Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

House dust mites are microscopic eight legged insects that belong to the spider and tick families (Arachnid Family). Their scientific name is Dermatophogoides, i.e.-skin eater.

These are health threatening microscopic creatures that can cause severe allergies. They cannot be seen with the naked eye. Size varies from 100 to 150 microns.
They feed on animal material with high protein content like dead human skin cell. They also feed on mould.

A typical home is filled with millions of these creepy, crawly, dangerous bugs. These skin eating mites release potent ‘allergen’ which trigger allergies like:

-	Asthma	-	Sneezing
-	Wheezing, etc.	-	Watery Eyes
-	Rhinitis	-	Eczema
-	Running Nose

The most affected by them are the small children & the elderly. A female dust mite lays up to 50 eggs within 3 weeks and each egg takes just about 3-4 weeks to reach adult hood.They live long… the average life span of a dust mite is about 3-4 months.

Dust mite by itself is not allergic, but their faecal droppings and the decayed body parts is the allergy causing agent. The faecal pellets are much smaller and lighter in size than the dust mites and are easily inhaled into our lungs. A dust mite can produce 20 faecal droppings per day. It can produce faecal dropping 200 times their body weight in their lifetime.A warm humid climate is the ideal place for these Dust Mites to thrive – 70% RH (Relative Humidity) and temperature above 23oC (tropical climate).

The ideal home for these Dust Mites are our beds, pillows, carpets, soft toys, upholstery, etc. – basically, any place that traps dust and is not cleaned regularly. Vigorous activity, such as dusting, or even walking of soft furnishings can make the dust mites' faeces become airborne. We inhale these particles and people sensitive to dust mites suffer from allergic reaction.

Over 85% of asthmatics are sensitive to the house dust mite. The main triggers are the allergens in the faecal pellets which mites excrete.

Traditional methods of sweeping and dusting with normal broom is not effective to remove dust mites from the deep layers of your bed, pillows and sofas. Deep cleaning methods like frequent vacuuming are most effective in reducing dust and dust mites from your home, apart from maintaining general hygiene.

Issued in Public Interest by Euroclean Vacuum Cleaners by Eureka Forbes.

Dusting, sweeping and swabbing are the most commonly adopted methods to keep one's house clean. But does visible cleanliness alone ensure a hygienic place? No, not at all!!! All the conventional methods only help displace the dust but the smaller particles cannot be picked up and there is poor dust collection. The residual dust in the air causes allergy. Further a wet swabbed floor attracts dust particles which help bacteria breed further. More so it is incomplete and time consuming. Isn’t it?

Did you know that your home is filled with millions of dust mites? Dust Mites are microscopic organisms, which help keep on multiplying in thousands. They are so tiny that 1 gram of dust would contain 19000 of these bugs which release a potent 'allergen' triggering off allergies such as Asthma, Eczema and Rhinitis!!! No wonder you end up with a dust allergy!!!

YES!!! Apart from just the visible dust, the dust mites are present in the sofas, curtains, carpets and every other place you could think of. Did you know that the bed where your child sleeps too has millions of these creatures? Dust mites are dangerous bugs which affects almost each and every member of the household.

The filters of your room air conditioner, the refrigerator, the woolen blankets... each one of them are possible sources of fungal infection, which can spread to your entire house, if not taken care of.

VACUUM CLEANING... Complete, healthy, hygienic!!! The only efficient, convenient, time saving way to thorough deep cleaning. With a wide variety of applications, it is the solution to your cleaning needs.

Euroclean is "doubly insulated" with a PVC jacket to ensure complete safety. Even a child can use it safely.

The suction operation can be run for 1.5* hours continuously depending on your cleaning area and requirement. The blower operation should ideally be done for 30* minutes continuous then a break of 2-3 minutes, then resume. In our latest model Euroclean Ace , we have a built in cut-off mechanism which switches off the motor if temperature goes above 88°C, thus preventing any motor burn - out.

