Frequently Asked Questions

What is an electrostatic sprayer?

The PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers are engineered and designed with electrostatic technology that places an electrostatic charge in liquid disinfectants, causing the liquid particles to adhere to target surfaces. The charged droplets travel towards and seek out the targeted surface and cover the hard to reach surfaces.

The electrostatic technology behind the PAX is well-established, with a history of utilisation spanning more than 60 years in various industries such as agriculture, surface coating and paint spraying. Due to the current pandemic, manufacturers such as PAX Innovations have answered the call. They have successfully translated industrial electrostatic technology into a compact, easy-to-use device for quick and effective disinfectant application.

How do electrostatic sprayers work?

Rub a balloon on your head, and your hair will stand on its end; this is static electricity. Your hair is 'Charged.' An electrostatic sprayer works by charging the liquid disinfectant as the liquid passes through a specialized spray nozzle assembly. The liquid droplets become charged and travel towards grounded objects. Because these charged droplets repel one another, they actively seek out unique and uncovered surfaces so that the droplets spread out more evenly. The enhancement in the transfer and time efficiency is the result of electrostatic  technology at the heart of the system. The result is faster disinfectant application, less disinfectant consumption and a thin uniform coverage of the targeted surface.

Where can I use PAX electrostatic sprayers?

You can use our electrostatic sprayers almost anywhere, including: 


• Schools (Cafeterias, libraries, school rooms, teacher's lounges)
• Healthcare Facilities (Hospitals, Ambulances, Testing Labs, Clinics)
• Gyms & Studios
• Airports & Airplanes
• Public Transportation
• Car Rental Services
• Grocery Stores
• Retail Stores
• Restaurants
• Day Care Centers
• Dental Offices
• Movie Theaters

How long can I use the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers throughout a location?

The PAX-100 handheld electrostatic sprayer can be used without interruption for 8 hours on a single battery charge, this reduces the need to charge frequently, to purchase secondary batteries or to carry around bulky battery chargers. The PAX-50 sprayer can be used without interruption for up to 4 hours on a single battery charge

How much coverage does the PAX-100 handheld electrostatic offer?

The Pax-100 covers up to 6,000 square feet on a single 600 ml tank of water-soluble disinfectant fluid of your choice.

How fast is the disinfectant application process?

Our tests indicate that you would be to apply disinfectants to an office measuring 12 ft. x 12 ft. in under 30 seconds.

Which disinfectants work with the Pax electrostatic sprayers?

You can use any water-soluble disinfectants listed and approved by Health Canada. For better results, please opt for water-thin or the least viscous disinfectant fluids

How long is the dwell time?

Dwell time is usually a few minutes but will depend on the disinfectant you use; this information is usually made available in the datasheets provided by the manufacturer of the disinfectant you use. For a list of Health Canada approved disinfectants, please refer to the Health Canada website.

Is manual wiping still required with the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers?

With the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers, there is no need to touch or wipe the surfaces or objects after spraying because, as the disinfectant liquid exits the electrostatic sprayer, it is atomized and given an electrical charge. The charged droplets wrap around the surface or object, covering it entirely in a uniform manner and reducing water accumulation caused by non-electrostatic application methods.

How will the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayer save me time and money?

The PAX-100 handheld electrostatic sprayer covers up to 6,000 square feet on a single tank of fluid (PAX-50 covers up to 4,000 sq. ft). Due to its efficacy, the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers will use up almost 80% less disinfectant liquid when compared to traditional trigger sprayers. The speed of application will also mean that you can reduce labour costs associated with application by up to 90%.

How will the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers save me on labour costs?

The traditional approach of spray and wipe tends to take up a lot of time to disinfect and get rid of bacteria and food-born viruses on all surfaces. When there's a shortage of time or a staff member calls in sick, mistakes can happen. Skipping surfaces and not properly blending the disinfectants can give us a false sense of assurance that the surfaces have been properly covered and that we are safe from harmful pathogens. Experience shows that manual wiping methods could cross contaminate surfaces and leave less than 50% of the room inadequately disinfected.
The PAX sprayers offer a touchless application that reduces cross-contamination when compared to the wipe-and-go disinfecting method, and there's no training required, your staff won't be burdened with another task. You'll save time and labour, consume less liquid, and cover more surfaces quickly and efficiently.
With its electrostatic technology, the PAX create fully charged droplets that adhere to the targeted surface, creating an even spread. In other words, your staff will not need to wipe surfaces or clean up drips - thereby eliminating another step in your cleaning and disinfecting process.

How do the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers compare to other sprayers?

Unlike traditional manual sprayer models, with the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers, there is no need to touch or wipe the surfaces or objects because, as the disinfectant liquid exits the electrostatic sprayer, it is atomized and given an electrical charge. The charged droplets wrap around the target surface or object, covering it entirely in a uniform manner, with no pools of liquid on the floor and reduced surface liquid accumulation.

The PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers are cost-effective and easy to use due to their versatility, portability, and effectiveness. Conventional applicators like foggers, trigger sprayers, and mops offer only limited coverage. You will be able to replace these methods with the PAX sprayers because they provides superior disinfectant coverage.

Concerning the electrostatic technology, it has proven to offer significant improvements when compared to other disinfecting methods. It is near impossible to disinfect an entire gym or a medical office with a trigger sprayer. You are simply not going to get all the surfaces. With the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers, you can do so in several minutes and, more importantly, cover all conductive surfaces evenly and quickly.

