Air Purifier Filter

How do I change my replacement humidifier filter?

Thursday, March 11, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Consumer question submitted to Aprilaire:

It is time to change the pad on my model 400 which I purchased in November 2009. I followed the instructions on the replacement pad box and from the owner’s manual on your web site. Both instruct in step 4 to tip the Water Panel evaporation assembly forward and lift it out of the humidifier. I tried to do this but the assembly appears to be attached at the top on both sides to the housing and I can not see or figure out how you remove it to get the assembly to tip forward.

Would you please instruct me on how to do so?

Aprilaires' response:

The internal components of the model 400 will require that they be removed from the humidifier in order to replace the water panel successfully. To remove the internal case from the base of the humidifier, you will need to pull it out from the top where the distribution tray is located. When pulling the internal case from the top you will need to tilt it towards you to remove the components. Once the internal parts are removed the water panel can be replaced at that time by removing the tray on top. After removing the distribution tray from the "U" shaped frame, pull out the used water panel and place the new water panel in the "U" shaped holder. We have also included the owners manual that references the proper process for replacing the water panel for the model 400 humidifier.

Is my replacement humidifier filter working?

Thursday, March 11, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Consumer question submitted to Aprilaire:

I recently installed the humidifer and it worked fine for a few days. Now it is leaking water out the bottom and not through the drain hole. Could the filter be defective?

Aprilaires' response:

Thank you for contacting Aprilaire. Humidifiers can leak for several common reasons,

1) Is the unit level?
2) Inspect the feed tube for cracks.
3) Is the water panel in upside down?
4) Is the scale control insert cracked?
5) Does the drain line plugged or restricted?
6) Erosion of the water panel do to reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water.
7) Heat registers in the house that are closed?

Closing heat registers can cause high pressure in your ducts which can blow water off of the water panel. If the static pressure in the duct is more than .4" of W.C. water will be sprayed off of the water panel.

I hope this helps. If you still can't stop the unit from leaking you will need to contact your local HVAC contractor or you can call our technical support department for more trouble shooting assistance. You can reach us at 1-800-334-6011 Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM central time.

Is there a air dehumidifier filter upgrade?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Consumer question submitted to Aprilaire:

Is it possible to upgrade the efficiency of the pre-filter from the current MERV-8?

Aprilaires' Response:

Thank you for contacting us with regards to our Model 1750 Dehumidifier. We do not offer a high-efficiency filter for this model other than the supplied MERV 8. However, if this unit were attached to your HVAC system and its intake positioned downstream of your HVAC filter, that could potentially have a higher efficiency than MERV 8. In that situation, the internal filter would not be needed as all air it uses would be pulled through your HVAC filter. For example, our Aprilaire whole-home air cleaners begin at MERV 10 and go higher from there. The two could work together to give the 1750 cleaner air than the dehumidifier could create on its own.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

Have a Happy Spring with Aprilaire

Monday, March 8, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you remember last spring when all the snow was finally melted and it got warm enough
outside to go without a jacket? Do you also remember that it wasn't warm enough to turn on the air conditioning, but you still felt uncomfortable? This happens every spring due to the high levels of relative humidity (RH). The phrase "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" is all too true. High RH levels can make it feel like it's 5 to 10 degrees warmer than it actually is. One way to combat this is to turn on your air conditioner, as moisture removal is a natural byproduct of air conditioning. But in order to remove the excess moisture, you need to cool the air to a level that makes you too cold.

Aprilaire to the rescue
A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to remove excess moisture from every room of your home. Unlike air conditioning that is designed primarily to cool your home, Aprilaire removes moisture when AC is not required, efficiently removing moisture and providing the comfort you deserve. Maintenance is a breeze with Aprilaire as well. Unlike portable dehumidifiers that require you to empty and clean a tank on a daily basis, Aprilaire dehumidifiers only require an annual filter cleaning. Hassle free convenience and comfort; that's what Aprilaire is all about.

Contact your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today and avoid all the discomforts you felt last year. Your family will thank you for it.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.

I want to upgrade!!

Friday, March 5, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Question submmited to Aprilaire:

I have a Model 5000 filter. I'd like to get an upgrade kit, but I am not sure whether there is one that would fit. I am confused between the Model 2400 and 5000 and the media for each. Are these two different models with interchangeable parts?

