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electronic air cleaners: Trane vs. Aprilai opinions?
my contractor of choice prefers selling me a Trane electronic air
cleaner. Consumer Reports recommends the Aprilaire 5000. Any suggestions/experiences would be appreciated. - Dan |
The main thing I would look at is how easy they are to clean. I have a
Honeywell and don't use it because cleaning is a PITA. |
What makes the Honeywell so difficult?
toller wrote: The main thing I would look at is how easy they are to clean. I have a Honeywell and don't use it because cleaning is a PITA. |
What makes the Honeywell so difficult? The filters are large, with corners that are pretty sharp. They must either be washed in a tub or in the dishwasher. But they come out of the tub still dirty; only the dishwasher does a decent job. I have to move the top rack up all the way, but even then can only fit one cell in at a time. Maybe they have improved them (mine is 12 years old), but mine are a real pita. I have been using a high efficiency 6 month filter made to fit the housing instead. I know a HVAC guy who puts a conventional filter in ahead of the electronic filters. He says it lets you go alot longer between cleanings. I haven't tried it since my set up doesn't have enough space for a conventional filter. |
"toller" wrote in message ... The main thing I would look at is how easy they are to clean. I have a Honeywell and don't use it because cleaning is a PITA. I never had a problem cleaning them. Bob |
I have read in several articles and had it affirmed by my HVAC guy that
those 3/6 month filters put a load on your fan motor causing early failure. He recommended just using cheap filters every two weeks. Thoughts? toller wrote: What makes the Honeywell so difficult? The filters are large, with corners that are pretty sharp. They must either be washed in a tub or in the dishwasher. But they come out of the tub still dirty; only the dishwasher does a decent job. I have to move the top rack up all the way, but even then can only fit one cell in at a time. Maybe they have improved them (mine is 12 years old), but mine are a real pita. I have been using a high efficiency 6 month filter made to fit the housing instead. I know a HVAC guy who puts a conventional filter in ahead of the electronic filters. He says it lets you go alot longer between cleanings. I haven't tried it since my set up doesn't have enough space for a conventional filter. |
I have read in several articles and had it affirmed by my HVAC guy that those 3/6 month filters put a load on your fan motor causing early failure. He recommended just using cheap filters every two weeks. Thoughts? There is so much surface area that it shouldn't, but I don't really know. I got a new furnace last year, and the installer said most of their customers had also switched to them. |
Dopes anyone have the artcile in Consumer Reports (I think Feb. 2002)
that rates whole house air cleaners. I used to have (hence, found out about the Aprilaire) but misplaced it and don't want to pay their silly online charge. Dan wrote: my contractor of choice prefers selling me a Trane electronic air cleaner. Consumer Reports recommends the Aprilaire 5000. Any suggestions/experiences would be appreciated. - Dan |
In article Uz1Xc.180079$8_6.40561@attbi_s04,
"Bob" wrote: "toller" wrote in message ... The main thing I would look at is how easy they are to clean. I have a Honeywell and don't use it because cleaning is a PITA. I never had a problem cleaning them. Bob I've never had a problem with mine either. I clean them outdoors with a hose. Easy. I have 2 of them because I have 2 furnaces/2 zone heat and air, and I've been cleaning them this way for the 17 years I have them. They have been reliable, I've never needed to have them serviced, or have any parts replaced. Steve |
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"Dan" wrote in message t... I have read in several articles and had it affirmed by my HVAC guy that those 3/6 month filters put a load on your fan motor causing early failure. He recommended just using cheap filters every two weeks. Thoughts? Dont. IF you got with an electronic cleaner, this is how we do it...and its so damn simple its pathetic. 1-Take the elements out. 2-Take them outside. 3-Spray with something like Castrol Super Clean, or Purple Stuff. 4-Rinse off. 5-Allow to dry, or we tend to blow them off with CO2 with the regulator set very low. 6-Re-install. The 3M style filter can, and WILL create serious issues IF, and this is IF your systems duct system is NOT designed for the increase in resistance...and they have that. toller wrote: What makes the Honeywell so difficult? The filters are large, with corners that are pretty sharp. They must either be washed in a tub or in the dishwasher. But they come out of the tub still dirty; only the dishwasher does a decent job. I have to move the top rack up all the way, but even then can only fit one cell in at a time. Maybe they have improved them (mine is 12 years old), but mine are a real pita. I have been using a high efficiency 6 month filter made to fit the housing instead. I know a HVAC guy who puts a conventional filter in ahead of the electronic filters. He says it lets you go alot longer between cleanings. I haven't tried it since my set up doesn't have enough space for a conventional filter. |