* Depends on various factors like ambient temperature, dust accumulated in the dust bag and condition of filters etc.

We can provide you with accessories which will help you extend use of your Euroclean. However, the motor etc. cannot be replaced.

Bacteria and Viruses cause most of the commonly found water borne diseases. Bacteria Cause: Gastro-enteritis, Typhoid, Cholera, Paratyphoid, Dysentery and Diarrhoea. Viruses Cause: Polio, Dysentery, Gastro-enteritis, Diarrhoea. In addition, worm infestations are commonly caused through contaminated water.

There are several excellent products that purify water through one of the several means: Ordinary Candle Filters and Muslin Cloth are ineffective in inactivating disease causing bacteria and viruses. Boiling water is a frequently followed preventive measure, that is effective but costly in the long run.

A reliable, complete water purifier should give you water that is physically, organically and microbiologically pure. More importantly, it should be such that the water is 100 percent pure at the time of use with no scope for recontamination. Bottled mineral water is unfortunately not purified at point of use. Therefore, there can be a chance of recontamination if stringent quality control measures are not followed. Also, this could prove to be quite expensive if consumed on a regular basis. Further, as there is a proliferation of brands available today, chances of spurious water being available is high.

Conventional methods of water purification commonly used in homes like boiling, filtering or using candle filters have limitations. Boiling for instance, to be effective must be done for at least 20-25 minutes after water reaches boiling point. Further, while the water is being cooled and stored in containers or bottles, there is always the risk of recontamination. This makes this commonly adopted method impractical, time consuming and often not completely safe.

Ultraviolet treatment is an international, time tested technology for water purification. Ultraviolet rays of 253.7 Nanometers wavelength damage the DNA of bacteria leading to cell death. If water is kept in contact with ultraviolet rays of the above specified intensity for a certain contact time, then all water-borne disease-causing bacteria and virus will be inactivated.

Direct exposure to strong doses of UV light at a close range is dangerous. However in Aquaguard, UV chamber is completely enclosed and no UV light is allowed to escape. There is no chance of exposure to UV light.

Our water purifier have got complete certification for eliminating all known disease causing virus and bacteria from the water in the most simple and effective way.

Ultraviolet is an internationally used technology for water purification. Ultraviolet rays have the property of inactivating disease-causing bacteria and virus. An ultraviolet purifier to be effective must have adequate pre-treatment facilities like a pre-filter and an activated carbon chamber which removes physical and organic impurities. The water that then flows out is physically, organically and microbiologically pure. Further, an ideal ultraviolet purifier must also have a monitoring system that continuously monitors the quality of output water and shuts off the system automatically if purification levels drop below pre-determined standards, thus ensuring that the water drawn is 100% pure and safe. Membranes are also sometimes used for water treatment. A fine porous membrane can also trap physical particles and some micro-organisms. Membrane filters are storage type where the water is filtered and is collected into a container from where it can be drawn. If the consumption of water is frequent or excessive then there will be a time-lag for re-filling. Further, the membrane needs to be frequently cleaned for it to be effective which is a laborious process. Also, the membrane can get punctured which will then make it ineffective as water will flow out without being filtered. Lastly, these kind of filters have no monitoring systems to check the quality of output water which means that there is no guarantee of safety.

Of course not. A complete purification system is one which gives you clear, safe water. Just fill your glass and drink!!!

We have strict quality norms at our manufacturing facilities, in fact our products are also routinely tested at reputed Indian and International Labs (like Thames Water Institute - U.K. University of Pretoria, SA. Further we offer water testing at our reputed Water Labs ( Major cities) wherein we collect your water sample and test it at a very nominal charge.

Water purification generally means freeing water from any kind of impurity it contains, such as physico-chemical contaminants or micro organisms. Water purification is not a one step process, the purification process contains many steps. The steps that need to be progressed depend on the kind of impurities that are found in the water. This can differ very much for different types of water.

