Air Cleaner Filter

When thinking “green” most of us automatically think of energy efficiency and saving money. Therefore, our health and the health of our homes are often overlooked. Every green certification program, such as the National Association of Home Builders Green Certification, addresses energy efficiency, health and require at least a minimum of a MERV 9* high efficiency central filtration system. 

Since the 1970’s, advancement in home building technologies has led to homes built much tighter in order to save energy. While good for the pocket book, these advancements have lead to  the increase of indoor air pollutants – houses don’t breathe like they use to. 

Indoor air quality is among the top five environmental risks to public health,according to the Enviromental Protection Agency.

The Sustainable Living Sourcebook states that small, invisible respirable-size air particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, where they may stay a long time and cause acute or chronic effects. While large particulate matter such as some molds, pollen, animal dander, and house dust allergens, do not penetrate as deeply, they may still cause an allergic response.

Aprilaire has been a driver of air filtration technology and offers several models to meet your health needs, including the recent launch of the Model 4000.  This new series of air cleaners exceeds green standards by featuring a MERV 13 filter. This means it will remove 93 percent of particles that are 3 microns (approximately 98-99 percent of all particles are in the size range of 5 microns or less).

Central air cleaning systems work by filtering the air the when the heating and cooling system fan is running.  Typically this is when the unit is heating or cooling the house during the winter and summer months.  Because temperatures are more moderate in the spring and fall most heating and cooling systems run very little and don’t allow the air to be filtered.  Unfortunately, this is also when allergens, such as pollens, peak.  Aprilaire addresses this problem by offering a one-of-a-kind air cleaner control that allows you to actively clean the air in their entire home based on personal preference and event triggers:

• Constant Cleaning: air cleaner is active for 24 hours a day
• Automatic: air cleaner will run a minimum of 30 minutes per hour
• Event Clean: air cleaners will run for three hours continuously and then turn off
• Allergies: air cleaner will run continuously for 24 hours and then turn off 
   

Installed next to the thermostat or on the air cleaning unit, the new control also provides validation the air cleaner is working by indicating through a sequence of bars that rise when the blower on the heating and cooling system is energized.  It also indicates when the filter needs to be replaced based on blower run time.