Furnace Filter/Air Cleaner Question

[JoeyGee]

Yes, this is actually a furnace filter and air cleaner question, but it's for an actual furnace and not a WW'ing air cleaner : )

My furnace uses those 4" deep filters. I moved in in Feb. and have not changed the ilter yet (I know, I know...) At about $25 each, it's pretty steep. Sure, they are supposed to last a year, but shouldn't it worry me to have "bad" stuff hanging around the filter for a year? Anyone have a good recommendation for filters of this size?

I saw on Ask This Old House a whole house air cleaner that bolts on to the furnace. It uses electically charged wires to "zap" dust and debris and is supposed to be very efficient. The "filters" slide out and can be washed in a dishwasher. I went to their site and I believe this is the one:

http://www.americanstandardair.com/H...AccuClean.aspx

Anyone have any knowledge of this type of cleaner? My current filter sits in a housing which is about the same size, so installing it wouldn't be THAT bad--that is IF any non-dealer can even buy it. I'm sure it's very pricey, either way.

[LCHIEN]

Yes, this is actually a furnace filter and air cleaner question, but it's for an actual furnace and not a WW'ing air cleaner : )

My furnace uses those 4" deep filters. I moved in in Feb. and have not changed the ilter yet (I know, I know...) At about $25 each, it's pretty steep. Sure, they are supposed to last a year, but shouldn't it worry me to have "bad" stuff hanging around the filter for a year? Anyone have a good recommendation for filters of this size?

I saw on Ask This Old House a whole house air cleaner that bolts on to the furnace. It uses electically charged wires to "zap" dust and debris and is supposed to be very efficient. The "filters" slide out and can be washed in a dishwasher. I went to their site and I believe this is the one:

http://www.americanstandardair.com/H...AccuClean.aspx

Anyone have any knowledge of this type of cleaner? My current filter sits in a housing which is about the same size, so installing it wouldn't be THAT bad--that is IF any non-dealer can even buy it. I'm sure it's very pricey, either way.

Something about that ad gives me the willies. It doesn't actually say what the technology is.

The best filters are the electrostatic filters which use electrically charged (high voltage) wires or plated to attract and hold the dirt (kind of like your television screen only places in the airflow stream to attract everything that is circulated, not just what is nearby).

Most of those electrostatic filters can be removed and washed in the dishwasher (the electronics part syays in the mounting) with common dish detergents. In fact I wouldn't get one that couldn't be washed that way.

I'd talk to my AC/Heating service man and see what he recommends.

[parnelli]

LCHIEN was thinking the same thing I was- sure is a bad webpage, especially for such a big company.It sure looks like an electrostic though...

Consumer reports from Oct05 has these as a few of the top ones
Carrier AIRA 500 30
Trion SE1400 700 32
Trane Perfect Fit TFE210A9FR3 600 19

The 500 is cost for the unit and 30 is cost per year to run.

I don't know anything about the company- but a quick google landed me this:
http://electronicaircleaners.com/

Perhaps it could be a jumping off point..

[cgallery]

I have an electrostatic air cleaner that was installed on my current HVAC system when I purchased my house (the air cleaner is a Honeywell). The unit wasn't working. The high voltage supply was bad, and I was able to get it swapped for something like $100 or so. Installing it was a bit of a PITA.

It seems to work, but I really have nothing to compare it to because it was always there and I never tried conventional filters.

Thanks,
Phil

[scorrpio]

Pulled off a forum someplace:

The AccuClean Whole House Air Filtration System (identical to the Trane CleanEffects) was an additional $1,100.

Not sure what part of that is installation, but since this was part of a larger job, my guess is this is already pretty close to the unit price. Compared to a $25 filter every year, this system will pay for itself in a paltry 40 years or so!!!

Ok, so it might do a way better job than a filter.

As a side note: I absolutely DETEST how prices on these units are next to impossible to find out if you are not 'in the biz'. How am I supposed to know if HVAC guy is charging me $1000 for something he got for $100? GRRR.

[dkhoward]

I use a company locally that builds a custom frame for each HVAC unit. My new unit uses the 4" filters also. THey came in and built the frame and then every two months, they come by, replace the filter media, take the old media away and the total charge is about 50 dollars a year!. . .

The media is a two party system, one sheet is treated with a bacteriacide and the other is a a pre filter media designed to trap the majority of the particulate matter without becoming clogged.

I have used these guys for years. I think they will provide this service to anyone by mail if you are interested.