Aprilaires' response:

There is no upgrade at this time for the model 5000 electronic air cleaner. Because of the electronics involved, we have not yet come up with an upgrade for this unit.

The size of the 5000 is the same as the size for the 2400. Although, the 2400 is not electronic. Also the filter used in the 2400, even though the same size, is not recommended for use in the 5000, just as the filter for the 5000 is not recommended for use in the 2400. The 501 filter for the 5000 has metalic stripping on the pleats of the filter. These are necessary for the correct operation of the 5000. If you put a 401 filter into the 5000, sure it would catch dust, but you would loose all the electronic capabilities that you purchased the 5000 for in the first place.

Smoking and air cleaners

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by Tom Ruse

No two ways about it, cigarette smokeis hard to avoid. Even with the best air cleaner on market. Alot of scammy makers of air purifiers will have you thinking you'll never smell or be harmed by 2nd hand smoke if you use their product.

I won't do that. Even our Model 5000, the best whole house particulate removal product, will not deter the harmful affects of 2nd hand smoke. It WILL help clean your air of all kinds of nasty stuff; virus-sized particles, allergens and other contaminants.

It's best just to properly ventilate, or maybe just don't smoke in the house. Go outside with the other 2nd class citizens!

Right side up, right side down...I'm all turned about.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Question submitted to Aprilaire:

Can the inlet and outlet of the 2210 be reversed? Because of the pitch
of my roof I can only install the unit in one direction.

Aprilaires' response:

The 2210 can be installed with the inlet and outlet side reversed. The important point is that the filter media needs to be installed with the airflow arrow in the proper orientation of the air flow of your HVAC system.

700a, 700m 700...Aprilaire Power Humidifiers

Monday, March 1, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Question submitted to Aprilaire:

We are a contractor operating in Toronto, Ontario Canada. We recently
installed an Aprilaire 700 Humidifier for a customer. Our customer prefers
the model model 700A. Can his 700M !!! be upgraded to 700A, without having
to replace the whole unit?

Aprilaires' Repsonse:

The 700M may be converted to the 700A by replacing the manual humidistat (part #4655) with our automatic digital humidifier control (part #58). The only difference between the 700M and 700A is the control. Since they are one in the same it will also use the same Aprilaire water panel number 35, also refered to as a replacement humidifier filter.

Aprilaire Dehumidifiers - Your Solution to Musty Odors

Monday, March 1, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you ever wonder why your basement has a stale, musty smell? Or why the temperature is only 70 degrees, yet you're sweating and uncomfortable? The answer is high humidity. Too much moisture makes you feel miserable and can lead to damage to your home from mold and mildew, neither of which is acceptable. Do you ever wonder if there is a solution to excess moisture?

Aprilaire is the answer
A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire solves your excess moisture problems. It works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to quietly and efficiently remove excess moisture from every room of your home. Maintenance with Aprilaire is also a breeze. Unlike noisy portable dehumidifiers that take up space in your living room, Aprilaire dehumidifiers have no messy tanks to empty and clean. Simply wash or replace the air filter on an annual basis. That's it. We call it "out of sight, out of mind."

Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier today. Your family and your home will thank you.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.

Why do you need whole-house air cleaning? Consider this:

Thursday, February 25, 2010 by Justin Randall

    * Each person inhales over 3,500 gallons of air each day. Children inhale more particles for their size then adolescents or adults.
    * Polluted air causes 94% of all respiratory problems.
    * More than 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, about 1/3 are children under 18.
    * About 40,000 dust mites, a common household allergen, can live in one ounce of dust.
    * An estimated 10-15% of the entire population may be allergic to cat or dog dander.
    * A person sheds up to 700,000 skin flakes per day.

These are just a few of the reasons to make sure your home is protected by having a whole house air cleaner installed. A high efficiency whole house air cleaner from Aprilaire makes your home healthier and cleaner. The EPA states that indoor air is often times more polluted then outdoor air so cleaning the air in your home is more important then ever.

If you currently have an Aprilaire air cleaner you can upgrade it to our newest media that removes more particulate from the air. Call you local contractor and tell them you want to upgrade your Aprilaire air cleaner today. For a small investment you can improve your current air filter.

Different by the same?

Thursday, February 25, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Question submitted to Aprilaire:

I am looking at replacing my model #760 Aprilaire Humidifier with a model #700 Aprlaire Humidifier. Are the cutout openings the same size? I would like to remove and replace with out any plenium modification.

