Let’s go over some basics. Your engine is basically a big air pump. The easier it can breathe in and exhale out, the better the vehicle will perform. For this article, we are going to focus on the breathing in part of the equation. The exhaling part is your exhaust system which we will cover in a separate article.

There are two basic stages to Cold Air Induction. First is increasing the volume of air and second is lowering the temperature of the inducted air.

STAGE ONE: Increasing the Volume of Air

The Filter:

If you open the hood of your vehicle and open the air filter housing, you will more than likely find a paper filter. This is a standard OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) air filter. They are inexpensive for the car manufacture’s to purchase and install. If you go to any aftermarket auto parts store you will find these in ready supply. A much better product is a filter constructed of cotton. A cotton filter traps smaller contaminates than a paper filter and also allows a higher volume of air to pass thru, which lets your engine to breathe easier and therefore perform much better. Also, you don’t have to replace the filter like you do a normal paper filter. Just take it out and clean it periodically when you see it is dirty. There are a number of companies that specialize in these types of filters such as K&N, AEM, and Injen. Most of these suppliers suggest oiling the filter before installation. Now this is not engine oil I am referring to, but a special oil that the suppliers sell. This oil helps trap even finer particles without impeding air volume induction. Don’t get concerned about the oil being expensive. It’s not. K&N sells an Air Filter Service Kit for around $20. It will last you for quite a long time. The kit includes the oil spray, and a cleaning solution. Whenever you take the filter out to be cleaned, just spray the cleaning solution on the filter before rinsing. It helps remove trapped dirt particles from the fine filter element.

Installation:

The filter installation is simple and an easy do-it-yourself project. It is no different than replacing the standard paper air filter.

Step 1: Locate the air filter assembly under the hood.

Step 2: The housing is held together typically by 2 or 3 metal clamps. Open/release the clamps.

Step 3: With the clamps open, pull the housing apart. Be gentle! Some vehicles have the MAF (Mass Air Flow Sensor) attached to the downstream duct coming off the housing. It’s not an overly delicate sensor but you don’t want to be brutal with it. If you are not familiar with what a MAF looks like, you can’t miss it. It has wires coming off it that run from the MAF to the vehicle’s computer. The MAF measures the volume and the temperature of the air that is coming into the motor, and it then adjust fuel mixture to optimize fuel efficiency.

Step 4: Remove the old paper air filter and install the new “oiled” cotton filter.

Step 5: Reattach the Air Filter Housing clamps.

STAGE TWO: Lower the Temperature (a.k.a. Cold Air Induction)

The cotton filters mentioned above are an excellent performance enhancer for your vehicle, but to take it a step further and see even better results you probably will want to replace the Air Filter Housing with a unit that moves the air filter further away from the engine. These assemblies usually will move the filter into the front wheel housing or in the front of the vehicle near the front air dam. Either option will be drawing cooler air from outside the vehicle as compared to pulling hot air from the engine that is trapped under the hood. K&N is a leader in this segment of the market, but if you want to compare pricing, check the internet and I am sure there are others also. K&N has an in-house engineering group that tests all their own products to insure that the products they sell will meet or exceed expectations. The other good thing about a company like K&N is that you can buy the whole system, the filter and the filter housing assembly as a kit. The kit will come with installation instructions that are easy to follow, but to put your mind at ease I will give you a few quick easy steps.

Step 1: Disconnect the air duct from the throttle body on the engine. This is usually a metal retainer clamp that can be unscrewed. The MAF housing may sit sandwiched in between the air duct and throttle body and have its own retainer clamp also. Just unscrew the retainer clamp and remove the MAF. Pay close attention to which side of the MAF faced the throttle body. Air flows in one side of the MAF and out the other. The MAF will need to be installed in the same direction at completion. Set the MAF aside in a safe place for now.

Step 2: Disconnect the air duct from the Air Filter Housing. If you did not already encounter the MAF, you will now. Just follow the MAF removal instruction above. There may also be an air vacuum hose attached. Just pull this apart gently, leaving the hose attached to the engine. Now remove the air duct completely and set it aside.

Step 3: Disconnect the Air Filter Housing from the engine compartment. This is not difficult. Typically there are two to four places where the housing is attached in the engine bay to keep it from moving around. Once you have removed all the screws, remove the Housing unit.