The corporation water is not purified, but only treated. In most of the cases, water is treated or chlorinated using bleaching powder. Chlorination does not remove the impurities in the water completely. Besides, chlorination itself contributes to make the water less potable, which means the ''pure'' water that reaches your kitchen is loaded with impurities.

Chlorination is usually done by treating water with bleaching powder, which is cheap & readily available as a white powder. Chemically it is Sodium Hypochlorite / Calcium Hypochlorite. The bleaching powder reacts with water and produce hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid destroys the bacteria in the water but at the same time reacts with organic impurities in water producing dangerous Trihalomethanes . Besides, the excess chlorine reacts with ammonia producing chloramines. Both these compounds are carcinogenic - causes cancer. Once this water is released from the treatment system, it is prone to recontamination by rust, dirt, dust, drainage wastes etc. Considering the ill effects, most of the developed countries have banned chlorination.

During rainy season, the run off rainwater washes off land pollutants along with eroded top soil, sewage, industrial and agricultural wastes and sediments to the river stream. These contaminants render the water nutrient-rich, thereby resulting in increased bacterial load. Hence, more bleaching powder (more than the permissible limit) is added to the water to reduce high bacterial population. This activity triggers the formation of chlorine byproducts (Trihalomethanes and chloramines) in water. Here boiling alone is ineffective to remove the contaminants.

While boiling the water, all the dissolved oxygen will escape and make the water tasteless. Dissolved oxygen is required in our body for easy digestion. Moreover while boiling the water the concentration of the chemical impurities will increase i.e. nitrates, pesticides etc. We cannot remove physical impurities through boiling. To kill micro organisms we need to boil water for a minimum of 20 minutes for 100% success rate. In addition to this boiling is a time consuming, expensive and non eco - friendly method.

Clear water does not mean safe water. Most of the storage devices use only ceramic filters capable of removing merely the dust, dirt and mud particles. There is no device inside the storage filter to remove the chemicals and bacterial load from water. Over a period of time, the mud particles will settle on the surface and deep inside, then these filters act as a breeding ground for bacteria which will come along with the filtered water. Hence a storage filter is not a complete purifier.

Bore well water is also groundwater and it too is prone to all the contamination as well water. If you watch closely, the outskirts of the city which were agricultural lands have now become part of the city with more residential colonies. The water from these areas contains high level of nitrates, fertilizers and pesticides. It may also contain high level of inorganic salts (TDS & Hardness) which makes water not potable. Moreover the water quality of bore wells changes very frequently and this depends upon the quantity of water drawn from the bore well.

During rainy season, sewage mixes with drinking water sources and the distribution systems. Sewage is the main source of pathogens, causing water borne disease like cholera, typhoid, paratyphoid, jaundice, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, dysentery etc. These diseases spread very fast through drinking water during rainy season. Some Do's & Dont's for protection against water borne diseases: Drink only pure & safe water. Do not drink water directly from the tap. Collect water from the clean source. Do not drink water sold through trolleys, fruit juices prepared in shops and drinks containing commercial ice cubes. Keep your surroundings clean. Do not drink water from rusted taps and leaked pipes. Keep drinking water separately and hygienically Do not expose drinking water. Eat only hot and fresh food items. Do not eat cold and stale food.

Manufacturers of 'can water' are not concerned about quality of water they deliver. In most of the places the processing environment is unhygienic and do not have BIS certification. Normally PET bottles are supposed to be used and disposed but these players do more than 60 fillings, making the bottle unsterile (chances of microbial contamination). This water will not supply any minerals to our body and causes osteoporosis (weakening of bones). So can water is not recommended for regular use. It is always good to have a household drinking water purification system, which purifies your water in front of your eyes!

Minerals are abundant in natural water. The essential minerals are calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and potassium. Calcium is required for strengthening the bone and teeth, while magnesium is required for metabolic activities especially for food digestion. Deficiency of magnesium causes heart disease and aging. Iron is required for the formation of haemoglobin and its deficiency causes anemia (doctors prescribe iron tablets). Sodium helps to develop the muscles and nerves and potassium for brain development. One should ensure that enough quantity of minerals is got through drinking water.

