Happily, there’s a new air purification technology that can make a difference by effectively removing more than 99.7 percent of allergens, such as mold spores, mildew and pathogenic bacteria from the air. Consider the case of Dana, a homeowner in Maryland (Dana prefers not to be fully identified since she’s very protective of her family’s privacy).

Dana and her children have suffered from severe allergies all their lives. They coped with a constant series of allergy shots, taking medications, and vigilantly maintaining a clean home environment. But nothing seemed to offer enduring relief.

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise when, in October 2009, Dana’s family discovered a leak in their kitchen caused by a faulty dishwasher. Undetected for some time, the water leak had seeped through the floorboards and produced mold spores in the crawlspace below. This was obviously a health issue for a family with allergies, so Dana wasted no time in addressing the problem.

A professional cleaning company, SchumanClean, was called in. After a thorough home inspection, the house was treated with Schuman’s mold remediation service, a detailed cleaning and odor removal service, which ensures that indoor mold growth, is properly contained and removed to prevent the toxins from filling the air and settling in air ducts and crawlspaces. After the mold remediation, the family’s contractor, Air Master Heating and Cooling located in Easton, Md., installed a crawlspace dehumidifier and new HVAC systems.

On the recommendation of Heath Schuman, president of SchumanClean, Dana and her family decided to take it one step further and installed a new technology, NauticAir air purification system. Schuman understands from personal experience the challenges faced by people with allergies. His own daughter suffered from allergy-related illnesses for years. Her immune system would become severely compromised by dust, mold and even the common cold. Every breath she took was an invitation for allergens to attack. Searching for a solution to ease his daughter’s suffering, Schuman spent years researching air purification technologies, eventually coming up with the NauticAir solution.

The effectiveness of an air filter is measured by its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating. The higher a MERV rating, the greater the percentage of particles captured with each pass of air. A MERV rating of 12 is considered superior for residential applications. A rating of 16 qualifies a space for general surgery. Schuman’s research revealed that high-MERV filters can help, but are just not good enough. The type of ordinary air purifiers advertised on television and purchased in malls and through catalogues can help, but some of these devices emit ozone that can trigger asthma.

The patent-pending NauticAir system uses a proprietary combination of ultraviolet light (UV) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) called photo catalytic oxidation (PCO) technology, to produce hydroxyl radicals which kill mold, bacteria, viruses and other volatile organic compounds. It is four times more powerful as a disinfectant than chlorine, and one-and-a-half times stronger than ozone, but is non-toxic and emits no ozone or other harmful by-products.

The hydroxyl radicals produced by the UV-treated TiO2 effectively oxidize bacteria, molds, viruses, pollen and other allergens. This includes influenza, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Norovirus and H1N1. NauticAir technology eliminates particles down to 0.0001 microns from air, including the very tiny lung – penetrating particles. By contrast, a HEPA filter having a MERV rating of 16 captures 95 percent of particles larger than .3 microns. NauticAir is 3,000 times more effective than such a filter.

NauticAir’s photocatalytic process can also eliminate toxic gas-phase volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutants including formaldehyde, exhaust fumes, benzene, toluene, and odors like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the air. Even gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, untouched by most other technologies, are eliminated.

Independent testing by third-party certified labs like Hygiene Assurance Group revealed that the NauticAir system successfully removed 99.7 percent of harmful airborne contaminants —better than a clean hospital room.

Schuman originally introduced the NauticAir solution in a package tailored for yachts, in which mildew, mold, noxious odors and stale air are commonplace. It was an immediate success, and was honored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) as one of the most innovative products of the year in 2008. Buoyed by the enthusiastic response in the boating industry, Schuman developed solutions for the home and office environments.

For Dana’s home, a NauticAir NA20 inline purifier was directly installed in the return-air duct of the HVAC system. “The installations were quick and painless,” said Dana. “The overall experience with both companies, Air Master and Schuman, was pleasant. They were very responsive and professional.” “Heath’s personal family testimony with his own mold and family allergy situation just really hit close to home and helped us make the decision to try this new technology,” Dana said.

The mold remediation measures, coupled with the NauticAir purifier, made a tremendous difference for Dana and her family. She noted that soon after those services were rendered, they noticed significant and dramatic changes.

Dana’s oldest daughter no longer needs allergy medications or nasal sprays. Her nightly dry coughing spells are gone. Her younger children used to require additional breathing medications such as liquid steroids, to help with the common cold. Now, when they develop a cold, it clears up without additional medications. And Dana no longer suffers for weeks and weeks from the common cold, borderline pneumonia, and allergies so severe that they would make her lungs burn.