Also, as we highlighted in previous questions, electrostatic technology creates fully charged droplets that adhere to the target surface and that create an even spread. In other words, these droplets do not form pools of the liquid on the surface. Instead, the minute particles line up next to each other, creating a thin layer of disinfectant film on the targeted surface. Droplets hold their cationic charge for a few seconds – preventing drips and allowing the disinfectant to cover the entire object or surface.

How do the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers compare to other brands of electrostatic sprayers?

Some of the advantages of the PAX-100 include:

  1. Runtime per charge: 8 hours – Double the run-time of our closest competitor.
  2. Coverage per tank: 6,000 sq.ft.– Offers the most extensive coverage in its category.
  3. Battery placement: Internal – Eliminates the need to purchase a second battery and to carry bulky charging stations and extra cables.
  4. Droplet size: With PAX-100 you have the choice of 50, 60 or 70 microns to achieve optimum results based on your application and the characteristics of the disinfectant you are using.
  5. Ergonomic design: We have designed a comfortable handle that that takes into consideration our natural wrist orientation. The handle has been aligned it with the center of gravity of the device to ensure a comfortable distribution of weight.
  6. User friendly: Unlike the competition, you will not need to constantly squeeze the trigger button, just press on the power button to start, and press again when done spraying.
  7. Battery level indicator: The PAX handheld sprayers are the only sprayers that have an integrated battery level indicator so that you avoid surprises due to the battery suddenly running out.
  8. Made in Canada: The PAX handheld sprayers are the only sprayers that are designed, engineered, and built in Canada.
What are the benefits of the handheld model from PAX Innovations?

Rub a balloon on your head, and your hair will stand on its end; this is static electricity. Your hair is 'Charged.' An electrostatic sprayer works by charging the liquid disinfectant as the liquid passes through a specialized spray nozzle assembly. The liquid droplets become charged and travel towards grounded objects. Because these charged droplets repel one another, they actively seek out unique and uncovered surfaces so that the droplets spread out more evenly. The enhancement in the transfer and time efficiency is the result of electrostatic  technology at the heart of the system. The result is faster disinfectant application, less disinfectant consumption and a thin uniform coverage of the targeted surface.

Who can operate PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers?

Virtually anyone can use the PAX sprayers. No gauges, cords, or compressors – the PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers have been designed to be used by anyone. Fill up the tank with any disinfectant liquid approved by Health Canada, press the power button and in under 30 seconds, your current janitorial, housekeeping, or environmental service staff will have disinfected an entire room.

How long do viruses stay active on surfaces?

Preliminary information found on COVID-19 suggests that the virus may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days, depending on different conditions, such as temperature, type of surface and the humidity of the environment. (Canada Government, 2020) For example, viruses generally remain active longer on stainless steel, plastic and similar hard surfaces compared to fabric and other soft surfaces.

What's the difference between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing?

It is important to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting. For example, a sanitation protocol could include yearly cleaning of low-risk surfaces such as windows, where the likelihood of pathogen transfer from the surface is low. Whereas for disinfection control purposes, daily sterilizing and disinfecting will be required for high-touch objects and surfaces that harbour pathogens.

The following list shows the standard definition of each cleaning method:

Cleaning: Cleaning does not kill germs; it physically removes dirt and bacteria from surfaces or objects.

Sanitizing: To remove or deactivate pathogen quantities down to an acceptable level.

Disinfecting: To remove or deactivate microorganism quantities. Please refer to the Health Canada approved list of disinfectants to kill germs on surfaces. The disinfecting process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove viruses.

How far does a PAX handheld sprayer reach?

12"-48" with the Pax 100

How often should I disinfect surfaces?

The regularity of cleaning and disinfecting depends on your particular application and what's evolving around you. However, disinfection protocols are changing and what used to be a weekly disinfecting routine is has now become a daily activity of the highest priority, this shift has been driven by the knowledge that the coronavirus can stay viable in the air and can live on various surfaces for days. Furthermore, the fact that the virus spreads even through asymptomatic carriers has elevated the need to disinfect more regularly to reduce it spreading to this to others. The PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers are light-weight and ergonomically designed so that you can disinfect daily, even hourly, if needed.

Is the battery rechargeable?

Yes, all PAX handheld electrostatic sprayers come with an internal Lithium-Ion battery and with one charger.

Does PAX Innovations provide a warranty policy?

Yes, we offer a two-year limited warranty on the PAX-100 handheld electrostatic sprayer and a one-year limited warranty on the PAX -50 sprayer.

The warranty does not cover the product or product failure due to:

• Normal wear or tool abuse
• Damage made by others in an attempt to repair the product
• Damage made by others who have repaired the product.

To claim a valid warranty, click here

Are there any cleaning or maintenance tips you can share?

a. After each use before storing or before switching disinfectants, fill the tank with water and spray for 20 seconds to rinse out the line of any leftover disinfectants that may start to build up.

b. Do not store disinfectants in the tank when not using the sprayer. If you do not empty the tank, the user runs the risk of the liquid spilling in the case and damaging the electrical board in the unit or in the battery.

Is the PAX safe to use if I have a pacemaker or similar medical device?

The PAX sprayers contain an electrostatic device that may interfere with sensitive medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, or similar devices.
DO NOT USE this device and DO NOT stand within 5 feet of it before contacting your healthcare professional to verify that such an electrostatic device will not interfere with the normal operation of your medical device.

Do I need to use both hands to operate a PAX sprayer?

A lot of thought and time has been put into the ergonomy and functionality of the PAX sprayers and they have been designed for one handed use only. DO NOT touch the PAX sprayers with your free hand when in operation.