Electronic air cleaners

[Mike1903]

What is the latest thought on electronic air cleaners?
Previous owner had one installed (made by Five Seasons company) but don’t think it is doing much. Every time, I take it out there isn’t much to clean and house does have fine dust.

I called couple of hvac folks around here and they advised to replace it and revert to media filters.

thx!

 

[PoorUB]

I agree. Replace with a Trion Air Bear or similar.

 

[Perroflojo]

I have one but it needs constant TLC like every 3 months and you need to replace the energizing wires when the break.

You better off going a 4 inch filter and MERV 8 or higher would be nice!

 

[yeldogt]

I stopped installing them on my systems .... The old Honeywell unit did work as it was very dirty after three months. I think the 4" pleated type are the way to go today. Get a full size unit sized to the return depending on the of the furnace ... I'm typically doing 3 ton so 24x24.

I like the Honeywell filters. Merv 11 is typically the recommended rating -- going over and you risk some restrictions in airflow.

 

[FMB4]

I like the Honeywell filters. Merv 11 is typically the recommended rating -- going over and you risk some restrictions in airflow.

Yep. This problem is why I bought a cheap electronic 'Air Velocity' gauge off eB*y. A new filter typically reads out at 14 kph. We live in the 'Great dust Basin' and, as such, restricted airflow is an issue. Btw, our 20" x 20" HVAC filter is not all that easy to access. Hence the AV gauge.

 

[Showkey]

I stopped installing them on my systems .... The old Honeywell unit did work as it was very dirty after three months. I think the 4" pleated type are the way to go today. Get a full size unit sized to the return depending on the of the furnace ... I'm typically doing 3 ton so 24x24.

I like the Honeywell filters. Merv 11 is typically the recommended rating -- going over and you risk some restrictions in airflow.

Agree my new system has 20x25-5” :Merv 11. My wife without coaching or prompting noticed a difference in dust from the old electronic air clear/filter.

 

[nadogail]

If your Electronic Air Cleaner is getting dirty, ask yourself where the is dirt is coming from?

The dirt in the Electronic Air Cleaner is what was cleaned from the air passing through it. If there is no dirt in the cleaner, there was nothing removed from the air passing through it.

In the late '90s I worked at a manufacturing plant with an Electrostatic Participator that kept a lot of **** from being exhausted into the community.

 

[yeldogt]

In reality --- the most important thing for the filter to do is keep **** from clogging the AC/Heat-pump .. less important but still needed to protect is the furnace heat exchanger and blower.

In the old days with oil -- the 1" fiberglass allowed the large amount of air to flow .. catching the big stuff. Those belt driven blower units can't take the thick pleated. Modern direct drive is good to go with the 4" pleated ... With my VS equipment running all the time I like the pleated.

Another factor is the returns. Returns low down or on the floor will send all kinds of stuff into the duct system .... especially if you have pets

 

[LS6 Tommy]

They're good for putting a lot of ozone into your house. That's about it. Go wit ha good 4" pleat.

Tommy