[onedash]

i spend more than $25 for two seperate filters about every 2-3 months. I get the good filtrete filters. One downstairs and one upstairs.
They sure trap a lot of dust. Sure is still a lot of dust every where though.
I am thinking about buying one of their room air cleaners. I think it uses a similar filter....

[KenBurris]

got one

I had one installed in my new Bryant 4 years ago. I like it, takes about 3 hours to clean - soak in dishwahing powder 30 minutes, rinse, dry 2 hours, wipe off wires. never have to remember to pick up a filter at the store. you do need to get used to the popping noise when dust gets zapped by the wires.I had a friend in the business and he bought the parts at wholesale and installed them for me. I think I upgraded to this EACA unit for about $800 - but I just Googled for $440. It gets installed in the air duct (plenum?) inside at the top of the furnace,and is wired to the furnace wiring. I would guess (at $440) somewhere $600-$800 installed. probably pay for itself in 10 years (but warranty is 2 years, so who knows). no problems with mine.

[JimD]

I use the electrostatic washable type. I'm sure they are not as good as the real electrically charged filters but they don't cost nearly as much and seem to track a lot of dust.

Jim

[ccclove499]

Ok, so hopefully it is alright that I post this question here. I know this thread is old, but I'm so glad to have somewhere to post this question! I am looking for a furnace air filter. My husband and I are newlyweds and we just bought a house. We know nothing about our furnace, except that we need new air filters! Does anyone have any suggestions of brands or types that we should be aware of? I saw something about a website called http://www.discountfilters.com/ and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with purchasing from them. Any reviews or advice would help. Thanks!

[dbhost]

Ok, so hopefully it is alright that I post this question here. I know this thread is old, but I'm so glad to have somewhere to post this question! I am looking for a furnace air filter. My husband and I are newlyweds and we just bought a house. We know nothing about our furnace, except that we need new air filters! Does anyone have any suggestions of brands or types that we should be aware of? I saw something about a website called http://www.discountfilters.com/ and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with purchasing from them. Any reviews or advice would help. Thanks!

I am not familiar with them. What I can say is that I have been using a variety of filters over the years and the most effective filters I have used have been the 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen ones I get at Home Depot. They are NOT cheap, but with 3 cats, a dog, and 3 humans, one of which is very prone to producing LOTS of dust, and one of those humans a transplant patient we have had no problems at all since starting to use these filters. As close to HEPA as we are going to get with our HVAC system. We do also use room air purifiers though, just for the extra measure of filtration. (We live just down the road from the Houston ship channel and all the chem plants...)

[BobSch]

What kind of filter does your furnace use, the rectangular type or one with a basket that uses rolled media you have to cut to fit?

If it uses the common rectangular type I'll agree 3M products are hard to beat. As far as Discount Filters is concerned, I've never heard of them before.

[Black wallnut]

Ok, so hopefully it is alright that I post this question here. I know this thread is old, but I'm so glad to have somewhere to post this question! I am looking for a furnace air filter. My husband and I are newlyweds and we just bought a house. We know nothing about our furnace, except that we need new air filters! Does anyone have any suggestions of brands or types that we should be aware of? I saw something about a website called http://www.discountfilters.com/ and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with purchasing from them. Any reviews or advice would help. Thanks!

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[jhart]

Ok, so hopefully it is alright that I post this question here. I know this thread is old, but I'm so glad to have somewhere to post this question! I am looking for a furnace air filter. My husband and I are newlyweds and we just bought a house. We know nothing about our furnace, except that we need new air filters! Does anyone have any suggestions of brands or types that we should be aware of? I saw something about a website called http://www.discountfilters.com/ and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with purchasing from them. Any reviews or advice would help. Thanks!

I've used Discount Filters a number of times. good prices and good service. Shipping is quick. Can't remember the cost of shipping, but wouldn't have used them if way overpriced in the shipping.

[Pappy]

I have 2 return air vents under my unit and change the filters monthly. The vents are odd sized (18x20) and filters are hard to find. I had a company on my route that does commercial AC work and they custom cut the filters for me.

When I first got filters from them they were white on one side and green on the other. The ones they cut for me now are gold instead of green. What is written on the filters I have left is SPOR-AX DUSTLOC GOLD MERV 9. I am down to my last set/pair and I have them cut a 6 month supply at a time. I don't remember the cost, but it is cheaper than the paper filters sold at WallyWorld.