Next to chlorine, lead is the most common contaminant found in tap water. Lead enters the drinking water from plumbing and fixtures, especially those with chrome-plated brass and brass which contain 8% to 15% lead. The EPA estimates that 98% of all homes have pipes, fixtures or solder joints in the household plumbing that can leach some level of lead into the tap water. Vehicle exhaust also releases lead into the atmosphere and mixes with rain water, polluting the drinking water source. Paints and batteries also contribute to the lead content in water. Lead poisoning is very dangerous for children below ten years, as it affects their central and peripheral nervous system and results in mental retardation. Arsenic in drinking water causes cancer in bladder, lung, kidney, liver and skin. It can also harm the heart and blood vessels, causing birth defects and reproductive problems. Fortunately, appropriate technologies are available today to reduce lead content in water.

pH (Potential of Hydrogen ion) is a parameter to check whether the water is acidic or alkaline. The pH meter reads from 1 - 14. If the pH is below 6.5, the water is acidic in nature and if above 8.5, it is alkaline (base) in nature. Acidic water is corrosive in nature and causes acidity and other gastric problems. So the drinking water pH should be in between 6.5 to 8.5.

Nanotechnology is the emerging material science where we use nano size silver particles (0.000000001meter). Nano particles are very active and have the ability to convert pesticides into harmless amorphous carbon. This conversion is possible only with the help of nano particles. These silver nano particles in our water purifiers have been incorporated with the carbon block with an intention to remove the dangerous pesticides from the drinking water.

Water borne diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, virus and protozoa. There are different types of water borne diseases depending on the causative organism i.e. bacterial diseases, viral diseases and protozoan diseases. Typhoid, paratyphoid, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis are the common bacterial diseases. Polio, hepatitis A & E (jaundice), gastroenteritis, dysentery, infantile diarrhea etc. are viral diseases. The commonly found protozoan diseases are amoebic dysentery, cryptosporidium, giardiasis etc. These major diseases accounts for 80% of the epidemic occurrences. It is estimated that, at any time half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water borne diseases.

Water constitutes 65 to 70% of our body. It helps to digest the food, eliminate toxic wastes, helps to assimilate, transport oxygen and nutrients, also regulate the body temperature. Water deficiency in our system will lead to severe dehydration and other impacts. 0.5% deficiency will make you thirsty, 5% will cause light fever, 8% will cause no saliva formation and more than 12% will lead to intense dehydration and death.

UV disinfection is the process of destroying micro organisms with the magnitude of UV dosage. UV lamp emits UV rays with a wave length of 253.7 nm. These rays will penetrate the cells of the microorganisms and destroy the genetic material and render the organism unable to multiply. UV dosage determines the killing efficiency of micro organisms. This can be calculated as follows: UV intensity X Exposure time Area of UV chamber. Different organisms require different dosage - for killing bacteria it normally ranges from 2.1 to 6.6 mW sec/cm2, for virus it ranges from 6.6 to 8.6 mW sec/cm2 and for protozoa it is 15 mW sec/cm2. The UV dosage in Aquaguard is 105 mW sec/cm2.( Can vary for different models)

Yes, direct or prolonged exposure to UV is harmful to all living cells. UV is non - ionized radiation like visible rays, which cannot penetrate through objects. X rays are ionized radiations which can penetrate through objects and accumulates. UV rays can not escape through a concealed chamber. So UV technology used in Aquaguard is always safe.