Step 4: Attach the new air duct to the throttle body. Check the new housing instruction for location of the MAF. If it calls for the MAF to be installed between the air duct and throttle body, then install the MAF first to the throttle body, and then the air duct will attach to the MAF. It may call for the air duct to attach directly to the throttle body and for the MAF to attach to the end of the air duct that attaches to the air filter housing. If this is the case then go ahead and attach the air duct to the throttle body then attach the MAF to the air duct.

The new air duct will have a different configuration than your original OEM duct since it is now relocating where the air filter is going to be located.

Step 5: Install the new Air Filter Housing in the location as outlined by the supplier. This may be in the front air dam area or in the fender well. Typically it is in close proximity to the original air filter housing location so that attachment points can still be utilized.

Step 6: Once the Air Filter Housing is firmly attached to the engine compartment, attach the air duct to the housing using the clamps provided.

Step 6: Reattach the vacuum hose to the air duct if your car has one. Also attach the MAF wiring to the MAF.

Step 7: Check all the clamps and make sure they are nice and tight.

Step 8: Start your vehicle. Let it idle a couple of minutes. The engines computer will be recalibrating based on the new air volume. Next, take a short test drive. You should immediately see a noticeable improvement in the vehicles performance. After your test drive, check all the clamps and connections to ensure everything is tight.

A flood of air cleaners is available today in the market spanning from high technology that is proven to lower airborne particulates and technology that is simply mass marketed to the public. What filter is best? Is my iconic breeze really suitable for my allergies? Is my investing in a high-end electronic air cleaner, or a true HEPA air cleaner, or simply better filters such as electrostatic filters or pleated filters, going to improve substantially the air quality in my home?

While all of the above mentioned air cleaners can have an impact in improving air quality they vary tremendously in the degree of efficiency. For many years electronic air cleaners led the forefront as being cutting edge for their removal of small particulates from the air stream including even particles as small as pollen and micro particles less than .3 microns (µ) in size. What was not well discussed about these forms of air cleaners is although they had a 99% or greater initial efficiency rating within 30 days their rating plummeted because it was extremely important to keep the collectors cells clean for them to continue with a high efficiency. The same holds true today for any type of air cleaner that requires electrostatic charging of particles.

The vast majority of homes built today still feature what the air-conditioning industry humorously calls “boulder catchers” for filters. These blue disposable filters are good at best for the removal of large chunks of air debris such as pet dander, hair, or carpet fibers, and only increase in their overall efficiency when they become thoroughly clogged creating a resistance for smaller particles but at a sacrifice of the operating efficiency of the cooling system.

So the question is what air cleaning system should I use? The answer is complex and is really based on what you want to remove from the air. Pollens because of their light airborne nature have a tendency to stay suspended in air longer and thus are more effectively removed by air cleaners than particles of dust that may be of larger size and heavy enough to fall from the air without ever even reaching any type of air cleaner. This is one reason why room air cleaners such as stand alone HEPA filters are much more effective in homes with allergy sufferers because the removal of heavier particles from the air can be concentrated in an area before the particles fall to the ground and are no longer able to reach the return air grill of the heating and cooling system.

One of the concerns with the quality of indoor air is can the pollutant even be removed by an air cleaner? If you are allergic to certain types of molds than the probable culprit is not the mold itself but what the mold gives off as part of its lifecycle which are called mycotoxins. These off gassings of mold are not typically caught by indoor air cleaners and as a result can be a source of irritation even though you may invest in one of the highest quality air cleaners in the market. If you have mold related allergies other strategies are needed other than just air filtration.

When investing in any type of air cleaning system that is attached to the air-conditioning or heating system is imperative that your contractor designed the system for the additional reduction of airflow. As the filter while being efficient at the removal of airborne particulates in the airflow they can because of their greater resistance to airflow reduce the overall efficiency of an air conditioner if they are not accounted for in the initial design. Electrostatic air filters can also dramatically reduce the airflow in an air-conditioning system if they are used in multiple return air grills in a home without consideration in the initial design. This means that the average homeowner can not go to the home repair retail store and buy higher efficiency air filtration and simply stick it in their home without it having future ramifications.