“I would definitely recommend NauticAir,” said Dana. “Since it’s been installed in our home, we’ve experienced regular seasonal colds without any asthma complications or the need for additional medications. I feel our air is much cleaner and healthier.”

The trips to the doctor’s office are far fewer. And without the need for additional medications that were costing a small fortune, Dana is enjoying significant savings she can use for things her family enjoys. And the music to Dana’s ears? It’s the sound of silence that’s replaced the wheezing noises from her children’s bedrooms at night.

In 2002, Amy and Jim Rhodes bought a small cabin on the south side of the James River in Surry County, Virginia. It was ideal for a weekend retreat, just a little over an hour’s drive from their home in Norfolk. The cabin was perched atop a high bluff about 100 feet above the river. Although the cabin was relatively primitive, they fell in love with the view, looking across the three-mile wide waterway toward Williamsburg and Jamestown.

Originally built in the 1950s, the place was beginning to show its age. Over the next few years, they made a number of improvements and enhancements to the property, building a large screened porch and deck on the river side, replacing windows, reroofing, recarpeting and painting inside and out. They settled in to enjoy their little weekend getaway.

The Problem

But there was one thing they couldn’t fix. Amy suffers from allergies. She has severe reactions to mold spores, mildew and other allergens. The house was often unoccupied for weeks or even months at a time, since their busy lives did not permit them to get away every weekend. When not in use, the house was closed up tight with doors and windows firmly locked shut. Whenever they opened the door, they were greeted with that unmistakable and overwhelming “closed-house” smell.

At first Amy tried to tough it out, ignoring the runny eyes, wheezing and sneezing. But it eventually became apparent to both of them that they could not ignore the problem. Even her weekly allergy shots didn’t help.

“Jim would have to drive up by himself ahead of me. He would vacuum the floors, scrub the bathroom and kitchen, air out the closets, change the sheets on the bed and give the place a thorough cleaning,” said Amy. “It helped a little, but it wasn’t enough. I was still miserable.” After awhile, she found herself making excuses to stay home on weekends. The place stayed closed for longer periods of time, making the problem even worse when they did go.

The Solution

Through his work in the boating business, Jim had heard of an air purification system developed by a company called NauticAir on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The founder of NauticAir, Heath Schumann, had invented a system designed to cleanse the inside air on yachts, which like weekend cottages are often closed up for long periods of time and are subject to the same sort of mildew, mold and stuffy odors. The product was recognized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association as one of the most innovative new products of the year at the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition (IBEX) in October 2008.

“When I discovered that his company was also making a similar system for residential and commercial applications, my interest was immediately aroused, and I wanted to learn more,” said Jim.

What he learned was intriguing. The patent-pending NauticAir system uses process called photocatalytic oxidation, in which a proprietary combination of ultraviolet light (UV) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) produce hydroxyl radicals which effectively neutralize bacteria, molds, viruses, pollen and other allergens. It is four times more powerful as a disinfectant than chlorine, and one-and-a-half times stronger than ozone, but is non-toxic and emits no ozone or other harmful by-products. Independent tests by third-party certified labs have shown that the NauticAir system successfully removed 99.7 percent of harmful airborne contaminants —better than a clean hospital room.

NauticAir’s photocatalytic process can also eliminate toxic gas-phase volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutants including formaldehyde, exhaust fumes, benzene, toluene, and odors like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the air. Even gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, untouched by most other technologies, are eliminated.

“When I talked with Heath Schumann at Nautic Air, it was clear that he was a ‘man with a mission’,” said Jim. “He told me that he had researched and developed this technology in his search for something that would help his daughter, who suffered from severe allergies, breathe normally.”

The Challenge

Jim and Amy had already decided to install a central air heat pump system at the cottage in hopes that it might alleviate some of the mustiness and moisture, and make it easier to sleep on hot summer nights. They spoke to their HVAC contractor and asked about integrating the NauticAir purification device into the air conditioning system. They learned that it would be very easy, since the NauticAir unit is designed for in-line installation in the ductwork.

The contractors were able to complete the entire HVAC installation, including the NauticAir unit, in about a day and a half.
Amy and Jim could hardly wait to drive up to the cottage the next weekend.

The Result

They couldn’t have been more happily surprised.