The consumption of electricity in water purifier is negligible compared to any other electric equipment in your house. The Aquaguard has a power consumption of 25 watts. Aquaguard consumes 1 unit current, only in 40 hours in which time it can purify 4800 L of drinking water. On an average, we use 20 L of purified water per day in our house. According to this calculation, a household normally require 7300 liters of water per year. So the electric consumption will be approximately 1.52 units per year. ( Power consumption may vary slightly for different models)

Activated carbon has many applications in the purification process. It's unique property of adsorption helps to reduce the impurities in the water i.e. organic chemicals, bad smell, colour, chlorine, byproducts of chlorine, pesticides, lead etc. It has large amount of micro porosity. If water passes through the carbon bed, it will separate the impurities and enhance the taste.

Absolutely not. Aquaguard UV will not reduce essential minerals from water. The specially designed mineral preserver system (decalcification System) produces electromagnetic vibrations into the water. This will help to prevent the mineral scale formation inside the UV chamber and aids to retain the essential minerals in water.

Aquaguard Total water should be stored in a cool, clean place preferably steel or glass containers. Avoid matkas or storage filters as they tend to breed Micro organisms. For hygienic reasons it is preferable to replace the stored water after two days.

It is the process by which water molecules are forced through a 0.0001 micron semi permeable membrane by water pressure. Long sheets of the membrane (TFC - Thin Film Composite) are ingeniously sandwiched together and rolled up around a hollow central tube in a spiral fashion. They are available in different sizes for processing different quantities of water. This process of purification is mainly meant to reduce the 'salt content' from the water.

The quality of drinking water is constantly changing due to pollution, over exploitation of ground water and many other reasons. Today we get water from different sources i.e. rivers, lakes, bore wells and tanker water etc. So selecting a right purification technology is a challenge for this changing water. Only Aquaguard Total Sensa with its patented Blu G technology continuously senses the input quality and auto selects the right purification technology (RO or UV). This technology would able to provide pure and perfectly balanced water, enriched with essential minerals and salts.

Water treatment is like any other treatment of your health / you first need to know what is wrong with your water before you treat it. Depending upon the water input quality one has to select the right technology to purify the water.

Yes, we do have the water testing facility of our own in major cities called Aquachek water testing facility. We can do the complete chemical and bacterial test with a nominal fee.

We have over 1000 service centers in all major cities in India with more than 5000 trained service technicians. Ours is the largest After Sales net work in India. Yes, we have a dedicated 24 hours single number access help line in 8 major cities. The help line number is 39883333.

Air pollution has reached alarming levels in most Indian cities. The result of this pollution has already begun to show in increasing incidences of respiratory problems. The fact is that most homes are well ventilated and the outer air that comes in, freely brings with it various pollutants. So the levels of air pollution is approximately same indoors as outdoors!!! Families continue to spend 80% of their time indoors. So for most people, the risks to health may be greater indoors than outdoors. It's like living with a slow-acting and invisible enemy.

The "protected" environment in our homes contains a world we cannot see or even smell but which affects our health and well-being. Particles smaller than 10 microns are not visible to the naked eye. Most pollutants like vehicle exhaust, industrial smoke, tobacco smoke are mostly of this microscopic variety.

Outdoor air: Due to multiple sources of pollution spread all over the city, no area is really safe as pollutants are carried to all parts of the city by the wind. So even homes that are located in a non-industrial area and far from the main road will have pollutants such as industrial smoke, vehicle exhaust, pollen, fine dust, carbon black and gases in the air. Indoor sources of pollution: These could be cigarettes, wet or moist walls, unclear air-conditioner filters, household pets, stagnant water, household products such as paint, aerosol, sprays, clothes, furnishings, curtains, carpets and in fact, human beings themselves. Nearly everything we use sheds particles contributing to house dust. People shed dead skin and hair all the time. The resultant pollutants that invade our homes due to indoor and outdoor sources are tobacco smoke, bacteria, spores, animal dander, dust mites, organic fumes, fly ash, lead particles, fibers, gases like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

An air-conditioner filter is usually not designed to filter out particles smaller than 10 microns. Therefore particles smaller than 2.5 microns, which may enter the respiratory system, are not removed. In addition, poorly maintained filters can actually pollute the air through the build-up of biological contaminants. Consequently, a build up of polluted and stale air indoors. In fact, airtight buildings have led to a new phenomenon - "The Sick Building Syndrome".

