Air Filter Cleaning

The rule of 1,000 is what air researchers use to describe how much more potent indoor air pollution is then outdoor air pollution.  Basically, anything released into the air indoors is 1,000 times more likely to be breathed in than that same thing being released outdoors.  Bottom line indoor air pollution can be very, very potent and potent pollution is never a good thing for your health.  

I learned about the rule of 1,000 from an article in the New York Times…the article says that burning a candle is combustion and just like smoking a cigarette indoors it will have similar health effects too. 

Your covering up odors with air fresheners you say…one of the doctors quoted in the article says “it’s just adding chemicals on top of chemicals.”  

The best way to control indoor air is to filter it with a whole home air filter, and Aprilaire offers the best air cleaners on the market.  From the Aprilaire 4000 series with a standard MERV 13 filter to the Aprilaire Model 5000 EAC which has been proven by third party testing to be the most efficient and effective air cleaner on the market, you are protected.  Unlike the standard low efficiency high resistance to air flow(which means wasted energy) 1” inch filter you buy at the hardware store you only have to replace your filter once a year, and you have the piece of mind knowing that Aprilaire provides the worlds best IAQ products.

With new homes being more energy efficient the importance of proper conditioning of your homes air becomes more important.  The reason is newer energy efficient homes are tighter, meaning that less fresh air gets in (and stale air out) of your home.  That is why Minnesota, for instance, made it code to have a mechanical ventilation system installed in all new homes.  

But achieving good indoor air quality isn’t just about bringing in fresh air; you need to further condition your air by filtering it and controlling the amount of moisture in it.  Just as you condition your air by heating and cooling it, indoor air quality is about conditioning it to produce a comfortable, healthy, protected home that is also energy efficient.

You can learn more about indoor air quality by visiting Aprilaire.com or just Google "Indoor Air Quality."

Model 5000 Whole Home Electronic Air Cleaner is not designed to produce ozone, but just like most home electronic devices, it does produce a very small amount. 

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 parts per billion (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 Residencies.", 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 develop and produce products to meet or exceed standards set by goverenment organizations.  The Model 5000 electronic air cleaner produces 2 ppb of ozone, 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 yoyur home.  In addition, the Model 5000 removes particles from the air that have proven by research to be harmful to humans.

I've been told when I look to buy an air cleaner to check the MERV but don't know what that is.  MERV is an acronym which stands for "Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value" .  The MERV rating is the standard method for comparing the efficiency of an air filter.  The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at removing particles from the air. 

The MERV scale ranges from 1 (least efficient) to 16 (most efficient).  Filters with higher ratings not only remove more particles from the air, they also remove smaller particles.  A typical fiberglass furnace filter might be rated from 1 to 4 on the MERV scale.  High efficiency filters would have a MERV of 10 to 16.  Aprilaire whole home air cleaners fit into the 10 to 16 scale.  The models 2210/2410 are MERV 10.  The models 4200/4400 are MERV 13.  The model 5000 is equivalent to a MERV 16.

Most of the buzz about indoor air quality has to do with trapping allergens and other contaminants by filtering the air and diluting VOC's by introducing fresh air.These are the keys to healthier indoor air.

But there are other benefits to having a whole-home air cleaner installed on your HVAC system.

It saves energy. How? Using a high-efficiency air cleaner helps keep your HVAC system running at peak efficiency and extends its life.

Here's another way. I'll admit it. I'm lazy. I don't want to clean. I mean, I want a clean environment, but I don't want to spend alot of time getting it there or keeping it there.

A whole home air cleaner traps dust. Period. The amount of dust can vary depending on the size of your home, how many return air ducts you have, or how often your sytem blower runs. But it will trap dust. So you dust less often. So it can save YOU energy too!

Also, you only relace the air cleaner filter once a year instead of every 1-3 months with your conventional 1" filter. How perfect is THAT for Lazy Tom?!?!

Did you know....Proper maintenance of your Aprilaire humidifier is critical to sustaining peak performance.  It's really no different than changing the oil and filter in your car.  You know that with proper maintenance your car will provide trouble-free performance.  Your humidifier is no different.  You've made an investment in your home and health and you want to protect it and keep it operating at peak efficiency for many years. 


