The Down and Dirty on Air Cleaners
There are four basic levels of Indoor Air Quality equipment: Standard Filters, Media Air Cleaners, Electronic Air Cleaners* and Air Purifiers.
*Although Electronic Air Cleaners (EAC) are on the list, they are not endorsed by us. See EAC section below.
To start, you can select a particle removal air filter by looking at its efficiency in removing airborne particles from the air stream that passes through it. This efficiency is measured by the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) for air filters installed in the duct work of HVAC Systems. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed this measurement method. MERV ratings (ranging from a low of 1 to 16 for media filters) also allow comparison of air filters made by different companies.
Standard 1"-2" Furnace Filter:
"Flat or panel air filters with a MERV of 1 to 4 are commonly used in residential systems. For the most part, these filters are used to protect the HVAC equipment from the buildup of unwanted materials on the surfaces of fan motors and heating or cooling coils, and not for direct indoor air quality reasons. The have low efficiency on smaller air borne particles and medium efficiency on larger particles. Smaller particles include viruses, bacteria, some mold spores, a significant portion of cat and dog allergens, and a small portion of dust mite allergens." -EPA
Life Span: 3-6 Months
Cost: $6-$12
Summary - This filter is good for collecting pretty much what you can see in the air as the sun shines through your window. It is the minimum and is designed more to protect the furnace and its components than it is to clean the air in your home. These filters are usually mounted at the furnace or in the grille in your hallway, etc. - Wes
MERV 10 Media Air Cleaner:
"Pleated or extended surface filters with a MERV rating of 5-13 are reasonably efficient at removing small to large airborne particles. Filters with a MERV between 10-13 are likely to be nearly as effective as true HEPA filters at controlling most airborne indoor particles." -EPA
- Provides whole-home filtration for optimal home comfort and air quality, with no additional energy costs
- MERV 10 media filter (MERV 10/CADR 520)
- Removes up to 85% of particles such as dust, dirt, and mold spores down to 3 microns
- No cleaning required
- Cartridge slides out for quick and easy replacement
- Cartridge lasts up to one year. As with any filtration product, replacement life cycle depends on the individual conditions and needs of your home
- Compatible with any HVAC system—no additional power source needed
- No ozone emissions, a known lung irritant
- 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components
CADR (clean air delivery rate): 520
Cost: $40
Summary - This filter is the beefier cousin of the Standard Furnace Filter and performs like a champ at a great value. It is able to capture what you can see and then some, but the really small stuff has a tendency to slip through the cracks. -Wes
MERV 16 Media Air Cleaner:
"Pleated or extended surface filters with a MERV rating of 14-16 are very efficient at removing small to large airborne particles. Filters with a MERV between 14-16 are likely to match the effectiveness of true HEPA filters at controlling most airborne indoor particles." -EPA- #1 rated professionally installed, whole-home filtration system as ranked by Consumer Reports
- Provides whole-home filtration for optimal home comfort and air quality, with no additional energy costs
- MERV 16 Precision Pleat™ media filter (MERV 16/CADR 1900)
- Hospital inpatient care/general surgery level filtration
- Removes OVER 95% of particles ranging in size down to 0.3 micron
- Removes OVER 90% of bio aerosols and microorganisms down to 0.01 micron
- Effective filtration to protect the HVAC equipment
- It would take at least six of the top-rated portable room air cleaners to equal the performance of one Healthy Climate® 16 Media Air Cleaner†
- No cleaning required
- Cartridge slides out for quick and easy replacement
- Cartridge lasts up to one year. As with any filtration product, replacement life cycle depends on the individual conditions and needs of your home
- Compatible with any HVAC system—no additional power source needed
- No ozone emissions, a known lung irritant
- 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components
CADR (clean air delivery rate): 1900
Cost: $140
Summary - Rated #1 by Consumer Reports for Best Value on built-in filtration, this filter packs a punch that few others can even come close to mustering. Not only does it capture particulate, but bio aerosols and microorganisms too. Value and Efficiency...sounds like a perfect match for Barron Heating. -Wes
Lennox PureAir System:
"Pure Air in 3 easy steps. First, the MERV 16 5" filter captures particles and bioaerisols as small as .01 micron, removing them from the airstream-contaminants that standard filtration simply cannot stop. Second, as the odor and chemical-vapor-filled airstream flows over the UVA lamps, the airstream is exposed to the catalyst surface (titanium dioxide coated metal filter). Third, the light energy and water vapor in the air activate the catalyst, which generates hydroxyl radicals. These hydroxyl radicals attack the carbon components of the odors and chemical vapors, breaking them down to CO2 and water."- Only single indoor air quality system to attack all three classes of contaminants: small, breathable particles; airborne mold spores, bacteria and viruses; and odors/chemical vapors.
- Hospital inpatient care/general surgery level filtration
- Removes OVER 95% of particles ranging in size down to 0.3 micron
- Removes OVER 90% of bio aerosols and microorganisms down to 0.01 micron
- Destroys VOCs including vapors from cleaning supplies, solvents, cooking and pets.
- No cleaning required
- Cartridge slides out for quick and easy replacement
- Cartridge lasts up to one year. As with any filtration product, replacement life cycle depends on the individual conditions and needs of your home
- Compatible with any HVAC system—no additional power source needed
- No ozone emissions, a known lung irritant
- 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components
CADR (clean air delivery rate): 1900
Cost: $170
Summary - The mother of all air cleaners, the PureAir is hands down the highest efficiency unit out on the market today. In your home, the real threat is the unseen and if you have serious medical grade allergies, you need to be able to escape from the elements that make you sick. Alot of times this can be associated with the chemicals and odors in the home; making the PureAir the perfect fit. Best of all, you get the same great award winning MERV 16 filter you read about above with the added punch of the PCO (photocatalytic oxidation) system.
Infinity Air Purification System:
The Infinity Purifier is 3rd Party tested to effectively capture and kill these types of Bacteria, Virus and Fungi: Anthrax Surrogate (97%), Tuberculosis Surrogate (99.9%), Staphlococcus Aureaus (100%), Serratia Marcescens (100%), Pseudomonas Aerunginosa (99.9%), Measles (99.9%), Small Pox (99.9%), SARS (99.9%), Influenza Wild Type A (99%), Human Influenza (99%), Avien Influenza (99.99%), Human Cold Virus Surrogate (99.99%), Aspergillus Versicolor (99%). WOW!- Industry-exclusive air purification technology
- Does not Snap, Crackle or Pop like conventional Electronic Air Cleaners
- MERV 15 Media filter
- Removes and OVER 95% of particles ranging in size down to 0.3 micron
- Removes and Destroys OVER 90% of bio aerosols ranging in size down to 0.01 micron
- Hospital inpatient care/general surgery level filtration
- Whole-home purification works with your existing heating and cooling system
- 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components
CADR (clean air delivery rate): 1900
Cost: $120
Summary - The Infinity Purifier is the system for Bioaerisols, nothing survives; period.
*Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC):
NOTE: We carry MERV 10 and MERV 16 Filters that will slide into an existing EAC cabinet!
"There is no standard measurement for the effectiveness of electronic air cleaners. While the may remove small particles, they may be ineffective in removing large particles. Electronic air cleaners can produce ozone - a lung irritant. The amount of ozone produced varies among models. Electronic air cleaners may also produce ultra fine particles (also known as "white dust") resulting from the reaction of ozone with indoor chemicals such as those coming from household cleaning products, air fresheners, certain paints, wood flooring or carpets. Ultra fine particles may be linked with adverse health effects in some sensitive cases." -EPA- No Fitler Cost
- 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components
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