So the answer to the question what air filter is best for me depends on what type of particulate you are trying to remove from the air. Are you allergic to molds, grass or tree pollens, pet dander, dust mites, or other forms of airborne irritants? Many off-the-shelf filtration systems that standalone may lend some relief to typical allergy user who suffers from pollens that stay airborne longer, but for truly cleaner air consult with your air conditioning and heating specialist. Make sure that they have additional training in the area of indoor air quality (IAQ) as it is not a required subject for heating and air conditioning contractors to study. Many contractors have obtained certification as C.I.E.s which means certified indoor environmentalists and are much better qualified to assist you in making the proper selection for clean indoor air.

Simply investing in whatever air cleaner is on the market today will probably be a waste of your money if it is not suitable for the type of material you need removed from your air. Making the air in your home comfortable for you if you suffer from allergies or asthma really requires consultation with an expert in this field. Spend time researching on the Internet, asking questions of your doctor, who may or may not have the proper answer, and consult with a properly trained air conditioning specialist for advice on what is the best way to approach the problem you have. Oh and one more thing, throw away your indoor vacuum cleaner. They are a major source of airborne irritants. If you can afford it and it is feasible install a vacuum system where the actual vacuum cleaner resides in the garage or outside. This one step alone can dramatically reduce the amount of airborne irritants even if you do not have carpet throughout your house in an attempt to reduce allergens.

1. Check The Controller – If the controller has been incorrectly used, the air conditioner will not function. HVAC systems have different settings for cooling and heating, and your air conditioner will not function if the wrong setting is used. If you are still struggling, try looking in your operation manual or ask the contractor who sold you the system for advice. If still no luck, have a look on the internet for some handy tips.

2. Clean The Filters – So many air conditioners struggle because the owners do not clean the filters. Cleaning the filter is ongoing maintenance that you should be performing at least once every few months. Cleaning your air conditioners filters can often fix a problem straight away.

3. Examine The Compressor – If your compressor fails your whole air conditioning system will fail. Check around the compressor for any signs of damage or wear and tare. Listen to the compressor for any irregular noises. Look around the compressor for ice build up as well. If you notice any of these things, it may be a sign of a more serious problem and you should call in an air conditioning contractor to inspect the system.

4. Reset The Power – Just like computers, a simple reset can often fix a hvac system. All you need to do is go to the meter box and turn the unit off. If fitted, there may also be an isolator switch at the compressor you can also turn off. Turn both these switches off for a few minutes before turning back on. It is a simple thing to try but it works quite a lot of the time.

If you have tried all of these points, hopefully you have has some success and your air conditioner is now working. If not, it is time to call in the air conditioning contractor.

The design of a home air cleaner can be created in such a way that the installation can take place within the duct of the central heating system. As an alternative it can also be located in the ventilating or air conditioning duct. This allows the air in the house as a whole to be cleaned but with the help of a portable home air cleaner, the air in a single room or specific area can be cleaned instead of the full house.

How Does It Work?

The majority of home air cleaners have a mechanical air filter. The filters do their job by trapping large airborne particles such as dust, dust mites, pollen, cockroach allergens, mold and pet dander. Nonetheless these particles settle rapidly and they cannot be completely removed by the air filters. When further movement takes place within the house, these particles are disturbed and the larger ones settle once more before the filters have managed to pick them up.

Most air-conditioners and residential furnaces come with flat panel air filters which serve as home air cleaners. Their primary purpose is to protect the equipment. However, they also filter bacteria, viruses and pet and dust mite allergens.

A fan circulates the air and the filters clean it in the portable home air cleaners. It can easily be moved to wherever the cleaning needs to take place and depending on the size of the room it is usually quite effective at reducing airborne pollutants.

Health Concerns

The home electronic air cleaner also removes small particles, but it is ineffective at removing larger particles. Electronic air cleaners can turn out ozone, which can irritate the lungs. Ultra fine particles may also be produced and this happens as a consequence of ozone mixing with indoor chemicals such as air fresheners and cleaning products. Such particles may cause unpleasant health problems.

The home air cleaner certainly helps to lessen levels of smaller airborne particles or allergens but it is not capable of removing microorganisms, which ultimately cause disease.

