I have been cleaning the removable grid units from my furnace electronic air cleaner for 11 years now and cleaning them in the dishwasher. I have not had any problems doing this for 11 years.
I cleaned them again 10 days ago and just found a wire loose in the bottom of the dishwasher. It msut have came off the grid unit (1 of 2).
Inspected the grid unit and yes it did come off the larger unit. Very thin gage stiff wire, one end had a metal crimp wedge shaped on it, and the other (judging from the remaining ones on other grids-- 5-7 more of them on the same larger unit) end was missing and seemed to have just broken off. Broken wire short by an inch or so.
I had no other wire to match it, but found the closest I could, spliced it in by stripping it & twisting and reconnected it. Not entirely sure it will hold permanently but seems okay.
Electonic air cleaner control lights come on, and a few clicks & pops when dirt is captured and static charge is released can be heard when blower is running.
Unit seems okay, no shorts other grids & wires remaining all okay.
Is this okay to have done this?
I banged on my ducts and it did seem to release some dirt and unit clicked away but I really can't believe my 11 year old ducts are that clean. But unit seems to be running albeit quietly.
Thanks in advance.
Morenuf