Electronic air cleaners work differently than basic, electrostatic, or media filters. They give particulates in the air stream a strong electrical charge, then collect and trap them on oppositely-charged plates.
Incoming air passes through a prefilter to remove larger particles. Then, particulates are given a strong positive or negative charge as they pass through a series of ionizing wires. In he collection section, the charged particles are attracted to an oppositely-charged plate, where they stay until the unit is cleaned. Some units manufacturers offer may include a charcoal filter to help reduce household odors.
Cleaning is simple. Just remove the collection cells three to four times a year, wash with household cleaner to remove contaminants, soak in a laundry tub or place in the dishwasher.
Making a wise air cleaner buy.
How can you make a decision on the filtering system that's right for you? "Pay close attention to the efficiency claims," advises Dave Cenedella, product manager for White-Rodgers' Electro-Air air cleaners. "But you need to know the type and size of particles being filtered out of the air supply. Because some irritants, such as cigarette smoke particles, are so small, you will get the most benefit from an electronic air cleaner that has high effectiveness against particulates as small as .01-.03 microns."
Another consideration is cost, and you should calculate this to extend over a ten-year period, advises Honeywell's Gould. Weigh initial costs versus replacement or maintenance, and consider that a whole-house electronic air cleaner can help protect your heating system investment. Honeywell offers a Clean Coil Guarantee, with the promise that if coil cleaning is
required within ten years of installation of one of its electronic air cleaners, the company will pay half the cost of the cleaning.
Leave installation to a professional.
You can plan on installing an electronic air cleaner when you replace your furnace or central air conditioning, or when you're building a new home and selecting a heating-cooling system. If funds don't allow you to install an electronic air cleaner right away, an alternative is to put in an electronic air cleaner compartment with a media filter. Later, you can upgrade your system by having a licensed, professional heating-cooling contractor install an electronic air cleaner in the compartment.
Installation of a whole-house electronic air cleaner is the province of a professional heating-cooling contractor. "A professional is best qualified to help you determine the capabilities of the unit you need for your home, and how you maintain it. He should definitely be your choice for doing the installation and electrical connections," noted the Bureau's Weiner.