In recent years, more and more office buildings with central air conditioning are being made "airtight" and subsequently lacking in ventilation. This is because it is cheaper to re-circulate air that has already been cooled. The result can be that a large chunk of the building residents may develop symptoms that range from dryness of skin and throat, watery eyes, flu-like symptoms in the short term, to asthma and allergies in the long term.

In good times, the human respiratory system has defenses against the larger-sized pollutants. Hairs in the nose, mucus in the respiratory passage and microscopic hair called cilia, lining the respiratory passages, are the body's defenses. But these are limited to particles up to 4 microns. The particles smaller than that called 'respirable' dust evade our defense mechanism, get deposited on the alveoli and respiratory bronchioles in the lungs and may cause health problems. The chances that you may develop these problems depend on your age, pre-existing medical conditions and individual sensitivity (which varies from person to person). While the hazards of air pollution are certain, what remains uncertain is the amount of exposure needed to produce specific health effects. Health effects from indoor air pollution fall into two categories, those that are experienced immediately after exposure and those that do not show up until years later. Immediate effects include irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and increased incidence of colds and coughs. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating the person's exposure to the source of pollution, if it can be identified. Symptoms of other problems like asthma, allergies (see next section), hypersensitivity pneumonitis and humidifier fever can also show up soon after exposure to indoor air pollution and may need medical treatment. Other health effects like Emphysema and Bronchitis may show up after years of exposure. On the other hand, some people can become de-sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated exposure and be perfectly healthy. A STRATEGY TO MANAGE INDOOR AIR QUALITY Either try to control the source, which is difficult like... Stop smoking and discourage others from smoking in your home. If you do smoke, smoke outdoors. Empty water trays in air conditioners and refrigerators frequently and do not permit damp patches and standing water in your home. Clean and dry or remove water-damaged carpets. Regularly clean dust-collecting items like furniture, mattresses, carpets, etc. Or try ventilation improvements Install and use exhaust fans in the kitchens to tackle smoke and cooking smells. Opening windows and doors is particularly important when you are involved in short term activities that can generate high levels of pollutants - eg. painting, usage of pesticides, smoking, etc. OR ELSE JUST INSTALL AN AIR-PURIFIER TODAY An air-purifier can be used to remove particulate pollutants up to sub-micron sizes. This machine functions by circulating air indoor with a motor-fan unit and filtering it with the help of special filters. Some models additionally have an ionizing unit that helps in cleaning by charging particles. This product category is used worldwide as a measure to control air pollution indoors.

A security system starts with a control panel. Usually located in a closet or a basement, the control panel contains the "brains" of the security system, and essentially operates as a central computer. Various sensors connect to the control panel from locations throughout your home. If your security system is armed and the sensors detect a problem, they send signals to the control panel. The control panel automatically dials the central monitoring station, where the proper authorities are notified.

You operate your sec system by entering your security code at the keypad. Generally located at entry doors, keypads can arm and disarm with push-button ease, and literally put security at your family's fingertips! Good features to look for include illuminated keys to provide you with greater visibility at nighttime, easy-to-read English displays that spell out your system's status at a glance, and one-touch function keys that provide single-button operation for arming, disarming or emergencies. Most keypads even offer convenient additional user codes to give friends, neighbors or service people access to your home.

Magnetic contacts are two-part devices used to safeguard windows and doors. One part of the contact is a switch installed in the window or door jam; the other contains a magnet and is placed in the window or door itself. Any noticeable shift in contact with the switch results in an alarm.

A passive infrared motion detector is an electronic security device that detects intruders by "sensing" motion or body heat in the area being protected. Most PIRs are designed to be used when your family is away from home or when no one will be passing through the area "covered" by the PIR.

