Hi all . I'm looking for an opinion for an electronic air cleaner for a house. The CR recommends AprilAir, Honeywell and Trane. Does anyone have any experience - good or bad with these makers? Bad experience, especially. Or any specific model?
thanks
Gene
Trane does NOT make their units, but buy from Honeywell, and rebadge them...so much for CR....
CONSUMER REPORTS rated them either this month or last. If you don't have the last issue (I think it's the Oct. issue because the Nov. issue is already available), go to the library and look up the article. I think the best one is Friedrich C-90A. It's expensive but very good. Check CR for Aug, Sept. and Oct, because I'm not exactly sure which issue I saw them in.
The problem with electrostatic is they loose efficency fast when they get dirty, they should be cleaned 3 to 12 times a year. Paper increases in efficency for particle removal as they get dirtier and usualy last longer 1 yr.
I've had my Friedrich C90 for something like 6 or 7 years and it still works great...I throw the cell in the dishwasher about once every 6 weeks and good as new again....
Great device!
great...I throw the cell in the dishwasher about once every 6 >weeks and good as new again....
************************************************ How often do you change the other filter? You know, there's another filter in the front. I think its a carbon or charcoal filter? I heard those have to be changed a few times a year, but they are pretty inexpensive.
Ive got the same model as well
Had it abt 9 months now
Hey....when you throw the cell in the dishwasher.... do you add regular dishwashing liquid as well? Is it OK to use that soap?
Or should I use something else?
John
I dont know how dirty you call dirty ,the point is they loose effectiveness quickly When they are really dirty , they have lost cleaning ability long ago, where paper gets better. Its just better to clean them often. Check your blower and furnace to see if you have buildup , that will help determine if you wash it enough. Also I beleive they pull around 100 watts For me that would add 85.00 a year running 12 hrs a day. My large paper filter costs 20.00 and lasts a year. But true It doesnt run 12 hr , unless its real hot or cold out. Either way , there is a trade off.
Talking air filters, I have 2 Aprilair 2200- 4 inch media filters. Both are a defective design allowing no positive seal at the top of the slide in casing. They both allow 1/8 " space where dust bypasses the filter and screws up my furnace with dust.. I used foam strips to seal it , but April Air was no help. There are good designs out there. But April Air is not one. I even contacted consumer reports after their article. No response on several attemps
The Freidrich unit is a stand alone unit.
Its NOT something built into your furnace.
John
In '91 we bought the Aprilair 2400 & change the paper filer every 2 years. Our furnace/AC guy stated for us to do that since it works better when dirty & he is correct per AIRRITE where we get the filters. Amazing that I don't dust half as much as I used to.
You have to examine the filter , a filter takes out a higher percentage of particles the dirtier it gets. But in doing so reduces airflow. A filter to dirty reduces airflow and efficency of your system. I cant see what you have after 2 years. Check after 1 , you dont want it caked and clogged before replacement , just dirty. But they do last in a clean house.
I'm also considering something like this - specifically a standalone unit for our laundry room. We have a number of cats and the dust of the litter settles quite heavily in the rooms nearest the laundry room. I'm thinking this is going to be a pretty demanding environment for the air cleaner. *Lots* of fine grained dust will probably mean frequent filter changes. Does anyone have suggestions for a unit that will stand up to the dust load and for which the cost of filter replacement wont kill me?
Does it make more sense to put a vent fan in the room to suck the dust outside? I live in Houston, so it's very hot and humid alot of the time and I thought the vent might cost me big on the electric bill by blowing all my cool air out.
Any thoughts?
Rusty
Yes, regular dishwashing liquid is RECOMMENDED by Friedrich and most other electronic cell manufacturers...
Works great, gets it squeaky clean, though I often use the pots and pans cycle to get it extra clean
I actually quit changing the charcoal filter...The damn thing is like $20 and really is unimpressive in its construction (very small thin layer of charcoal)
It won't run without it, so I just ripped out the old charcoal insert and put the frame back in...Been fine for 6 years that way
I'm really not concerned about odors anyhow (plus I doubt its effectiveness)
Good God, I would hate to see the condition of your system. Thats a damn fine way to crack a heat exchanger..
Great Chris! Thanks!
Ive only had my Freidrich unit abt 9 months now. So far so good
John
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