Electronic Air Cleaner

[Hammylinky]

(Oops - I posted this in the furnace section before I saw this category. I think it is more approriate here.) :D

I recently moved into my house in the Northeast. It is heated by a propane furnace which is original to the house (25 years old). The furnace is a forced air system with a separate a/c unit. The furnace has a Honeywell electronic air cleaner. A label on the air cleaner says the electronic cells should be washed every 1-6 months. I found information online that says the cells can be washed with a dishwasher. I don't have the manual on the dishwasher so I'm not sure if I can use this model to wash the cells. I'm guessing it is 10 years old.

Does anyone else regularly wash their air cleaners? Do you wash it by hand or in the dishwasher? I'm wondering if this maintenance is something worthwhile to do. Thanks!

[Jay11J]

I've never washed an EAC in a dishwasher. The small wires on the cells may get damaged from the dishwasher tines. Also depends on the brand of diswasher, and how the racks are set up. Best thing to do is soak it, and spray with a garden hose.

These cells must be washed every month, if you don't wash them the cells build up with dust, and it no longer doing it's job.

Best thing to do is forget about the EAC, and some unit will be able to take a media filter, and they only need to be changed once a year or twice a year.

If you do go that route, remove the power alltogether at the unit, and messure the cells together, and replace it with a 4" media.. The media filters can be found at home centers like Home Depot.

[Ed Imeduc]

We take out more EAC than we sell. Yes years back they cut the cells in half so you can put them in the dishwasher. But to make them work right its like every week you should wash them. If its been there that long you might want to check out the AC coil and see if its clean. Air Bear makes a pleated filter that should fit in there for you. Go that way and just change it when you have to.


ED ;)

[Hammylinky]

Thanks. It makes sense to put a pleated filter in there. I'll measure the existing filter and do that. When you say I need to cut the power at the unit, I assume you just mean turning the air filter switch to "off" and keeping it off once I install the new filter. And do I need to turn off the furnace while I'm replacing the filter? I imagine it could not hurt.

[Ed Imeduc]

Just turn it off for sure. It might help to turn the furnace off when you change the filter but you dont have to.


ED ;)

[noroomsforme]

I don't think I would want to use the dishwasher for that kinda gross.

[Hammylinky]

Well, I finally got around to putting in a pleated replacement filter. I do have one more question. Directly above the slot where the electronic cells were there appears to be two thin filters. They remind me of grease filters in a range hood. Should I remove those too or are they still useful somehow?

[Ed Imeduc]

Its like up to you they just get the real big stuff is all. if you do let them in be sure and wash then when you change filters. There is a spray that you cn but on the intake side of the filter that help there also. Go to http://www.puracleanspray.com look at it.


ED ;)