"GEO" wrote in message ... On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 19:46:27 GMT, (Dan) wrote: Dopes anyone have the artcile in Consumer Reports (I think Feb. 2002) that rates whole house air cleaners. my contractor of choice prefers selling me a Trane electronic air cleaner. Consumer Reports recommends the Aprilaire 5000. Any suggestions/experiences would be appreciated. Yes, it was Feb. 2002. From top to bottom: All these four would be in the 'Excellent' rating. Aprilaire 5000 = over 90% $500 Cost of filters= $42 (year) Carrier Aira = over 90% $500 Cost of filters= washable Trion SE1400 = over 90% $400 Cost of filters= washable Honeywell F50= over 80% $400 Cost of filters= washable (F300) Aprilair2200 only rated around 60% (between Good and Very Good) (2400) HTH Geo GODALMIGHTY...I gotta raise my prices...LOL PS: In the same issue: The best boxed chocolates were "Martine's Assorted with Cream" |
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So I am not sure what you are suggesting: use the cheap filter or not
(assuming the absence of an electronic air cleaner)? How would one know if their duct system would support the increased air resistance and are you saying that if they didn't, they would collapse? - Dan Steve@carolinabreezehvac wrote: "Dan" wrote in message t... I have read in several articles and had it affirmed by my HVAC guy that those 3/6 month filters put a load on your fan motor causing early failure. He recommended just using cheap filters every two weeks. Thoughts? Dont. IF you got with an electronic cleaner, this is how we do it...and its so damn simple its pathetic. 1-Take the elements out. 2-Take them outside. 3-Spray with something like Castrol Super Clean, or Purple Stuff. 4-Rinse off. 5-Allow to dry, or we tend to blow them off with CO2 with the regulator set very low. 6-Re-install. The 3M style filter can, and WILL create serious issues IF, and this is IF your systems duct system is NOT designed for the increase in resistance...and they have that. toller wrote: What makes the Honeywell so difficult? The filters are large, with corners that are pretty sharp. They must either be washed in a tub or in the dishwasher. But they come out of the tub still dirty; only the dishwasher does a decent job. I have to move the top rack up all the way, but even then can only fit one cell in at a time. Maybe they have improved them (mine is 12 years old), but mine are a real pita. I have been using a high efficiency 6 month filter made to fit the housing instead. I know a HVAC guy who puts a conventional filter in ahead of the electronic filters. He says it lets you go alot longer between cleanings. I haven't tried it since my set up doesn't have enough space for a conventional filter. |
"Dan" wrote in message ... So I am not sure what you are suggesting: use the cheap filter or not (assuming the absence of an electronic air cleaner)? How would one know if their duct system would support the increased air resistance and are you saying that if they didn't, they would collapse? - Dan Ok...let me see if I can clarify... Cheap fiberglass filters every two weeks is a waste, unless you are filling them slam full of dust in that time. Fiberglass filters filter better as they collect dirt..as does any filter. A higher resistance filter, like a pleated paper 3M style, can cause the air flow over your evap to be reduced to the point that the evap coil stops absorbing heat at the rate it was designed, the pressure will drop on the suction side of the AC unit, and the coil will start to freeze...when that happens, you get a flooded compressor, and this will cause things like washed out bearings, and broken, or bent valves in the compressor. Also, should the air flow be reduced in sufficient manner, your load on the motor goes away, the motor can spin up to a higher RPM than the blower was designed to handle, and the cage can come apart. Reducing air flow, removes load on the motor...your guy had it backwards. This can cause early failure of the blower due to the blower cage breaking, or, reduced air flow for cooling over the motor....since most of your evap blower motors are designed to be in the air stream. Depending on the 1-size of the filter area, 2-size of the return duct, and 3-the static pressure your unit is designed to operate at, its entirely possible that a 3M filter or the like will be fine....but be advised that if the system is over 10 years old, chances are that it is not. Steve@carolinabreezehvac wrote: "Dan" wrote in message t... I have read in several articles and had it affirmed by my HVAC guy that those 3/6 month filters put a load on your fan motor causing early failure. He recommended just using cheap filters every two weeks. Thoughts? Dont. IF you got with an electronic cleaner, this is how we do it...and its so damn simple its pathetic. 1-Take the elements out. 2-Take them outside. 3-Spray with something like Castrol Super Clean, or Purple Stuff. 4-Rinse off. 5-Allow to dry, or we tend to blow them off with CO2 with the regulator set very low. 6-Re-install. The 3M style filter can, and WILL create serious issues IF, and this is IF your systems duct system is NOT designed for the increase in resistance...and they have that. toller wrote: What makes the Honeywell so difficult? The filters are large, with corners that are pretty sharp. They must either be washed in a tub or in the dishwasher. But they come out of the tub still dirty; only the dishwasher does a decent job. I have to move the top rack up all the way, but even then can only fit one cell in at a time. Maybe they have improved them (mine is 12 years old), but mine are a real pita. I have been using a high efficiency 6 month filter made to fit the housing instead. I know a HVAC guy who puts a conventional filter in ahead of the electronic filters. He says it lets you go alot longer between cleanings. I haven't tried it since my set up doesn't have enough space for a conventional filter. |