“We could tell the difference immediately when we opened the door,” said Jim. “The damp musty ‘closed-house’ odor was totally gone, replaced by an indiscernible faint ‘clean-air’ smell.”

“What a change!” said Amy. “In the past, within a few minutes of arrival my eyes would start watering, and I would be sneezing and snuffling. No more. Throughout that first weekend, I experienced absolutely no allergic reactions.”

For the first time, they were able to enjoy their weekend, reading books and enjoying the scenery.

“In the past, we had to strip all the sheets off the beds and take them back to Norfolk for washing in super-hot water after each weekend,” said Amy. “Likewise we couldn’t leave towels or clothes in the closets or on the shelves, because they would be damp and smelly when we returned to the cottage.”

“Now,” she said, “I can leave the beds made and towels on the racks. They’re crisp, dry and fresh on our return.”
Because of the remote location it was impractical to take air samples to measure the results before and after, but, as Amy says, “It passed my sniff test.”

“We would have no reservations in recommending this to other vacation property owners whose cottages are shuttered for long periods of time,” said Jim.

A healthy situation?

“Probably not,” opines Heath Schuman. He’s the president of Nautic Air of Stevensville, Maryland, which sell inline, UV-light-activated modules designed to rid boat interiors of mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and various volatile componds–including off-gassing varnishes, carpet glues, upholstery etc.

To read more of this article, please download the .pdf of the original article.

Originally Published:
Power and Motor Yacht
October 2009, Page 26

To read more of this article, please download the .pdf of the original article.

Originally published:

PMY Tries
Power and Motor Yacht
July 2010, Page 18

People with persistent allergies don’t need to be told about the perils of indoor air quality. If allergens are present in the air, it doesn’t seem to matter how often you change air filters or how hard you clean or scrub. Nothing seems to bring relief.

Happily, there is a new air purification technology that can make a difference by effectively removing more than 99.7 percent of allergens, such as mold spores, mildew and pathogenic bacteria from the air.

To read more of this article, please download the .pdf of the original article.

Originally published:
August 2010
Alabama/Gulf Coast HVAC & Refrigeration Insider
Volume 20 Number 8

The Nautic Air system uses a proprietary combination of ultraviolet (UV) light and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) to produce hydroxyl radicals, which reduces mold, bacteria, viruses and other volatile organic compounds in the air. The totally “green” system emits no ozone or other environmentally harmful by-products. In-line modules can be installed quickly and easily into existing HVAC ductwork.

“There is a heavy demand from European boat and yacht owners for a product to help eliminate air contaminants aboard their vessels,” said Schuman. “As the exclusive Florida distributor, Vortech has already sold and installed many Nautic Air units, and I am confident they will repeat their success overseas.”

“We are extremely excited about the future with the Nautic Air system,” said Peter Allan, company director for Vortech International Ltd. “The lack of internal fresh air aboard yachts has long been a problem and now we have a solution that is both efficient and affordable.”

Vortech is responsible for the sales, installation and service of Nautic Air throughout all of Western Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.

Vortech Systems provides sterilization, decontamination, purification and dehumidification services and products for yachts, boats, ocean liners and private residences. Vortech utilizes the

Zimek® Dri-Mist™ service, an environmentally friendly sterilization and decontamination service that safely destroys bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew. The company maintains offices in Florida, France and Spain.

For sales information please contact Vortech International Ltd., Peter Allan (Tel +34 619 117935) or Roger Madigan (Tel +52 1 622 103 0628).

Vortech Systems provides sterilization, decontamination, purification and dehumidification services and products for yachts, boats, ocean liners and private residences. Vortech utilizes the Zimek® Dri-Mist™ service, an environmentally friendly sterilization and decontamination service that safely destroys bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew. The company is based in Florida, with additional offices in France and Spain.

Vortech assumes responsibility for representing Nautic Air and establishing a dealer network throughout the state of Florida. “We started Vortech because we saw there was a need to eliminate bacteria and other illness-causing allergens trapped in confined spaces of boats,” said David Johnson, managing member of Vortech Systems. “Nautic Air complements our Dri-Mist system perfectly. Once we eliminate the mold and mildew with the Dri-Mist, the Nautic Air system maintains the clean air quality for a more lasting, long-term effect.”

The Nautic Air system uses a proprietary combination of ultraviolet light and Titanium Dioxide to produce hydroxyl radicals, which reduce mold, bacteria, viruses and other volatile organic compounds in the air. The totally “green” system emits no ozone or other environmentally harmful byproducts. In-line modules can be installed quickly and easily into existing HVAC ductwork.

