Please help me understand my Aprilaire 2200

[JimmyTheMonkey]

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I am currently living in my first home. My HVAC system is quite old (the A/C compressor is older than me!).

My system has a Space-Guard 2200 air filter. Now known as Aprilaire.



I know nothing about these kinds of filters. I see them referred to as "whole house filters" sometimes around the forum and on the internet. Is there anything different between this kind of filter and a regular furnace filter?

Also, it uses one of those annoying accordion-style pleated filters that you have to put the combs in to keep the thing open. Well, most of the combs are broken and move around a bunch so the filter is not doing the best job that it could. The filter element itself measures 20x25x7.5. Is it best to keep replacing it with the Aprilaire 2200 accordion style filters? I see a few other options:

1) replace with accordion filters at $36
2) replace with this drop in NON-accordion filter from Filtrete: $30 from lowes. http://www.lowes.com/pd_120722-98-D...pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=filtete+20+25&facetInfo=
3) upgrade to this easier to use new Aprilaire filter system for $41 including filter: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GDKHQ2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

What does everyone think? Its hard to find definitive info on this unit and the different options. The Filtrete unit is one of the new electrostatic units that has mixed reviews v. pleated units on GJ but I am not sure if that applies because the Filtrete unit is also pleated. The new Aprilaire and Filtrete units are also around half the width of the OEM filter, so I am not sure if that means significantly diminished filtration/efficiency.

Please help educate me! What should I be using for optimal filtration and efficiency (the latter is a concern because my A/C system is quite old and I don't want to further tax it).

 

[brewchief]

I've installed hundreds of those, they do a very good job of keeping the equipment clean and do cut down the amount of dust in the house to some degree.

If the pleat spacers are broken go with the upgrade kit and 213 filter, the box style filters never seem to seal up inside the housing as well as the original or the upgrade filter.

The 213 filter is a MERV 13 filter, it is quite a bit better then the old pleated media that is rated a MERV 10.

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

I've installed hundreds of those, they do a very good job of keeping the equipment clean and do cut down the amount of dust in the house to some degree.

If the pleat spacers are broken go with the upgrade kit and 213 filter, the box style filters never seem to seal up inside the housing as well as the original or the upgrade filter.

The 213 filter is a MERV 13 filter, it is quite a bit better then the old pleated media that is rated a MERV 10.

Thank you, Brewchief. So this Aprilaire filter is basically the same as any other furnace filter, it just does a better job of keeping dust out of the system?


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[danski0224]

It is also much less restrictive, due to the pleat depth (almost 6" vs 4") and amount of filter media (more pleats = more surface area).

Much better to put in the effort to refurbish what you have than to take the easy way out and use a cartridge filter.

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

So do you think the original OEM filter MERV 10 will filter better than the new "upgrade" Aprilaire kit with MERV 13 because it is thicker? Or do you just think the original OEM filter will do better than the Filtrete box filter?

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

Just FYI, I replaced with the upgrade kit. Everything seems to fix better, although it doesn't seem like the filter perfectly sits flush against the interior of the house and air probably gets in around the sides of it a bit. I imagine this happens with most cartridge filters as well


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