
No, not at all. CADR is not designed to test the new Ionic
Breeze technology, which has a low air-speed flow versus conventional kinds of
air cleaners that rely on a high-speed airflow for their operation. One key to
the Ionic Breeze's efficiency and effectiveness is its silent, 24-hour operation.
Its airflow is slower but constant.(top)