Our Story
The story behind Nautic Air is quite simple. Heath Schuman had a young daughter with severe allergies. As any parent knows, watching your child suffer with any type of health issue is difficult. Testing, doctor appointments, specialists and her suffering finally took its toll. After determining that her allergies and health issues were environmentally based, he refused to accept the standard treatment of constantly adding new and different medications. He decided he was going to create the healthiest, safest environment for his little girl and his family.
After trying some less-than-perfect, yet expensive store-bought air purifiers, he and his wife noticed that both children began sleeping through the night more often and their snoring and sleep apnea improved (something multiple trips to Johns Hopkins and other specialists had not). The solution was in the air. He began researching air purification technology and discovered that PCO technology was not only the most effective method, but was also “green” – something important to him as he was working to improve her environment, not add more toxins. So since he couldn’t find the ideal unit, he gathered all his resources and connections, and developed his own. Working with a colleague, they built the first of several prototypes and had third-party testing completed that proved their unit created an air space “cleaner than the operating rooms they had tested”. The results were so amazing they ran the air tests again as they had never seen such dramatic reductions in air borne pollutants.
While demo units were working in his home, he focused on building an in-line unit for boats and yachts. He had multiple requests from boat owners for help with the very same problem – boats are notorious for unhealthy air. The NA marine unit was introduced to the World at the International Boat Builders Exhibition and Expo in Miami in 2008. The testing, the potential, and the response was incredible. Nautic Air was awarded the prestigious “IBEX Innovation Award” for technology and solutions to an age-old problem. IBEX judges and the media touted Nautic Air’s unrivaled approach and fresh thinking vs. the competitors remarketing old technology. Nautic Air began receiving world-wide attention from manufacturers, customers, and competitors.
Due to the scalability of the technology, the portable NA30 was developed followed by the NA20 for HVAC units. As commercial inquires began, a V-banked system was designed for larger applications. When a local funeral home needed help with dangerous formaldehyde levels, they came to Nautic Air and worked with Heath to design a unit specifically built for their requirements. Within an hour of turning the unit on, levels were well below the safety levels. Units have recently been designed for Amtrak trains to assist with restroom odors. The uses for Nautic Air are limitless.
As for the reason that Heath started Nautic Air—his daughter Danielle is completely healthy, off all medications, and does not appear to be reactive to any allergens at this time. She has resumed a normal diet and had recovered from many of the side-effects of all her medications. Since the local School Board refused to allow any type of air purification in the building (which was making her so sick – she was in healthy air at home, but exposed to air at school that was making her allergic and reactive to nearly everything), she is now homeschooled and thriving. She spends most of her time in a healthy, clean environment which has allowed her immune system to recover and allows her to go anywhere now without the fear of an allergic reaction (no- she is not kept in a bubble- she does what all kids do- games, parks, beaches, malls, friends homes, etc). But giving her immune system the break it needed to recover and keeping her in clean air whenever possible has made the biggest difference. She is not the only one- it still excites Heath to hear how Nautic Air has changed the lives of so many families and individuals.