Consumer question:
I just noticed that the model 2400 Aprilaire air cleanerunit is installed backwards according to the air flow arrow on the filter frame. How will this affect the filter and the HVAC unit performance? Do I need to change it?
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 2400 Air Cleaner. Our Aprilaire Media Air Cleaners are designed to fit with most heating/cooling equipment and duct work configurations. They attach to the outside of the heating/cooling equipment at the point where all of the air flow return ducts join together before the air passes into the heating/cooling equipment. This means that the air cleaner can be placed in an upright position, upside-down, on its side, or even standing straight up, as long as the air passes from the duct work through the air cleaner into the heating/cooling equipment. The outer housing door is universal and fits both ways.
In the past, our air cleaners had a rigid structure to the filter which required that the air flow pass in a certain direction through the cleaner. The cabinet had an arrow indicating the proper direction of the air flow through it so that its internal filter would be positioned correctly. These included our models 2200 and 2400.
Our current line of media air cleaners have a filter that can be reversed inside the cabinet. This means that the cabinet can be mounted in any direction and that the filter can be flipped around to match the direction of the air flow. This allows for a simpler installation and prevents the appearance that an air cleaner has been installed upside-down.
Air passing through the air cleaner in the wrong direction could lead to air leakage around the filter, increased air resistance, or filter collapse as the filter is structurally supported against air flow only in one direction. The efficiency of the Aprilaire air cleaner is not affected. If an older model air cleaner has been installed incorrectly, we recommend that either the original installer or another service contractor revisit the installation and reposition the cabinet so that the air flow passes through the air cleaner properly. Some sheet metal work may be required so that the return air duct can be attached to the flange on the inlet side of the outer housing when the air cleaner is turned in the proper direction. In addition, sheet metal work may also be required at the furnace so that the flat outlet side of the air cleaner can be attached to the furnace return air opening.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.
Consumer question:
Is it necessary to have the regular one inch filters in place? I have them and replace them monthly. These are the standard filters used when you don't have an Aprilaire filter.
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for your email regarding your model 2200 Aprilaire air cleaner. Once the model 2200 was installed the 1" furnace filters should have been removed as there is no need for additional filters with the model 2200 installed. If they have not been removed, please do so. If not, the operation of your HVAC blower may be affected.
This weekend I was dragged along to an outlet mall. If my first statement wasn't a good enough clue, then I'll just come out and say it, I'm not the shopping type.
The shops lined a massive parking lot, and the whole mall was pretty busy. As we pulled in there was a funny smell in the air I recognized very well. I used to load that smell fifty pounds at a time into people's cars at my old job, it was asphalt sealant. The smell was fairly overpowering, the parking lot had clearly been redone the night before.
It was amazing what a relief it continuously felt to enter a store and get out of the parking lot just to get away from the smell. and what a headache it was to go back outside. We were more than aware that the bad smell was accompanied with bad chemicals. Despite my usual tendency to hang out outside, while people get their shopping done, I found myself accompanying them into the store.
It was clear which store's were running better air cleaners. Some stores still smelled of the parking lot, but others managed to smell fresh and clean despite only a door seperating its air from the parking lot's air. We forget about air quality so easily, but when it's staring us in the face we remember not to take it for granted. I'm fortunate to say I survived the shopping trip, and I survived the parking lot smells and chemicals, and have returned with another reminder of the importance of indoor air quality.
Consumer Comments:
I changed the filter today and noticed that two of the fine wires running across the filter had corroded where the end hooks over the tension clip. So two are non functional (I cut them so they would not interfere with the others). Do I need to replace these and if I do what is the part number? Thanks.
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us regarding the ionizer wires for your model 5000 air cleaner. These wires are important in creating the electrical field that charges the particles in your air before they are captured. Without all the ionizer wires in place, the 5000 will not be operating properly.
We have replacement wires available on our estore. Follow the link below to place an order for replacement wires:
http://estore.aprilaire.com/catalog/air-cleaners/model-5000-parts There are two different parts for the ionizer wires based on which model 5000 you have. The model will be based on the door color and the color of the light on the door. This is also explained in the product description on the estore.
If you have any further questions regarding this or any of our products, please feel free to contact our customer service department at your earliest convenience.
Consumer question:
How do I open my Aprilaire 2210 air cleaner to change the filter? I tugged on the handle, but it doesn't budge; I'm afraid if I pull harder, the handle will just pull off. Thanks!
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us about your air cleaner. The Air Cleaner door should pull straight out. There are four strong metal clips that hold this door in place and it could be stuck because these clips are stiff. If you give a little extra tug, you should see it pop free. If something does break, the door does obtain a 5-year warranty through your dealer.
Consumer question:
How can I find out the MERV rating of the Model 2410 and 4410 air cleaners?
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for your email regarding the MERV rating of our Aprilaire air cleaners. The 2410 has a MERV 10 rating. We do not have a 4410. Perhaps you meant the 4400. The 4400 has a 13 MERV rating.