Aprilaires' response:

The 700 Aprilaire Humidifier and the 760 Aprilaire Humidifier are very similar and can be swapped with minimal modification to the plenum. Here are the differences:

760-14 7/8"W x 14 3/16"H
700-14 3/4"W x 14 5/16"H

Don't worry if you have left over humidifier filters (water panels) as both humidifiers use the model 35 water panel.

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Red light, green light.....amber light?

Thursday, February 25, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Question submitted to Aprilaire:

A green light is lit. The green light is next to it is the text change filter. I checked online for the manual, there were only references for 600m and 600a. Please advise if this green light means I need to change the filter.

Aprilaire's response:

The green light simply means the humidifier is on and running. The "Change Water Panel" light is amber in color. The "Call Dealer" light is red. Similar to a stop light.

Please feel free to ask about any other issues or observations you see. We would be happy to help.

Is my drainless humidifier working?

Monday, February 22, 2010 by Aprilaire Team

Question submitted to Aprilaire:

This unit was installed and worked great for two years. Then I turned it off in the summer and forgot to turn it back on for the last two years. Now, I changed the filter and cleaned everything out. However, it doesn't seem to work. The humidity in my house is 10.

I hear the water turn on for a few minutes at the beginning of the heat cycle. Then it turns off. When I look at the filter, it is only wet at the bottom 1 inch. The rest is dry. The water seems to go into the first float chamber, but doesn't go into the second chamber. I don't see what is preventing the water from moving over.

I had the technician, who installed it, come and look at it. He suggested changing the filter and isn't sure what is wrong. He hasn't been doing this humidifiers for a while. He thought that it might be the water level sensor assembly. However, no one seems to have this part in stock. I will have to order it and get it installed. Then, I might find out that is not what is wrong, and I will have paid more money to have the wrong thing fixed. I already spent $85 for the technician and $45 for the filters. I really want to get it fixed. Can you make some recommendations?

Aprilaires' Response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 400 Humidifier. Based on the information you provided, the humidifier is working properly. The water should fill from the top, trickle down across the water panel. Verify that you are using a Genuine Aprilaire Stock #45 Water Panel. The water will only raise the float in the right-hand chamber. The left float is an emergency overflow. Water should not fill that chamber unless the first fails to shut off the water. The fact that the water does shut off indicates that the sensor is working properly. The water panel should then wick water up from the reservoir and it will evaporate as it rises.
Water shouldn't rise very far before it evaporates, but most of the water will rise up through the center of the pad, as opposed to the outer layer of material. As long as the humidifier refills at the beginning of, or during, each heat cycle, the humidifier is working. For a test of how well it's working, please do an Evaporative Test. This can be done using a measuring container and a timer.
The evaporative rate of the Model 400 is based entirely on the temperature of the heated air and the amount of run time of your furnace. The performance values are based on 120°F air and 50% run time. This should give 0.70 gal/hr.
It's not clear from the information you provided how long the humidifier has been running with your home at 10% RH. Did it start at 10% and it hasn't changed, or was it higher and has since fallen, or was it lower and has since risen? Humidity can take a while to change, so we would look at the trend of the humidity over time, if it's going up, down, or staying the same. At this time, it doesn't make sense to replace the water level sensor from a troubleshooting standpoint.

Aprilaire Dehumidifies Your Entire Home

Friday, February 19, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Springtime is just around the corner. Soon all of us will be able to turn off the furnace, open the windows, and let some fresh air in the house. Or will we? The outdoor temperature seems inviting, but how's that humidity? When you open those windows, do you also open up the potential to bring in lots of moisture that can make you uncomfortable as well as damage your home? You could keep the windows closed and turn on the air conditioner in an effort to dry out the air. But now you’re too cold...and frustrated.

Aprilaire has your dehumidification solution
Aprilaire has a full line of whole-house dehumidifiers that provide all the health and comfort benefits that come with proper levels of humidification. Aprilaire dehumidifiers work quietly in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to protect every room of your home from the downfalls of excess moisture. This includes your health and comfort, as well as your personal property. Maintenance is a breeze with Aprilaire as well. There are no messy tanks to empty and clean. Simply clean the filter once a year and you're good to go.

Contact your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today. You'll immediately feel the difference.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.

Upon Further Review - IS Online retailer Cleartheairinc.com misleading the consumer? Maybe NOT!

