Cardboard-Frame Fiberglass Filters
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Cardboard-Frame
Fiberglass Filters |
These are about 8% efficient at the
most. But even though most of the dirt that goes into them goes
right back into your house, they should still be changed once a
month. If they should clog up with dirt, they will cause your
blower to work harder, and may cause reduced air flow.
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| Maintenance |
Once a month, slide out the old filter and
discard it, slide in a new filter.
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| Electrostatic Air Cleaners |
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Electrositatic
Air Cleaner
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An electrostatic air cleaner is
approximately the size and thickness of a conventional furnace
filter. It’s made of multiple layers of varied plastic-like and
metal filter material. The motion of the air through the filter
causes an electrostatic charge to form on the grid, enhancing the dust
attraction of the filter.
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| Maintenance |
Electrostatic
filters should be removed and cleaned every six to eight weeks.
Generously spray both sides of the filter with “Fantastic” or a similar
cleaner spray. Rinse the unit using a forceful water spray,
preferably a hose. Spray the clean side first. This pushes the
dirt back out the way it entered the filter, rather than driving it in
deeper. Allow to dry before re-inserting, or run furnace in continuous
“fan on” mode until the filter is dry. |
Media Filter
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Media Filter
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“Media” filters are usually 4-5 inches
thick, and housed in a separate metal or plastic cabinet next to the
bottom of the furnace. Common brand names are “Air Bear”, “Space
Gard”, “Aprilaire” (not to be confused with the popular humidifier of
the same name), and “Honeywell”. The filters are made of
dense fiber material, made of various combinations of paper, plastic,
and fiberglass, depending on manufacturer. They are designed to
cling to the dirt that they remove from the air, so they cannot be
cleaned without being destroyed.
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| Maintenance |
A media filter has to be changed at the
beginning of each heating season, and at the beginning of each air
conditioning season. This amounts to twice per year if you have
central air conditioning and once per year if you do not. This is
no place to be trying to save replacement costs by not replacing
filters. An overloaded media filter can slow down your blower
speed, causing overworked components, and this can be both dangerous
and expensive at the same time.
We keep replacements for all the
most popular brand name media filters, and we even have some less
costly generic models for some sizes.
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Electronic Air Cleaner
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Electronic
Air Cleaner
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An electronic air cleaner does not contain
any conventional filter medium. It relies on a high-voltage charge to
arrest the dust, pollen and other particles from the air, bringing them
to rest on a series of metal collector plates. These plates must
be rinsed off at least once a month in order to remain effective.
If the plates of an electronic air cleaner are not kept clean, the dust
will be allowed to lose its grip and be sent through the furnace back
to house’s air supply again.
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| Maintenance |
Most problems with electronic air cleaners
originate from improper maintenance of the collector plate
apparatus. Electronic air cleaner plates are by design made of
very thin metal, which is easily bent, so BE CAREFUL! Between the
plates, you will notice fine wires. It is important that the
plates not be bent, because then they will be to close to the wires,
and will cause continual arcing, which eventually will damage your
power supply. Another cause of problems is a soap buildup on the
plates and wires from successive cleanings without adequate
rinsing. This will affect the dielectric characteristics of the
cells, causing them to malfunction or not to work at all.
For proper cleaning of
electronic air cleaner cells, it’s good to have a plastic tub that’s
big enough to immerse an entire cell. It’s worth the small
investment not to have to improvise something every month, or
continually spritzing everything with a hose and getting yelled
at. Here’s our procedure for cleaning electronic air cleaner
cells.
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Cleaning the
Cells of Your Electronic Air Cleaner
DO IT
Once per Month
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Turn
off power to the air cleaner. (Usually there’s a power switch right on
the air cleaner, otherwise you’ll have to turn off the furnace for
awhile.)
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Remove
the cells and the pre-filter. (Pre-filter is an aluminum screen about
3/8 inch thick, it’s just to get the “big hunks” before they get into
the air cleaner.
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Soak
the cells in your laundry tub (or that special tub we were talking
about…) for 20 minutes in hot water and 1 teaspoon of “Wisk”
detergent.
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Rinse
the cells thoroughly with hot water. This is important – it is
worthwhile, if possible to dump the tub and refill with clear hot water
to ensure that there’s no soap buildup on the cells.
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The
cleaning operation can also be done in the dishwasher. But use only 1
teaspoon of LIQUID dishwasher soap. Remember – soap buildup is
BAD.
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Reinstall
cells and pre-filters – air dry overnight by leaving the air cleaner
switch off.
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If
the unit fails to operate after 24 hours, make sure you have turned the
switch back on, take out and re-insert the cells, just to make sure
they’re in right. (should make solid contact and any arrows on
the body of the cells should be pointing TOWARD the furnace, which is
the direction of air flow.
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Bringing Your Electronic Air Cleaner to
our Shop for Service
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Our
Shop is located
at
635 South 70th St.
Milwaukee, WI
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If you unit fails to operate, you can save
the cost of a service call by bringing the cells and the power supply
(if detachable) into our Parts Department. There is a nominal
diagnostic charge, (call 414/778-4190 for current rate), but it’s
considerably less expensive than a house call. We wish we could
do while-you-wait counter service, unfortunately, you will probably
have to leave the cells with us until our technicians have had a chance
to look at it. (The same fully-trained service technicians that do the
in-house service are the ones that work on the equipment brought into
our shop!)
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