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.

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.

"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.

"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

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

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

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

PS: In the same issue: The best boxed chocolates were "Martine's
Assorted with Cream"

"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"

Thank you. - Dan

"GEO" wrote:

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

PS: In the same issue: The best boxed chocolates were "Martine's
Assorted with Cream"