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Tom Ruse

I posted the comments below on Friday and since then, the kind folks at Cleartheairinc.com have... well.... cleared the air.

They assure me their intentions were never to mislead. I guess I'll never know that for 100% sure, but I'm ready to give them the benefit of the doubt. After reading of my concerns they immediately took action to modify the language on their site and clarify what the consumer is buying.

I applaud their quick response and willingness to set things right.

Good luck, and if you're happy purchasing filters for Aprilaire Air Cleaners that are not made by Aprilaire, Cleartheairinc.com seems like a fair place to trade.

Tom

From Friday......

Don't buy from this site if you are interested in receiving the quality of product provided by the original manufacturer! THESE ARE KNOCK-OFFS!

Cleartheairinc.com is misleading you. It describes knock-off replacement filters as Aprilaire and SpaceGard. THEY ARE NOT MADE BY APRILAIRE!

The site tries to cleverly describe the filter as "Clear the Air's Aprilaire Spacegard replacement filter". They probably do this so that they could argue that legally they are calling it a "Clear the Air" brand and therefore NOT misleading the consumer into thinking they are buying an Aprilaire brand.

You decide. Take a look. Would you think you were buying a filter made by Aprilaire or SpaceGard on this page?

They do this with other brands as well.

Sleazy.

If you have an Aprilaire or SpaceGard air purifier / air cleaner and you typically replace the flters yourself, ask an Aprilaire dealer in your area. Often they will sell them to you off the shelf. And they'll be the real deal!

UNLIKE CLEARTHEAIRINC.COM, I'LL BE VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD WITH YOU. Take a look at the estore on Aprilaire.com , just so you get an idea of what the real thing looks like.

Sure, you can buy them there. But that's not the point. I could care less if you buy from our estore. We're the manufacturer! We get the sale of Aprilaire product regardless of where you buy it. Just go there to see the pictures. Then you'll know what the real deal looks like. Then. if you want to shop around, you can get them cheaper on other websites or from your local dealer.

And at least you'll know what you're getting for your dollar.

Ask the Aprilaire Humidifier Guy

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Question from Rick:

"From what I read, it says to hook up to hot water? Is this for all installations or just the fix when not getting enough humidity using the blower activation relay? My solenoids fail after a couple years and will not flow. Appears there is a build up within the solenoid. Anything I can do to prevent this from happening? EXPENSIVE replacement for every couple years."

Aprilaire Replies

Thanks for the question, Rick. You need three things to humidify your home: water, air flow and heat. Plumbing to hot water is not generally required if you are running your humidifier in conjunction with your furnace, as the air is typically 120 degrees or higher. To give a little extra boost, we do recommend you plumb to hot water if you have a heat pump, which provides air temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees. Also, plumbing to hot water is required if you are using the blower activation relay to operate the HVAC outside of a call for heat. With no call for heat from your HVAC system, you need to heat the water to provide humidification. As long as your installing dealer sized your humidifier correctly, any application will provide you with all the comfort and protection of proper humidification throughout your entire home.

As for your solenoid valve issues, certain water conditions can lead to a shortened life. Plumbing to softened water can help lengthen the life of this device. Another solution is to contact your plumber and ask about an in-line filter that captures any particles that may be causing the failures.

Thanks again for your question, Rick, and thanks for buying Aprilaire!

H1N1 and Air Cleaning

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 by Tom Ruse

I am amending my previous post about trapping flu virus.

Trapping Flu Virus with Air Cleaners

Can a high efficiency air cleaner safeguard my house against the flu?

The real answer is IT CAN HELP! Our Aprilaire Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner DOES trap airborne particles down to 1 micron in size; well within the range of the size of flu viruses. Here's how:

If a virus attaches itself to a piece of airborne dust, and when your system blower operates, if that dust is blown through your return air ducts to the air cleaner filter, the Model 5000 will permanently trap 98% of those particles and they will not re-enter your living space.

In that way, the air cleaner helps control and reduce the spread of the virus. A virus that someone leaves on a hard surface may never be airborne so the Aprilaire air cleaner cannot help that---- NO air cleaner can!

Be sure you take all the precautions that the pros tell you about the spread of the flu.

Indoor Air Quality, Plants and H1N1

Thursday, December 31, 2009 by Tom Ruse

I've written about this interesting phenomenon before; that certain types of plants might act as air filters, absorbing pollutants in our homes and releasing cleaner oxygen.