I'm a bit of a social media/tech nut. I love watching (and let's be honest being active in) Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. change the world. And further, I love that my smart phone can track and post to it all now. My mother, in her infinite wisdom commented that the day would come people forget life without smart phones. I'm already there.
I stumbled on a crazy app today for Droid phones called
"Allergy Tracker." I have spring time allergies that are really just starting to subside as summer rolls in, so I wouldn't really need the app right now, but since I'm still so close to that dreadful time of year, I was intrigued. Essentially the app creates a network of people who 'touch inform' the app about their allergy conditions. The app locates you every time you tap into it, and effectively tracks allergen levels by creating a real time allergy map from everyone's responses. Pretty sweet, but does it work?
By the looks of it the answer has to be - not really - bummer. With some horrible reviews, I won't be downloading the app, however it does bring up a good point - if you have allergies, your best weapon is
information. While we're never going to be able to stop allergens from existing in general, there
are things we can do to keep them from existing in our homes, but you've got to be informed. It's easy to see these small air purifiers and see a solution, but fixing a room isn't as good as fixing your home. There are better, holisitic solutions for your home. Central Air Filters, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers all have their place in fixing your indoor air quality problems.
Check out the informational link from eMedicine health and then some information from us at Aprilaire. After all, information is your best weapon.
eMedicine health
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/indoor_allergens/article_em.htm
Aprilaire
http://www.aprilaire.com/index.php?znfAction=IAQ&category=filtration
Consumer question:
How many kilowatts does it take to run the Aprilaire Model 5000 Whole House Air Cleaner? Thanks.
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for your email regarding our model 5000 Aprilaire Whole House Air Cleaner. The model 5000 uses less than 50 watts. This would equal .05 kilowatts.
Consumer question:
I assume my aircleaner is working but the little blue light is not on. I will call my furnace man but wanted to email you as well. Is it necessary that the blue light be on as an indication that the filter is working. I had my ducts and vents cleaned friday, i believe the blue light was on when we finished but not sure now. please advise.
thank you
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us regarding you model 5000 air cleaner. When installed properly, the blue light on the model 5000 should be on whenever the HVAC fan is running. The blue light indicates the electronic components of the 5000 are working properly. If the blue light does not come on when the HVAC fan is running, we would recommend contacting your installing contractor to come to your home and service the unit.
Consumer questions:
I got the upgrade kit for the 2200 model air cleaner to the 213 filter type. How often should I change this filter. I have found on the internet some say once a year, some say every 9 months, and I also have found every 6 months. which one is it ?
Aprilaires' response:
We recommend on average to change the filter once a year for most of our customers. If you happen to run your furnace fan more frequently than with every heat and cool call from your furnace, then you might need to change the filter sooner. The other factors that may cause you to change the filter more frequent is if you happen to have construction done on your home or have a large number of pets in your home. Again on average we suggest that most customers change their filter once a year. If you have any other questions please contact us at 800-334-6011.
Consumer question:
What is the difference in the 401 and 501 media filters and why cant you use the 401 in th
model 5000?
Aprilaires' response:
The 401 and 501 filters are the same size, but the 501 has mettalic stripping on each crease. This stripping is necessary in with the electronic make up of the model 5000 air cleaner. You could use the 401 filter in the model 5000 electronic air cleaner, but if you do, you will not be able to utilize the electronic capabilities of the unit.
Capturing and killing public enemy #1. Job well done!
If you're fighting allergies right now, you might want to install a
Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner - The Navy SEAL of all air cleaners!
It can capture and kill the nastiest of home terrorists like dust mite feces, pollen, pet dander and more.....And we'll release the photo! Here it is:
To answer this question: If you do not open your windows will the ozone levels continue to compound exponentially? No, they will not. Levels of ozone inside our homes typically range from 10 - 70 % of the level found outdoors, primarily depending on whether windows and doors are left open. (ref: "Ozone Decay Rates in Residences", Harvard School of Public Health, Environmental Science and Engineering Program). The reason indoor levels are lower than outdoor levels is because ozone readily reacts with other gases and surfaces.
You may also call us at 800-334-6011 Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Central time.
>>> Webmaster 3/23/2011 2:50 PM >>>
What amount of ozone is generated by the Aprilaire 5000?
Created At
3-21-2011 11:15 PM
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Your posts concerning the ozone produced by your model 5000 air cleaner still leaves me uncomfortable. You begin by trying to dismiss the problem by saying there is such a high background level of ozone that the 2ppb created by your machine is inconsequencial and that all produce some from its AC power cord, anyway. Then you finish by saying that for sensitive people you should use different filters. It is what you are not saying that is the problem. I worry that if you do not open your windows will the ozone levels continue to compound expoentially? If you know this can happen and you do not address it I would read your statements as misleading and selfserving. So can this happen?
I was sitting in a meeting yesterday and the subject of uneven heating and cooling in the home came up . Oh, yes it did! I obviously have no life to speak of (so why would you be interested in my blog, you might ask? Not a bad question, really).
