Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Air Cleaner Good Idea
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Daisy001
03-12-08, 12:41 PM
Hi, everyone. I'm replacing my 20-year heat pump with a new system. One of the contractors quoted me a Lennox 16-seer system, and will throw in an air purification system. Are air cleaners helpful? Do they make a difference? Or is it just something else to be maintained? I live in Texas, where there's a lot of allergies, and wonder if it will help remove the allergens from inside the house.
furd
03-12-08, 06:00 PM
I don't know what kind of "air cleaner" is being proposed but if it is an electrostatic (often called electronic) type then it will remove the smallest of particles from the air.
However, it will also require cleaning at a minimum of two week intervals regardless of what anyone says. Very few people do the required cleaning.
Unlike more conventional filters that get MORE efficacious (traps more dirt particles) as it gets dirty the electronic filter will trap fewer dirt particles as it gets dirty.
The ideal system would have a "media" (sometimes called a "box") filter first in line from the return-air duct and then an electronic filter after the media filter. The media filter will catch the majority of dirt leaving only the smallest particles to be trapped by the electronic filter. When set up this way the electronic filter can go a bit longer between cleaning depending on several variables.
However, it will also require cleaning at a minimum of two week intervals regardless of what anyone says. Very few people do the required cleaning.
Unlike more conventional filters that get MORE efficacious (traps more dirt particles) as it gets dirty the electronic filter will trap fewer dirt particles as it gets dirty.
The ideal system would have a "media" (sometimes called a "box") filter first in line from the return-air duct and then an electronic filter after the media filter. The media filter will catch the majority of dirt leaving only the smallest particles to be trapped by the electronic filter. When set up this way the electronic filter can go a bit longer between cleaning depending on several variables.
airman.1994
03-12-08, 06:28 PM
Go with a media flter like space guard.
Daisy001
03-13-08, 08:59 AM
They are going to throw in a Lennox Pure Air Purification system. Has anyone used one before?
furd
03-13-08, 09:37 AM
I have no personal experience with this unit.
Here's the website.
http://12.148.128.160/products/overview.asp?model=PCO
I think that when it comes time to replace the filter unit it will have a fairly high price tag.
Here's the website.
http://12.148.128.160/products/overview.asp?model=PCO
I think that when it comes time to replace the filter unit it will have a fairly high price tag.
Ed Imeduc
03-13-08, 03:52 PM
We take out more EAC units than we put in. For just a air filter the AIR Bear is a good one. They say that lennox has a MERV 16 in it. We find that much over a MERV 5 is hard on the blower motor
Jay11J
03-14-08, 06:38 AM
EAC are good IF you stay on top of it.
The PureAir is a media filter that changes out once or twice a year, but they are not cheap!
Get the Honeywell or Aprilare Media filter, those filters can be found at home centers like Home Depot much cheaper than the Lennox that you have to get from the dealer themselves.
The higher MERV Ed is talking about is the 1" filter. The 4-5" Media does not cut down in the air flow. I have the Honeywell F200.
The PureAir is a media filter that changes out once or twice a year, but they are not cheap!
Get the Honeywell or Aprilare Media filter, those filters can be found at home centers like Home Depot much cheaper than the Lennox that you have to get from the dealer themselves.
The higher MERV Ed is talking about is the 1" filter. The 4-5" Media does not cut down in the air flow. I have the Honeywell F200.