Babbs In-Duct Air Purifiers                  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• How does it work?
• How does this differ from a filtration system?
• How is this different than a portable unit that plugs into the electrical outlet?
• How much square footage can be covered?
• What maintenance is required?
• What replacement costs are there?
• How do you turn it "on" or "off"?
• How is it installed?
• Is it necessary to have a central A/C system?
• Is it easy to remove and reinstall if necessary?
• How does it prevent particles (such a dust) from entering back into the living space of the home or building?
• Can the ozone be harmful?

How does it work?
Babbs in-duct air cleaners are installed in the main air return duct so that all the air that is drawn through the HVAC system is purified. They also circulate the purified air throughout the home through all the supply vents. The air is purified when it passes nearby the unit's ultraviolet light lamp. Through a unique, patent-pending process, this lamp produces four highly-effective air purification agents that remove impurities, particles, and odors from the air: 1) Germicidal Uultraviolet (UV) Light; 2) "Activated Oxygen" / Ozone; 3) Negative Ions; 4) Purifying Hydroxyls.

More information on each of these air-cleansing methods.

The ozone (which oxidizes pollutants and removes odors) is also blown throughout the supply vents along with the purified air, providing further purification for the home or building.

How does this differ from a filtration system?

• Much more economical, particularly in terms of replacement costs. Filters need to be replaced much more frequently than Babbs in-duct air purifier UV light bulbs, and are much more expensive per replacement.
• Much more effective. Removes/destroys particles of a much smaller size. HEPA filters (the most effective filter available) are effective at removing particles as small as .3 microns. Ozone and ions can effectively remove particles as small as .01 microns, and UV light is effective for pollutants as small as .000001 microns. Babbs in-duct air cleaners can remove many types of pollutants and particles that even HEPA filters cannot, such as viruses, odors, most fumes, most bacteria, most smoke particles, most gases, and many of the different types of dust, allergens, and skin flakes.

How is this different than a portable unit that plugs into the electrical outlet?
Babbs in-duct air cleaners are the most economical way to thoroughly cover an entire home. A portable ozone and negative ion air purifier is more effective for the area in which it is placed. For instance, if you had a strong odor or indoor pollution source in one area of the home or building, a portable unit would be more effective, but it would not be very effective for rooms on other floors, or at the other end of the home or building. This is due to the fact that it would be closer to the primary problem area, and separated from other parts of the home or building by walls, floors, ceilings, etc.

The in-duct unit would be sufficiently and equally effective for the whole home though. This is due to the fact that it purifies all the air that enters the duct airways, and since it evenly distributes purified air to every room, through the supply vents.

The in-duct air purification system is also better at evenly distributing the ozone. Another minor advantage with the in-duct unit is that there is no noise. Portable IPS Babbs and Spring Air units produce low levels of noise.

How much square footage can be covered?
There are three different models for different sizes of homes and buildings. The "In-Duct A1501" covers up to 1500 sq. ft. The "In-Duct A2501" covers between 1500 and 2500 sq. ft. and the "In-Duct A5001" covers between 2500 and 5000 sq. ft. Custom units are available for spaces larger than 5000 sq. ft. Just contact us for more details for larger units.

What maintenance is required?
The ultraviolet (UV) light bulb needs to be simply wiped with a soft cloth and alcohol every 3-6 months. Failure to do so will not damage the unit, but will affect the output of UV light, ozone, purifying hydroxyls, and negative ions, reducing the effectiveness of the unit, but only until this simple task is performed.

What replacement costs are there?
The only part that needs to be replaced is the UV lamp bulb itself. This will cost less than $50 (price depends on model). It only needs to be replaced about every 14 months or so. This is much less costly than filtration systems, which typically need their filters replaced every 2-4 months. These replacement filters (or filter sets) can easily cost around $100 per replacement.

How do you turn it "on" or "off"?
Once installed, the Babbs in-duct air purifier will automatically be activated when the HVAC system is "on". In other words, if the A/C, the heat, or if just the fan is on, then this unit is working. If none of these are on, then the unit is "off". Once initially installed, the unit can be easily disabled by simply unplugging it at the air handler.

How is it installed?
Babbs in-duct air purification systems need to be installed by a HVAC or air conditioning contractor to ensure proper installation. You can find one by looking in the Yellow Pages under "Air Conditioning Contractors". It should take about 20 - 30 minutes to install, costing around $60.

Babbs In-Duct Air Purifier Installation Instructions

Is it necessary to have a central A/C system?
Yes. Babbs in-duct air purifiers need to be installed at the main air return duct in any central a/c system.

Is it easy to remove and reinstall if necessary?
Yes. The initial installation requires some wiring, which is why an A/C contractor is necessary. To remove, you simply need to unplug it. It is easy to remove after doing so. Reinstalling is also very simple.

How does it prevent particles (such a dust) from entering back into the living space of the home or building?
Negative ions will magnetically attract to particles such as dust, smoke, pollen, chemicals, etc. and trap them against the inside of the duct work. The ozone and hydroxyl radicals, which are powerful oxidants, will then oxidize (or "bake") particles into the inside of the ductwork, so they do not re-enter the living space of your home or building. The negative ions are concentrated in a 3-6 foot radius around the unit, so any particulate that does accumulate can be easily wiped away while you are wiping off the bulb (recommended to do so about once a month). It is easy to clean the magnetized particles that are attached to the ductwork, since they will mostly be within a few feet of the unit.

However, it is recommended to use a filter in conjunction with the Babbs induct UV air purifiers, to more efficiently collect dust and other particles that pass through the system. The Babbs unit allows you to use a less expensive filter, since it will take care of the microbial and chemical pollutants, and will cause smaller particles to aggregate together, forming larger particles.

Can the ozone be harmful?
In general, ozone can be harmful, but only when occuring at very high concentrations. The Babbs in-duct air purifier will never produce an ozone level high enough to become harmful. Ozone does not become even a minor lung irritant until it reaches a concentration between .1 to .2 parts per million. However, the smell of the ozone becomes unpleasant well before reaching this level. The FDA standard for ozone is .04 parts per million, and the Babbs in-duct unit will typically produce .02 parts per million of ozone evenly throughout a home. It will produce a maximum of .04 parts per million. At these levels, the ozone produce a fresh smell, reminiscent of the smell in the air after a thunderstorm. For your information, ozone will have an unpleasant "electric" smell if it gets too high above .04 parts per million. This makes it self-policing since the smell will become overbearing well before it becomes harmful.