I just ran across an interesting debate about this. One is a blog which reports the findings by NASA about the filtering benefits of plants.

The other, which was someone who commented on the blog post, shares a link to Building Ecology, which disputes the evidence, stating that 1. plants filtering effects are negligible, 2. the NASA study was done in static chambers which don't accurately simulate a home environment, and 3. Get this: Plants could actually contribute to poor indoor air quality, releasing excess moisture when it's already too humid. And if pesticides and fertilizers are used, those are no picnic for the indoor air we breathe.

So now you have two sides to story.

Anyway, the Building Ecology site has alot of other interesting information about Indoor Air Quality. Spend some time there.

For example, it sites a study that shows that sunlight, and its production of Vitamin D, may help control the spread of H1N1 and other viruses by assisting in "proper immune system functioning and could play a role in resistance to infections such as the influenza virus".

The site is also quick to stress "the importance of scrupulous standards of hygene to combat the spread of viruses". So don't let your guard down just because the sun is shining! Mr. Sun may help, but you still have to wash your hands!!!

It's like when we talk about the benefits of using air cleaners to reduce contaminants in our air. These are real benefits to be sure! But they should be used IN CONJUNCTION with proper hygene and taking normal precautions to avoid exposure. DUH! An air cleaner won't protect you from someone sneezing in your face, for example. Or from someone scrathing their nose and then touching your silverware with H1N1. Eeww!

So, let the sunshine in, get some fresh air, filter the air you breathe in your house and keep your hands clean (and every other surface you can reach). And if Aunt Gladys is sick with the flu, tell her to stay home and rest. It'll do you both good.

Here's to a 2010 without H1N1.

A Brand New Aprilaire Air Cleaner for a Fraction of the Price

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by Justin Randall

Do you have an Aprilaire 2200 or 2400 air cleaner? If so you’re probably familiar with the Aprilaire 201 and 401 replacement filters. The 201 and 401 filter is a great product that has been around almost 30 years; many manufacturers have tried to duplicate the performance of the 201 and 401 without much success. The numerous knock off’s are low quality, which means they have a short life, put stress on your HVAC equipment and don’t capture the amount of particulate as the original.

Recently Aprilaire came out with an upgrade to the original 201/401 media. The new MERV 13 media uses new technology that holds more dust, captures nearly twice as much particulate and restricts less airflow throughout its useful life. We use the new style media in our 2000 and 4000 series air cleaners, but the greatest thing about it is you can upgrade your current Aprilaire Air Cleaner to use the improved media without having to buy a whole new air cleaner. We have an upgrade kit that slides into your older air cleaner and allows it to accept the new media. You only need to purchase the kit once and then you just replace the new media just like you did the 201 and 401 filter. You can get the upgrade from your normal heating and air conditioning contractor; if you are interested in capturing more dust and more particulate out of your homes air just tell your contractor you want to upgrade! You can even do it yourself it takes about 2 minutes and you don't need any tools.

It's Time to Change Your HVAC Filter

Monday, December 7, 2009 by Justin Randall

The cold weather has come and it’s going to continue to get colder and colder. That means your heating system is going to be running more and more. Now is the time to make sure your HVAC filters have been changed to insure your heating system runs at peak efficiency this winter, and that it’s in tip top shape when the cooling season rolls around.

It doesn’t matter if you have a 1” filter or you have an Aprilaire whole home air cleaner make sure your filter hasn’t past its useful life.

If you only use a 1” filter you should seriously consider having an Aprilaire whole home air cleaner installed. 1” filters have 3 major problems with them. First, they are either low efficiency (Meaning they don’t capture much particulate out of the air.) or they are high efficiency, but also have a high pressure drop (Meaning they restrict the air going through them. Picture a brick wall it would make a great filter, but no air could get through it.) high pressure drop wastes energy and puts more stress on your HVAC system meaning it shortens the life of your system. The final drawback to a 1” filter is cost; a $12 filter that lasts 30 days will actually cost you $144 a year. An Aprilaire replacement filter lasts 1 year and will cost you less then half the amount of replacing 1” filters plus you’re getting a better performing filtration system that requires less maintenance.

For the benefit of your HVAC system and your family’s health think about ridding your life of 1” replacement filters and make the move to an Aprilaire whole home air cleaner.