Absolutely not. Recent innovations in security technology have resulted in the creation of "pet immune" motion detectors-allowing dog and cat lovers to enjoy the same level of protection they would receive with a standard PIR. These state-of-the-art sensors provide "pet immunity" for animals weighing up to 100 lbs. Pet immune PIRs allow your pet to move about freely but can still detect an intruder's movement.

"Acoustic" glass break sensors, usually mounted on ceilings or walls, work by "listening" for the sound of breaking glass in a window. "Shock" glass break detectors are mounted on the window and "feel" the shock of breaking glass. This kind of advanced wireless technology can provide shatter and shock protection for your windows, for often intruders are "sensed" and an alarm sounded while they are still outdoors. This is often enough to send a burglar running!

Since you own a smoke detector, you obviously realize what an important safety measure this device is. That's good. Smoke detectors are highly effective in preventing loss of life and property. However, there are differences between the "stand alone" or battery-operated smoke detector you would buy at your local hardware store and one installed as part of your home security system. "Stand alone" detectors are not connected to other detectors or warning devices. A smoke detector connected to your security system offers more protection because it is monitored by a central station. If fire strikes, the detector sets off an alarm and sends a signal to the control panel. The control panel dials the central station, where the operator notifies the fire department. Only central station monitored smoke detectors provide automatic notification of authorities when you or your family is asleep, not at home or unable to get to the phone.

Yes on both counts! Technological breakthroughs have led to the development of wireless electronic security products, and their effectiveness has been proven time and again over the years in millions of installations. Their rock-solid stability and long battery life make them a popular choice among homeowners and dealers alike. They give installers the flexibility they need to overcome obstacles like brick walls, cement floors and cathedral ceilings; and no drilling holes preserves the beauty of your home and results in cleaner, faster installations. Folks today enjoy the convenience of remote control devices, and the security industry has responded! User-friendly wireless products provide the dual benefits of superior performance and ease of operation. Wireless keypads allow you to activate and de-activate your security system with the touch of a button, and can even be programmed so that a young child can operate it with ease. Homeowners especially love wireless keys! Similar in size to a remote car alarm key, they fit right on your key chain, and the press of a single button lets you control your system, lights and appliances-eliminating the need for codes. This is especially great if you and your family enjoy spending time outdoors. Relax by the pool, garden, barbecue and entertain, or play with your kids in the backyard-enjoy extra mobility without compromising your safety! Another hot item gaining popularity is the interactive phone module. By adding the phone module to your home security system, you'll have remote control access from any touch-tone or cellular phone-from your office, on the road, or anywhere in the world! Conveniently arm, disarm or check the status of your system, turn your lights on or off-you can even control your thermostat and air conditioner!

Security systems send their signals over your telephone line to a central monitoring station-the facility that acts as the link between your home and the police, fire department, and emergency response authorities. A central station is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by highly skilled operators trained to respond to emergencies. The station operator alerts the proper authorities and dispatches help.

That's a valid concern. In the event that your phone line fails or is cut, there are back-up services that work in tandem with your home security system to ensure your safety-the most popular being an easy-to-install cellular radio service that contacts the central station in the event of an emergency. The only additional equipment required would be a small radio transmitter that connects to the control panel of your security system.

Ecolab was incorporated on February 18, 1924 in Delaware.

Ecolab has a culture, which stresses cost management in everything we do. Expenses are budgeted at very conservative levels, and employees are expected to stay within budget, except at very unusual cases. We attempt in every way possible to "do more with less," and to get the best value for our dollar. For example, in our manufacturing operations, we have on-going cost reduction teams constantly searching to find ways to trim costs from products, while maintaining the typical high-quality Ecolab standards. Benchmarking is performed by administrative departments to ensure high performance at effective costs.

Ecolab participates in very fragmented markets. The bulk of our competitions are small, regional companies, but larger competitors include Johnson Diversey, Proctor and Gamble and many regional and local competitors.