For those of you that don't have a maintenance agreement with your local dealer, the Aprilaire premium digital control reminds you when it's time to change the water panel with a yellow "Change Water Panel" indicator.  This allows you to maximize water panel life and achieve peak performance from your humidifier at all times.  Aprilaire humidifiers, simply the best!

The picture below is showing the difference between an air conditioning coil that had an Aprilaire air cleaner and a coil that just had a normal 1” filter.  As you can see the one without the Aprilaire air cleaner is in complete disarray.  The problem with a dirty coil is it loses its efficiency and effectiveness.  As the cooling coil in you air conditioner fills with debris the air flow across the cooling coil is decreased.  The decreased air flow across the coil means your cooling efficiency is decreased.   In some cases a dirty coil can cause your compressor or fans to fail permanently, a very costly fix.  

If you currently don’t have an air cleaner and you are interested in protecting your HVAC equipment and saving money there is no better time then now to have an Aprilaire air cleaner installed.  Just make sure that you clean your coil before applying the air purifier.  You can attempt to do it yourself, but I would recommend you have your trusted Aprilaire contractor do it for you.  It can usually be done for a minimal fee.

These days it seems everyone is trying to “go green”; the problem is everyone has a different definition of what it means.  Does it mean saving energy, recycling, driving less, biking more, buying locally produced products…the list goes on and on.  To me “going green” means being conscious of how our actions effect the environment and then doing all we can to reduce our negative impact.

One thing that is often forgotten when it comes to reducing your impact on the environment is indoor air quality.  Indoor Environmental Quality is one of the 8 main sections of a LEED certified home.  When most people think of making their home green they think of changing their light bulbs, adding insulation or installing energy efficient windows, but often times they neglect to look at the indoor air quality of the home.  Good indoor air quality benefits health, comfort, energy savings and home preservation.

One important facet of IAQ is air filtration; this is demonstrated by the popular LEED rating system which requires air purification to earn certification.  It is a prerequisite for a LEED certified home to have at minimum MERV 8 filters.  Additional certification can be earned points by installing filters with increased efficiency.  A MERV 10 filter qualifies as a “Better Filter” (1 point) and a MERV 13 filter qualifies as a “Best Filter” (2 points).   

All Aprilaire whole home filters are MERV 10 or better.  The 2000 Series Air Cleaners come with MERV 10 filters and are easily upgradable to MERV 13 efficiency.  The 4000 Series Air Cleaners come with MERV 13 efficiency plus One Touch Control. 

So you’re in the market for an air cleaner?   Most likely you’re interested in making your home a more healthy, clean, and safe place for you and your family to live.

Before you make a purchase you should be aware of the misconceptions that surround air cleaners.  About 3 out of 4 people who purchase an air cleaner end up with a portable unit.  Unfortunately a portable air cleaner is usually just a false sense of security.  They are often undersized and not efficient at removing the smallest and most dangerous particles from your homes air.

Don’t get me wrong a portable can be effective if you are interested in cleaning some of the air in your home.  For instance, if you want to clean the air in a bedroom buy a portable and keep the door closed. 

If you want to clean the air in a bedroom along with the rest of the house install an Aprilaire whole home air cleaner and enjoy fresh clean air throughout all your homes living spaces. 

Another misconception is that those 1” filters are the answer to protecting your family from polluted indoor.  This too is incorrect; not only are 1” filters inefficient but they also don’t last long.  Most need to be changed every month where an Aprilaire filter only needs to be changed annually.

There are many other reasons a portable air cleaners aren’t an effective way to clean your homes air…to many to list here, but check out this comparision for more information.

P.S.

Amazingly you can get an Aprilaire air cleaner for near the same price as one portable air cleaner.

 

Set it and forget it.  That's the phrase we use to describe the Aprilaire automatic digital control, the most advanced humidifier control in the industry.  Once you go through your initial set-up, there is no need to ever adjust it again.  It automatically raises and lowers your indoor relative humidity level depending on the outdoor temperature, allowing your humidifier to deliver the maximum in comfort and protection.  Manual humidifier controls, on the other hand, require that you make adjustments to your settings to avoid damaging condensation on your windows or in your walls.  When it comes to whole-house humidification, Aprilaire’s automatic control is the solution.