Anyway, the point of the conversation was that several of us have experienced first hand, that running your HVAC system blower more often than just when there is a call for heat or cool can help even out the temperature differences throughout the house. You know, it works!
I've even found this to help when I have a roaring fire in the fireplace, which I know sucks all the heat out of the house and results in huge swings in temperature from one room to the next. If I run the blower constantly, this uncomfortable, energy-sucking effect is minimized to a degree.
Don't get me wrong, running the blower is not a great solution to an energy-hogging fireplace. But if doing so helps even out temperature swings a bit, it's better than NOT doing it. And if you're not using a fireplace, the idea of running your blower more often is even more effective in giving your system a helping hand to keep you comfortable.
This works especially well in older homes like mine with undersized ductwork, inadequate return ducts, and one system trying to heat or cool two stories. Running the fan more often circulates the air more which not only evens out the temperature throughout the house, but it also cleans the air more often.
Whenever you are circulating the air you are also circulating the airborne dust and pollutants that are floating in the air. It circulates back through your return ducts and is trapped in your furnace filter - or if you have an air cleaner instead of your standard furnace filter, you're trapping a helluvalot more contaminants before the air is returned to your system to be heated or cooled and put back into your house.
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I was told that this blog was going to have the capability of adding mp3. If I had figured out how to do this, I would have inserted the Rolling Stones' 'She's So Cold' into this blog post.
Consumer question:
How much ozone does the Aprilaire 5000 produce?
You did NOT answer the question...
So can you try again: How much Ozone does the 5000 produce, and while you are at it, what is the ozone production for the 4200 and the 4400.
Aprilaires' response:
Aprilaire shares our customer’s concerns about ozone, and wants to reassure you that our Model 5000 Whole Home Electronic Air Cleaner is not designed to produce a significant amount ozone.
Ozone is produced as a result of many factors, some are man-made and some originate from nature. On any given day in the US, outdoor levels can be as high as 150 ppb. More polluted areas typically have higher outdoor ozone levels because there is a greater concentration of the components that create ground level ozone.
Levels of ozone inside our homes typically range from 10 to 70 percent of the level found outdoors, primarily depending on whether windows and doors are left open. (ref. “Ozone Decay Rates in Residences”, Harvard School of Public Health, Environmental Science and Engineering Program). The reason indoor levels are lower than outdoor levels is because ozone readily reacts with other gases and surfaces.
As a manufacturer we look to government organizations to set the standards as which to develop and produce products by. As such, we offer an air cleaner that produces 2 ppb, well below the established FDA standard of 50 ppb for medical devices and the UL standard to evaluate products for consumer safety.
The high voltage power supply contained in this (and any other) electronic air cleaner produces ozone only as a byproduct of operation; the small amount of ozone generated dissipates by the time clean air filters out and into your home. In addition, the Model 5000 removes particles from the air that have proven by research to be harmful to humans.
There are a select group of people who are sensitive to ozone. For these people, we recommend using the Aprilaire High Efficiency air cleaners Model 4200 or 4400 which is a passive media air cleaner producing no ozone. For everyone else, the Aprilaire Model 5000 is the best air cleaner for your home.
The carpet is actually the biggest "air filter" in your home. This is good, as the carpets hold pollutants which would, on a hard surface, be stirred up by people walking or by ventilation. This carpet "filter" needs to be vacuumed frequently with a HEPA vacuum. Even with a HEPA vacuum, it is best not to vacuum when young children are in the room. The carpets should also be professionally cleaned every 12 months.
Our friends at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) have a nice
website that among other things, explores air filters. It correctly communicates that the HEALTH benefits of using an air cleaner are of a dubious nature; that there are conflicting viewpoints and studies out there. But then, the website goes on to quote that the EPA recommends air filtration.
It also compares various methods for air cleaning. In particular, an air cleaner installed with the heating and cooling system has the advantages of using:
" the great force with which air will pass through the filter. And it eliminates a space-consuming appliance and an additional sound in your home. On the other hand, the filters may be more expensive and more difficult to handle; and they may need to be changed more often. Consult your doctor and your heating service on this alternative to a portable system. Applying the already-existing fan"
One note to clarify; these whole-house systems, once installed, are typically LESS difficult to handle and need to be changed LESS often than portable room air cleaners. And yes, the filters are more expensive than 1" filters you buy at the hardware store. But you only change them once every 1 or 2 years. You can get two of them for about sixty bucks online. So its $15 - $30 a year for a filter.
They also provide the added benefits of keeping your expensive heating/cooling system cleaner and running more efficiently.
Back to the HEALTH benefit - it's totally true that the jury is still out on that as it relates to air cleaners. It's also totally true that high efficiency air cleaners installed in your HVAC system capture alot more crap than any portable device or regular furnace filter. Just look at a dirty filter coming out of one some time. All that crap is airborne before it's trapped in the filter.
It's also totally true that I know allergy sufferers who swear by them.
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