A home air cleaner can be very useful in a house with children, the elderly or those suffering with respiratory conditions such as asthma. However, as far as the larger particles are concerned they may not be of any help whatsoever.

Types of air purification methods

There are three types of method of air purification: mechanical, a method of purification based on impaction or retention of particles and pollutants by a filter, the most effective is purifier HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter); electronic, the use of an electric field to ionize positively particles sucked into the machine and then adhere to the filter which is negatively charged; and ionization, negative ionization of particles suspended in the air in order to attach them to the areas of the house (which are positively charged) to make them inactive.

What is the best air purification method?

Although there are many types of air purifier, ultraviolet purification is the most effective method to clean the air inside your house from pathogenic particles. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of UV purifiers in improving air quality and reducing symptoms of allergies or respiratory problems, asthma, infection of the respiratory system, etc.

UV air purifier removes 99% of dust, pollen, tobacco smoke, pet dander and mold spores in the air. The ultraviolet rays destroy all harmful pollutant in suspension (bacteria, fungi and mold spores) to help you obtain a air clean and healthy in your home. In addition, a UV purifier is ideal for environments where there smokers, bars, restaurants, casinos, prisons, and more.

1. Removes Cat Hair-While this may seem a pretty obvious point, the reasoning behind it is not. Cat hair attracts all kinds of other smaller pollutants such as household dust, dust mites, pollen, and dander, all of which cause huge problems for anyone with allergies and asthma, and can even cause respiratory problems for those who were previously healthy. So by removing the hair you are also removing many other allergens as well.  

2. Remove Cat Dander-While airborne cat hair is a nuisance and breathing it constantly for prolonged periods of time (like all of your cat’s life) is unhealthy, it is the protein in cat dander that usually triggers asthma and allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, burning throat, sneezing and the like. This dander or dead skin is invisible to the naked eye, but if you’re at all sensitive to it, your nose knows it’s there immediately. It is much smaller in size than hair and needs a cleaner whose filter can remove sub-micron size particles.  

3. HEPA Filter-Because the dander is so small, the purifier you choose should have a filter that can trap tiny particles you can see and invisible ones that you can’t see. By definition a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) filter can remove particles as small as .3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. This means that for every 10,000 particles of dander and other household pollutants that can attach to your cat’s hair, a HEPA will remove all but 3 of them. That puts the odds heavily in your favor for clean air.  

4. On Duty 24 Hours-To be effective your cleaner needs to filter the air 24 hours every day. You cat’s hair is constantly being sent airborne when it goes about its daily activities such as running, jumping on the sofa, or lying on your bed. Your activities also send it airborne when you walk around, sweep or vacuum, or even flop on the couch. Since your cat will always produce and shed hair and dander, your air cleaner should be able to be left on 24 hours to literally keep the hair and dander count down.  

5. Safe for All-Your purifier should produce only fresh clean air as a by product (no ozone), and should have a high capacitor motor that is designed to run constantly and will not overheat when left on day after day. It should also be made of steel rather than plastic. Many times when the motor heats up a plastic air purifier it will off gas fumes into the air, and that is bad news for your cat and you.  

6. More Than One Filter-Cat hair is relentless and one filter will just not be effective for very long. To avoid frequent filter changes, look for an air purifier that has multiple filters, several of which should be pre-filters. A cleaner with pre-filters is an indication that the need for filter changes will be less than a purifier that has no pre-filters and only one main filter.  

7. Filter for Gas and Odor-Having a cat as part of the family comes with some odor. A purifier that can eliminate odor as well as hair and dander will save you time, space, and money. Rather than having to have multiple cleaners to address all the pollutants, having one purifier with multiple filters will mean you have the best possible air purifier for cat hair.

Why Do I Need An Air Purifier?

Not everyone NEEDS one but just about everyone will benefit from one. People who suffer from indoor allergies such as dust and pet dander will most definitely benefit from the addition of an air purifier in their home.

How Do I Know If I Suffer From Indoor Allergies?