The Aprilaire automatic digital humidifier control delivers much more than the perfect level of humidity.  It also provides homeowners with the information you need to make sure your system is operating properly.  The digital display tells you the relative humidity level in your home, providing validation your home and health is protected.  Three LEDs provide additional information.

• The green "Humidifier On" light confirms your humidifier is on and operating properly; confirmation that your humidifier is doing its job.
• The yellow "Change Water Panel" light tells you that maintenance is required.  Regular replacement of your water panel ensures peak performance from your humidifier.  Compare this to changing the oil in your car every 3,000 miles.
• The red "Call Dealer For Service" light is an indication that something has gone wrong.  When this light comes on, the RH display turns into an error code, indicating what the problem is.  That's right, this control troubleshoots itself!  This eliminates the time your technician would spend troubleshooting.  Less time spent on the job means savings for you. 

No other company provides you with these features and benefits; information and validation that provide you peace of mind.

Aprilaire has the best humidifier and the best control.  A winning combination for every home! 

With the flu season upon us it is important to take the necessary steps to prevent being infected by the nasty virus.  Other then getting vaccinated there are bunch of other things you can do to protect yourself from the flu this year. 

I did a Google search for “Preventing the Flu” and it kicked back over 8,000,000 results, but one thing most of the “Preventing the Flu” to-do lists don’t reveal is how to manage the flu virus aerosols that are in the air.  Anytime someone coughs, sneezes or even speaks they can emit aerosols into the air that contain the flu virus.  Other than covering your mouth when you cough, sneeze and speak what can be done to control the airborne particles?

 

Aprilaire’s Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner which has been rated as the best whole home air cleaner three years running by an independent consumer goods company is a great solution.  The Model 5000 traps and KILLS up to 99.9% of harmful airborne particles. 

A normal 1” air filter will allow the tiny flu virus particles that are in the air to continually circulate through your home dramatically increasing the chances that someone will inhale them. 

The flu season historically starts in October and then continues to gain momentum until it peaks in mid-February.  There is no better time than now to invest in your family’s health and indoor air quality.  The Aprilaire Model 5000 has been tested and proven to be the best whole home air cleaner available, and it won’t only help with deterring the flu, but it will make your home a healthier place year round.

Is your family pet creating an irritating living environment? According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma&Immunology, approximately 42 million Americans suffer from some sort of pet allergy. A recent article on CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/12/02/pet.allergy/index.html discusses why 10 million people own pets even though they are allergic to them.  Not a suprise, as most people consider their pets members of the family. 

Pet allergy symptoms may include sneezing, congestion, runny nose and rashes, all which can range from moderate to severe.  Allergy-suffering pet owners are calling out for a solution, as getting rid of Fluffy or Fido does not seem to be an option. According to a recent survey, 75 percent of allergy suffering pet owners would never consider getting rid of their pet and 83 percent would never do it.

Previous misconceptions have caused pet owners to believe the fur of cats and dogs provoked allergies. However, recent research has shown that allergy symptoms are the result of proteins secreted by oil glands in the animal’s
skin. These also are produced in the animal’s saliva, which sticks to the fur when the pet grooms itself. Once these proteins dry, they can float into the air and cause allergic reactions. Cats are more likely to cause allergic reactions, since they groom themselves and spend more time in the house than dogs.

Experts offer several suggestions to help combat allergies from pets:
• Make your bedroom off-limits
• Confine them to one area of the home
• Keep the pet outdoors
• Bathe the pet once a week
• Brush your pet
• Wash your hands after handling the pet
• Install a whole-house air cleaner

Although a combination of these suggestions may reduce symptoms, many pet owners do not put them to use. They need and want a solution that is less time consuming and one that does not disrupt everyday routines.

Installing a whole-home air cleaner may play a pivotal role in allowing pet owners and their pets to happily cohabit. Aprilaire’s Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner traps pet dander particles at an efficiency of over 99 percent (as measured in certified laboratory tests) and silently cleans all the air in the home as it passes through the heating and cooling system. It could help provide pet allergy suffers much needed relief.

With the Aprilaire Model 5000 Air Cleaner, pet allergy suffers can enjoy relief without the hassle.  The unit only has to be serviced once a year and because it attaches to the home’s furnace, it doesn’t intrude upon the aesthetics of the living space.

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.

