FAQ’s

Natural clean air is a delicate balance of nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium and other gases. Pollutants alter this composition and balance.

You may already be dealing with air pollution related illnesses such as asthma, allergies, COPD, chemical sensitivity, or you may be healthy and want to protect your health. With today’s insulated buildings and everyday products creating toxic airborne chemicals, it is very likely you would benefit from an air purifier.

Safe, high efficiency air purifiers are an essential component of an overall plan for relief from air pollution. They are not the total solution. Other factors include adequate ventilation and source control as outlined in a simple Clean Air Plan to improve indoor air quality.

The value of any air cleaner depends upon a number of important factors in what to look for in an air purifier, including its safety, efficiency and power, suitability for the type of pollutant to be removed, proper installation in relation to the space, and regular maintenance.

On low setting, the sound of the fan in the air purifier is quiet. In junior models, the sound is almost imperceptible.

We have a 30 day return policy. Please refer to Satisfaction Guarantee.   If you’re not sure about your order, you can call us to change or cancel it before it is shipped.

Austin Air filter cartridges can last up to 5 years under normal residential use, depending on the environment in which it has been placed. Products such as paints and heavily scented sprays will damage a filter. While you are painting a room or using heavily scented sprays, etc. remove your air purifier from the area and keep it well protected. Ventilate the space thoroughly before replacing the air purifier in the room.  Your air purifier can then be used to clean up residue pollutants.

If your air purifier begins to decrease in airflow, it could be time to replace your filter. Another way to know if your filter needs to be replaced is if you smell an odour coming from the unit. But first, make sure it’s not simply that the air purifier is filtering something out of the air, and taking a few passes over the filter to completely remove it. After several air exchanges, if you still detect the odour, it may be time to change the carbon filter.

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds, chemicals which vaporize into the air as gases.  Examples are formaldehyde and ammonia that are extremely dangerous to our health.  We feature Austin Air purifiers designed with specially blended carbon to specifically deal with VOC’s.

In some cases, yes.  However heavy duty chemicals such as those used by printers and beauty salons are usually imbedded in walls, flooring, supplies, furniture and other materials.  There will be an ongoing improvement in air quality with consistent use of an Austin Air purifier; but in some cases, a complete eradication of the odour will not be possible without additional remediation.

It is most effective to place an air purifier near any source of air pollutant. For example, if you have forced air vents and you find that the air coming out of the vents is dusty, place your air purifier close to the vent. (If the air purifier is across the room from the vent, it will pull the dust in the air across the room into the filter.)

We recommend creating at least one clean air room in your home, preferably starting with your bedroom. At first run the air purifier on high for a couple of hours with the door closed and no one in the room. Then keep it running on low.  Experiment with what works best for you.  Breathing clean air while you sleep is one of the best ways to give your immune system a boost.

In this case it is important to clean your area with a microfibre cloth dampened with clean water, and to use a vacuum with a true HEPA filter.  The room should be kept scent free (even the containers of scented products should be stored elsewhere), and as free as possible from dust collecting items such as fabric curtains, upholstered furniture, carpets, collectibles, etc.

Then give the room a thorough air-cleaning by running the air purifier on high for a couple of hours with no one in the room and the door closed; then turn the air purifier on low setting for another 2 hours with the room unoccupied and the door closed. When you re-enter the room, you can either keep the machine running on low or turn it off, depending on your comfort level. Keeping the door closed most of the time can help to keep out pollutants from the rest of the house.

Houseplants do produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide during daylight, and apparently some plants remove airborne chemicals from the air; for example, using philodendrons and spider plants for removing formaldehyde, and chrysanthemums for benzene.  At the same time, overly damp soil will promote the growth of mould and other microorganisms which can affect allergic individuals and cause other health problems. Perhaps the use of plants in moderation can be beneficial.  Again, you can experiment to find what works best for you.

HEPA stands for ‘high efficiency particulate arrestor.’  The first HEPA filter was developed by the US Department of Energy to trap radioactive particles.  Today it is the standard filter used in medically clean rooms such as surgical theatres and laboratories.  Austin Air uses true, medical grade HEPA filters for everyday use to capture submicron particles such as smoke, fine dust, bacteria, viruses, and other common atmospheric impurities. 

Activated carbon traps chemicals, gases and odours; this combined with a true, medical grade HEPA filter offers you the most efficient air purification possible. Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) has the strongest adsorption power of any material known to man. In one pound of carbon there are over 200 miles of tiny pores to trap gases and odours. It is safe, cost efficient and so effective the military uses it in their gas masks!  More carbon equals more adsorption, which simply means fresher, cleaner air.  ‘Adsorption’ means that the chemicals are attracted to the surface of the carbon.

HEGA is an acronym for ‘High Efficiency Gas Absorption.’  Originally developed by the British military as a defence against chemical warfare, HEGA is a carbon cloth filter.  With its light weight and easy workability, HEGA filters are now used in some residential air purifiers.  They are especially useful for trapping airborne chemicals, gases and odours in environments that are very damp.

Mould can cause serious health problems, so if you have extensive mould, consult a remediation specialist. Make sure to remove the mould at its source using an effective and safe, non-toxic product. If it cannot be removed, cut away the host on which it is growing, even if that means removing some drywall.  Eliminate any moisture in the area, since mould needs moisture to grow.