Air Filtration Systems

Star-Eagle Independent Newspaper – JUL 2010

“If we can not do something about this dust, I am going to go crazy!” Is what she said to me. “I have to dust this house a lot more than what I think is normal.”

What spurred this comment was me asking as I finished up a small project… “Is there anything else I can help with?”

My customer took me into her walk in closet and showed me a fine layer of white dust on the shelves and her hanging clothes. She said that this was a weekly event.

I asked about the furnace and the filters. Were they changed lately? I was told that in fact they do clean the filters quite often. I wanted to look at them and then I saw it. The Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner.

These air cleaners are installed upstream from the furnace blower and as return air comes through the system, the electronic cleaner “zaps” the dust and cleans it. But here is the issue we are finding with these. After talking to my friends at the Filter Factory Outlet Store (658-1146), I learned about “clean dirt”.

These electronic cleaners do not do much for filtration. The electrocuted dirt while rendered inert and organics sterilized, allow particles to pass through the system and therefore showing up as the fine white dust in the house. Just look at the system. There is a mesh filter, much like a grease trap filter in your range hood or microwave, and then a finned cartridge like a radiator. You can see right through these! Of course particulates will blow right on through. The analogy was told to me as if you had a magnetized wall and threw ball bearings right at it. Sure they would stick. However, set your toss up parallel to the wall and the bearings will pass right on by when thrown. Some might curve over and stick, but not nearly all of them.

There is a simple cure to this and here it is. We will add filtration to the system and abandon the electronic cleaning. The electronic unit is switched off and unplugged. The front cover is removed and the cartridges pulled out. The mesh grills are pulled out. The space they filled measures 20x25x 4.25. A standard pleated Merv 11 filter is available in this size and is made just for this situation. The filter is slid in where the cartridges were and the cover snapped back in place.

Now the system will be filtering the air and the dust problem will go away.

There are several other types of filters available. Some with higher Merv ratings, some with anti-microbial and bacteria capabilities. You will have to discuss your specific needs with the filter supplier. Cost? About $35 per filter and you would want to change these every 3 to 6 months. The Filter Factory Outlet Store will even deliver to your door so you can’t forget to change them on time.

My customer is very happy with the results. A complete duct cleaning should also be part of the conversion as that dust is throughout the duct-work and should be removed. For most homes this will cost $300 to $400.

Was it worth it? This lady sure thinks so. Glad I could help.

Joe and Vicki Prin own Joe Prin Remodeling LLC, Idaho Registered Contractor #RCE-23530, and can be contacted at 573-1082 or by email- joe@joeprin.com. Listen to the HomeFix Radio show hosted by Joe, Saturdays, 9-10 AM on 670 KBOI