Well there are scratch tests that can be performed by a Dr. to determine what types of things you are allergic to and to what degree. Short of that you can also take notice of certain symptoms such as:

• Watery Eyes
• Skin Rashes
• Dry Skin
• Breathing Issues
• Mold or Pet Dander Present In The Home

What Size Air Purifier Do I Need For My Home?

While air purifiers are actually designed for a specific room, there are different sizes available and you need to consider that when you decide to buy one. There is a number called a CADR and what this stands for is Clean Air Delivery Rate and this number should always be at the very least 2/3 of the room size for which you are purchasing one.

There are many other things to understand before you make a purchasing decision. 

Often the condenser coil is neglected. It also needs periodic cleaning to keep it running at it’s peak performance. There are some simple things you can do yourself to ensure you keep your air conditioner running efficiently.

Keep plants and structures a minimum of 12″ from the sides of your condenser. More is needed around the service panel.

Keep a minimum of 5′ of clearance (when possible) above the condenser for your discharge air. You don’t want to draw the discharge air back into the condenser.

Just like keeping your evaporator coil clean you need to keep the condensing coil clean. It generally doesn’t grow mold, it does collect grass clippings, sand, leaves, and the occasional lizard and frog.

Now, to clean your condensing coil you will need a wet vac, a garden hose, spray nozzle, needle nose pliers, and a screw driver or battery drill.

The first thing you need to do is TURN OFF the POWER to the a/c.

If your air conditioner has panels protecting the coil remove them (if you hire a professional make sure he does this). Of course don’t attempt to disassemble the air conditioner if your not comfortable doing this. You can wash it with it still assembled, it just doesn’t do as thorough job. But, it can still be done.

Then again if you feel comfortable doing this remove the top of the condenser. The wires are generally long enough for you to lean the top against the house or you can mark where the fan motors wires connect, and remove the top completely. Use the needle nose pliers to remove the fan wires from the capacitor. Even with the power off the capacitor still has power stored in it. If touched it will shock you.

Then use a wet vac to vacuum the bottom of the condenser to remove leaves and other debris from the bottom. To keep the condenser bottom clean you can use a Leaf Guard to keep leaves, insects, and other debris from building up on the bottom of your condenser. The Leaf Guard is easy to install and works great.

Now turn on the water and prepare to wash the coil. There are solutions available for this but, water works fine unless you have a dry vent nearby that clogged your coil. Then you may need to use a coil cleaner.

When spraying the coil don’t use the jet setting on the spray nozzle. Use the spray setting. You don’t want to damage the coil. Spray the coil from the inside the condenser out to wash the debris out, not push it deeper into the coil.

When your finished reassemble. Turn the power back on.

Now you can relax and stay cool knowing you did your part in keeping your air conditioner running at it’s peak.

Regrettably, times have changed, and now we realize that there may be many contaminants in our water, and to be safe and healthy, it is a good idea to filter the water we drink to remove as many of hates contaminants as possible to try to stay safe and healthy. It is also a good idea to filter the air you breath with an air cooler.

Unlike when we were kinds, when nobody ever heard of a water filtering system, today, most homes have one. Even though we buy bottled water to drink, if we want clean water to drink at home, we will filter it. The oldest technologies in water filtering are reverse osmosis or distillation, but new technophiles have arisen such as carbon filtering and ionization.

There are many difference types of water filtering systems available on the market today, so you can easily find one that will suit your needs for fresh, clean drinking water from your tap. If you want to make sure you have good drinking water everywhere in the house, you should install a system that filters the main water supply as it enters the home. All of the systems are effectively the same, it just depends on where the water is being filtered.

These systems use some kind of mechanical or chemical means to filter the water as it passes through the filter. The principal is to block the contaminants before they reach the faucet. This is the simplest principal, and it will eliminate most large particles from the drinking water.

But to remove the smaller particles, it is necessary to use a more complicated system that uses chemical reaction to further filter the water. In this type of system, there are positively charged minerals that attract the molecules of the pollutants to them, thus removing them from the water. This type of system works well with certain types of contaminants.

The combination of these two forms of filtering is the system most widely used, and the effect of using a surface filtering principal with the mineral media, combined with various levels of micron size and flow rates, will help to filter just about any water problems. For this reason, most households use a water filtering system, since everyone can find one that is made to order to clean up their drinking water.