Back in 1973, Aprilaire developed a cutting edge filter technology that utilized glass fibers to capture the harmful particulate in your home.  At the time, this type of air cleaning technology was the best of its kind, but recently, Aprilaire developed new air purifying technology that performs better than any other air filter on the market.

True to the tradition of developing the most innovative indoor air quality products available, the engineers at Aprilaire developed a new electrostatically charged, depth loading MERV 13 (What’s MERV?) filter for the latest line of Aprilaire whole-home air cleaners. 

The new Aprilaire air cleaner line has been a hit with homeowners.  It’s no wonder people love it.  With increased efficiency, easier maintenance, longer filter life, and no pleat spacers, it’s all good!  

If you already have an Aprilaire whole-home air filter, you can benefit from our new filtration technology too!

We put our engineers to task to create an Upgrade Kit for the Model 2200/2400/2120/2140 and SpaceGard air cleaners.  They were able to develop a very easy to install, no tools required Upgrade Kit that enables you to take advantage of all the benefits of Aprilaire’s enhanced air cleaner media with your currently installed unit.

The Aprilaire Upgrade Kits offer many benefits.

A one-time upgrade will:

1.) Improve Filter Performance- The new electrostatically charged media achieves MERV 13 performance levels.  That means you get almost two times as much contaminant removal over the original Aprilaire MERV 10 media.

2.) Eliminate Pleat Spacers (black plastic combs)- No more fighting with pleat spacers.  The new media is collapsible, slide-in media that can be replaced in 30 seconds or less.

3.) Keep your heating and cooling system running at peak efficiency-which means you save energy.

4.) Make your home a healthier, cleaner, more energy-efficient place to live.

According to the American Lung Association, “American adults spend about 90% of their time indoors, and thanks to our more tightly insulated/sealed homes and workplaces, the concentration of pollutants indoors may be even higher than outdoors.”

What’s even more astonishing, the EPA reports that indoor air pollution may be up to 100 times worse than outdoor air.

When you hear reports like that you may think, well I better go get a gas mask to wear at home, but you don’t need to do that.  Instead, just find your nearest Aprilaire dealer here.   Give them a call and ask about upgrading your current Aprilaire Whole Home Air Cleaner today.   It takes just minutes to install and comes with media so when you upgrade, you get your replacement filter too.  Aprilaire makes it easy to clean your indoor air!

 

I have to admit, when I started working here at Aprilaire just over 10 months ago, I didn’t even know what a whole home air cleaner  was.  Of course, I knew about that skinny little filter in my furnace that you can literally watch the nightly news through.  You know what I’m talking about that so called “air purifier” that is supposed to be changed every month—does anybody actually change their furnace filter every month?  I was also aware of portable air cleaners since I had one sitting right in the middle of my living room.  (In the interest of full-disclosure it happened to be an Ionic Breeze.)

I think it was my second day here at Aprilaire when we began training on the Aprilaire High Efficiency Air Cleaner product line.  That’s when I realized that the 1” furnace filter connected to my HVAC system wasn’t worth its weight in lead and my portable air purifier was really nothing more then a false sense of security. 

I remember saying to our corporate trainer “This is a no-brainer.  Everyone needs to have a whole home air cleaner.  I just wish I had known about them before now."  His response really hit home with me, he said "Being that your in marketing you have the opportunity to help others like yourself.  You can educate people so they don't have to live with poor indoor air quality."

And that folks is the challenge Aprilaire faces on a daily basis.  How can we let more people, who care about their family’s health, comfort, and overall indoor air quality recognize that they need a high efficiency whole home air cleaner--preferably an Aprilaire:-)  We know people are aware of the importance of clean indoor air, but they just don’t know the best means to get there.  Aprilaire is doing everything we can to get the word out…we’ve even teamed up with doctors to communicate the health benefits and importance of clean indoor air.

Thankfully for everyone, the importance of Indoor Air Quality has gained more and more attention in recent years.  The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm, recently announced that due to consumers’ growing concerns over indoor air quality, demand for whole house air cleaners is expected to increase.

So if you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to improve the health, comfort and sustainability of your home look into an Aprilaire high efficiency whole home air cleaner.  You can find an Aprilaire dealer in your area here   In the meantime check out this article from the Farmers Almanac; they offer some other easy ways to reduce indoor air pollution.