“In these difficult economic times, companies are working lean now and having just one employee home sick is an issue,” said Heath Schuman, president of Nautic Air. “Now businesses can protect their employees and customers with our Nautic Air products.

The testing, conducted by Hygiene Assurance Group, put the Nautic Air Purifier against the highly resistant Bacillus subtilis bacterium. The Nautic Air Purifier succeeded with a 99.7% reduction of bacteria.

According to Hygiene Assurance Group President Charles Pearsall: “Since the Nautic Air Purifier was so effective … more than 99% of all less resistant bacteria (i.e. MRSA, S. aureus, E. coli, salmonella) and airborne viruses (i.e. all influenza types (flu,) hepatitis A.) would be eliminated if subjected to the same process.”

By combining UV light with titanium dioxide (TiO2), the Nautic Air® system creates a photocatalytic reaction that releases a powerful burst of hydroxyl radicals (-OH). Stronger than chlorine, ozone, and peroxide, these hydroxyl radicals attack harmful airborne micro-organisms by breaking down their cell walls over and over again until nothing is left but trace amounts of water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2].

The result is: odor reduction, VOC reduction, mold reduction, bacteria elimination and virus disinfection.

“By subjecting the Nautic Air Purifier to such a strenuous test, we have shown it to be highly effective against virtually all forms of bacteria and viruses, including all forms of the flu,” Schuman said. “What this means for businesses is that workers remain healthy and productive.”

Nautic Air carries the NA20 and NA30 Purifiers for the home and office, as well as the NA boat unit. Nautic Air has a solution for virtually any application. The NA20 is custom built and installs directly onto your HVAC system which work great in for commercial and residential uses. The NA30 is a portable unit perfect for ambulances, mass transit systems and military vehicles or left portable for a variety of other uses.

STEVENSVILLE, Md. – Oct., 2008 – Nautic Air™, the boating industry’s first truly green in-line air purification system, was honored as one of the most innovative new products of the year by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) this month. The NMMA Innovation Award was presented to Nautic Air’s inventor, Heath Schuman, at the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition (IBEX) Oct. 6-8, 2008.
The patent-pending Schuman Nautic Air system uses a proprietary combination of ultraviolet (UV) light and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) to produce hydroxyl radicals, which kill mold, bacteria, viruses and other volatile organic compounds. It is three times more powerful as a disinfectant than chlorine, and one-and-a-half times stronger than ozone, but is non-toxic and emits no ozone or other harmful by-products. The in-line Nautic Air module is designed for fast, easy installation into the boat’s existing HVAC ductwork.

The system consumes less than one amp of power and requires virtually no maintenance, other than replacing the UV bulb every 5,000 hours. The in-line purification modules fit on all types and sizes of boats.

“Finally, there is an affordable and efficient solution to the age-old problem of mold, mildew and noxious odors in boats, which typically stay closed up without adequate ventilation for long periods of time,” said Schuman. “While most large boats have air conditioning systems, they just move the stale air around inside the boat without removing the airborne contaminants. Independent lab tests have revealed that there are dangerously high levels of mold spores in cabin air, creating an unhealthy atmosphere for people inside, especially those suffering from allergies.”

Bill Pike, senior editor for Power & Motoryacht and one of the Innovation Award judges, observed, “The air quality in many boats is questionable due to inadequate ventilation; this product improves air quality dramatically, bringing land-side air quality technology to boats.”

“This award, which was voted by some of the most experienced technical journalists in the boating media, is an important validation of our revolutionary new product,” said Schuman. “It will give us a big boost as we bring it to market in the coming months. We plan to sell the product to boatbuilders as OEM factory-installed equipment as well as to the aftermarket for retrofit on existing boats.”

Other judges on the panel were Roger Marshall, U.S. editor of The Yacht Report; Dean Travis Clarke, executive editor of Sport Fishing, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters and Marlin magazines and host of Sport Fishing Magazine TV; Marilyn Mower, editor of Southern Boating and Marine Business Journal magazines; Jan Mundy, editor of DIY Boat Owner; Peter Nielsen, editor of Sail; and Aaron Porter, associate editor of Professional Boatbuilder.

The Innovation Awards are organized by the NMMA and judged by a panel of experts from Boating Writers International to recognize the most innovative new products in the boating industry. The Nautic Air System won the award in the Mechanical Systems category.