IF you got with an electronic cleaner, this is how we do it...and its so
damn simple its pathetic. 1-Take the elements out. 2-Take them outside. 3-Spray with something like Castrol Super Clean, or Purple Stuff. 4-Rinse off. 5-Allow to dry, or we tend to blow them off with CO2 with the regulator set very low. 6-Re-install. I've tried that, and they are still gritty, while the dishwasher gets them perfectly clean. Are your getting better results than me, or is gritty okay? |
"toller" wrote in message ... IF you got with an electronic cleaner, this is how we do it...and its so damn simple its pathetic. 1-Take the elements out. 2-Take them outside. 3-Spray with something like Castrol Super Clean, or Purple Stuff. 4-Rinse off. 5-Allow to dry, or we tend to blow them off with CO2 with the regulator set very low. 6-Re-install. I've tried that, and they are still gritty, while the dishwasher gets them perfectly clean. Are your getting better results than me, or is gritty okay? I dont understand the gritty part... How long are you letting the Purple Stuff work? If you are using Simple Green, you can wait forever and it wont work. |
Impressively clear and detailed answer - thanks. My system is newer
than 10 years, so it sounds like you are suggesting the pleated filter would be acceptable. I understand you point about the cheap filters, and no, they are not clogged after even four weeks. Thanks for the HVAC physics lesson - very interesting stuff. - Dan Steve@carolinabreezehvac wrote: "Dan" wrote in message ... So I am not sure what you are suggesting: use the cheap filter or not (assuming the absence of an electronic air cleaner)? How would one know if their duct system would support the increased air resistance and are you saying that if they didn't, they would collapse? - Dan Ok...let me see if I can clarify... Cheap fiberglass filters every two weeks is a waste, unless you are filling them slam full of dust in that time. Fiberglass filters filter better as they collect dirt..as does any filter. A higher resistance filter, like a pleated paper 3M style, can cause the air flow over your evap to be reduced to the point that the evap coil stops absorbing heat at the rate it was designed, the pressure will drop on the suction side of the AC unit, and the coil will start to freeze...when that happens, you get a flooded compressor, and this will cause things like washed out bearings, and broken, or bent valves in the compressor. Also, should the air flow be reduced in sufficient manner, your load on the motor goes away, the motor can spin up to a higher RPM than the blower was designed to handle, and the cage can come apart. Reducing air flow, removes load on the motor...your guy had it backwards. This can cause early failure of the blower due to the blower cage breaking, or, reduced air flow for cooling over the motor....since most of your evap blower motors are designed to be in the air stream. Depending on the 1-size of the filter area, 2-size of the return duct, and 3-the static pressure your unit is designed to operate at, its entirely possible that a 3M filter or the like will be fine....but be advised that if the system is over 10 years old, chances are that it is not. Steve@carolinabreezehvac wrote: "Dan" wrote in message t... I have read in several articles and had it affirmed by my HVAC guy that those 3/6 month filters put a load on your fan motor causing early failure. He recommended just using cheap filters every two weeks. Thoughts? Dont. IF you got with an electronic cleaner, this is how we do it...and its so damn simple its pathetic. 1-Take the elements out. 2-Take them outside. 3-Spray with something like Castrol Super Clean, or Purple Stuff. 4-Rinse off. 5-Allow to dry, or we tend to blow them off with CO2 with the regulator set very low. 6-Re-install. The 3M style filter can, and WILL create serious issues IF, and this is IF your systems duct system is NOT designed for the increase in resistance...and they have that. toller wrote: What makes the Honeywell so difficult? The filters are large, with corners that are pretty sharp. They must either be washed in a tub or in the dishwasher. But they come out of the tub still dirty; only the dishwasher does a decent job. I have to move the top rack up all the way, but even then can only fit one cell in at a time. Maybe they have improved them (mine is 12 years old), but mine are a real pita. I have been using a high efficiency 6 month filter made to fit the housing instead. I know a HVAC guy who puts a conventional filter in ahead of the electronic filters. He says it lets you go alot longer between cleanings. I haven't tried it since my set up doesn't have enough space for a conventional filter. |
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