Particle counter anyone?

[wptski]

Anyone in the IAQ field use a particle counter on their job?

[leonfreon]

Yeah but the dude quit last week... r-r-r

[coolwhip]

:D

[wptski]

Okay, looks like two yes votes! What make/model do you use? Comments bad or good too.

[teddy bear]

Used one for a couple years doing a indoor air quality study. The results were disappointing. The meter worked well but the results were as follows. We were comparing homes with hepa, 70% eff. dust spot, and no air filters. Air was always clean with no physical activity and always dirty with phsical activity regardless of the type of air filtering. Although generally cleaner with better filtering, homes have high levels of dust more dependent on location and activity than air filtering. Get the best air filtering you can afford but don't expect to demonstate the difference with a particulate counter. Mainly, your equipment is cleaner. Most dust comes in on your clothes and air leakage during dry, windy weather. Dry dust is inert. Wet dust grows mold and may make you sick. TB

[wptski]

Originally posted by teddy bear
Used one for a couple years doing a indoor air quality study. The results were disappointing. The meter worked well but the results were as follows. We were comparing homes with hepa, 70% eff. dust spot, and no air filters. Air was always clean with no physical activity and always dirty with phsical activity regardless of the type of air filtering. Although generally cleaner with better filtering, homes have high levels of dust more dependent on location and activity than air filtering. Get the best air filtering you can afford but don't expect to demonstate the difference with a particulate counter. Mainly, your equipment is cleaner. Most dust comes in on your clothes and air leakage during dry, windy weather. Dry dust is inert. Wet dust grows mold and may make you sick. TB
TB:

Sounds like a particle counter is almost useless, at least when it come to home IAQ?

[genesis]

Go to flukes web site they have a real nice one that isn't to expensive. Granger has it in their catalog. It hooks to a computer and gives you a report that you can print. Also sample resuts can be missleading on counters.Most have a quarter inch sample tube with no hood attachment so you are only getting a cross section of let us say a filter.
Paul
http://www.genesisair.com

[wptski]

Originally posted by genesis
Go to flukes web site they have a real nice one that isn't to expensive. Granger has it in their catalog. It hooks to a computer and gives you a report that you can print. Also sample resuts can be missleading on counters.Most have a quarter inch sample tube with no hood attachment so you are only getting a cross section of let us say a filter.
Paul
http://www.genesisair.com
Paul:

Yes, I've been looking at the Fluke 983 and Lighthouse 3016 IAQ models. The Fluke comes with all the stuff that you have to purchase as accessories with the 3016 IAQ. Since I'm a Fluke kind-of guy and own a bunch of their test tools, I lean towards them. They both would end being about the same price with the lowest price found for the Fluke.

[tonys]

of course, the smaller the particle size, the longer the sample time and sample quantity necessary to achieve acceptable repeatability...if you have the time available, that is.

[hepa - guy]

To the guy that was dissapointed with his test results using a particle counter: You must have done something wrong with your test. I can show you 100 times out 100 that you will get dramatic positive results measuring a central HEPA filtered home with a particle counter.

Buy metres on line at http://www.metone.com Look at the GT321 or Gt521

[hepa - guy]

Make sure the meter you buy measures down to .3 microns, otherwise it's useless

[wptski]

Originally posted by hepa - guy
Make sure the meter you buy measures down to .3 microns, otherwise it's useless
I've had a Fluke 983 for a couple of weeks now and just using it around the house, I find that it works. I bought a new HEPA certified vacuum cleaner and a IQAir HealthPro PLus is in the tube!

EDIT:
I find out that my old Honeywell F50A EAC doesn't work too badly either! The house was all closed up all day, a .01CF six second test shows over 12,000 0.3 micron particles but after running just the furnace fan(EAC) thirty minutes, it's down to 4,000 0.3 micron particles!

One thing that I find odd about it though and I've called to ask about, it was designed that way. You can do multiple delayed samples up 24 hours but the pump runs during the delay or non-count time! Seems kind-of dumb, hey? Why have the pump running all the time unless there's as good reason for this??

[Edited by wptski on 05-25-2006 at 04:16 PM]

[ec2001]

I would look into the Air Advice monitor with a Particulate sensor. It'll give you an accurate number expressed in ug/m3, and won't cost nearly as much as the others mentioned in the thread. It tests down to .3 microns.

[wptski]

Originally posted by ec2001
I would look into the Air Advice monitor with a Particulate sensor. It'll give you an accurate number expressed in ug/m3, and won't cost nearly as much as the others mentioned in the thread. It tests down to .3 microns.
I don't recall that brand while researching them. A bit too as I've had the Fluke 983 since 5/13/06 but thanks anyway!

Google search come up blank on "Air Advice particle counter"! Got a link??

Put the proper words and you'll find it! :D Air Advice monitor was found now!

That's just as it states, a monitor not a handheld portable tester. I just used mine to detect leaks around window frames and doors. The windier the day better it works!

[Edited by wptski on 07-19-2006 at 11:15 PM]

[on call]

The Air Advice is more for IAQ testing. It test several parameters of IAQ (VOC, Temp, RH%, & Particles). It gives a total particle count and not specifics like the Fluke.

I have been researching getting the monitor, but you have to get 3 of them from the mfr. and it is very pricey $$$.

[wptski]

Originally posted by on call
The Air Advice is more for IAQ testing. It test several parameters of IAQ (VOC, Temp, RH%, & Particles). It gives a total particle count and not specifics like the Fluke.

I have been researching getting the monitor, but you have to get 3 of them from the mfr. and it is very pricey $$$.
I know what you mean as I lost several nights of sleep before deciding to purchase the Fluke 983! :)

[ascj]

We currently have 5 Air Advice monitors. They are great. If you think one is out of calibration, then you send it in and they check it free of charge.

I always felt bad selling IAQ products to customers. I didnt know if they worked or if thats what they needed. Now with the Air Advice I know what they need and if it actually is doing what it is suppose to.

Our customers love them.

[wptski]

Originally posted by ascj
We currently have 5 Air Advice monitors. They are great. If you think one is out of calibration, then you send it in and they check it free of charge.

I always felt bad selling IAQ products to customers. I didnt know if they worked or if thats what they needed. Now with the Air Advice I know what they need and if it actually is doing what it is suppose to.

Our customers love them.
What's a typical evaluation? What do you generally see for instance? Show improvements after installs?

[ascj]

We install the monitor for a week. We print out the results and solution prices and pick up the monitor and present our solution and prices. After the install we wait 2 weeks and install again for a week. Again we bring results back when we pick up.

Depending on what the customers problems were and what we ended putting in....makes a huge diffence in the results.

We have seen hardly any change to huge IAQ quality results.

But the main thing there were no false claims.

If any one wants a example report, then email me and Ill send it.