What is the difference between a HEPA filter and Aprilaire Air Cleaners?

When should I change the media?

What is the media constructed of?

Does my air cleaner have a specific direction when it is being installed?

Is it O.K. to install the air cleaner near a humidifier?

Where can I purchase the replacement media for my air cleaner?

I have more dust now than before my air cleaner was installed, why?

What is the MERV rating of the Models 2200 and 2400?
 

1. What is the difference between a HEPA filter and Aprilaire Air Cleaners?
HEPA filters are very efficient at removing extremely small particles from small volumes of air. However, HEPA filters restrict airflow in addition to pollutants, so these systems can not be used to filter all of the air going through a residential furnace.

Aprilaire’s air cleaner uses the same types of filtration as HEPA filters, but with a lower restriction to airflow. This means you can filter all the air moving through the furnace. Air can be cleaned throughout the entire home, not just a single room. The complete line of Aprilaire air cleaners offers units for general air cleaning needs and an electronic air cleaner that is the most efficient (non-HEPA) residential air cleaner on the market.

2. When should I change the media?
The Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner Model 5000 offers the ultimate in efficiency, as there is no other whole house, full-flow residential air cleaner on the market that is more efficient. The media will typically last one year. If installed on a 5-ton system or in the presence of high concentration of particulate, it may need to be changed more frequently. The air cleaner media in the Models 2200 and 2400 can last up to 2 years. If installed on a 5-ton system, in the presence of high concentration of particulate, or if the furnace fan is on continuously, it may be necessary to change the media more frequently. In any application, the life of the media is dependant upon the total volume of air being moved through it as well as the amount of particulate it is filtering.

3. What is the media constructed of?
All of the media types (201, 401, 501, 261, 275) are made of blanket glass micro-fibers.

4. Does my air cleaner have a specific direction when it is being installed?
Yes. There are airflow arrows on the inner housings of all of our units, which indicate the proper direction for airflow. The air cleaners must be installed in this manner to ensure proper support for the air cleaner media. The correct installation allows the media to operate efficiently and last a long time.

If an Aprilaire Air Cleaner is installed with the airflow moving in the opposite direction of the airflow arrows, the efficiency of the Aprilaire is not affected but the media may collapse and reduce its service life.



5. Is it O.K. to install the air cleaner near a humidifier?
If you own an Aprilaire humidifier the answer is very simple -- “Yes.” The humidifier will not have an adverse affect on the air cleaner since the humidity being created is a vapor. It is our recommendation that you contact the manufacturer of your humidifier for specific application information if you do not own an Aprilaire Humidifier.

6. Where can I purchase the replacement media for my air cleaner?
You can purchase Aprilaire replacement filter media HERE

7. I have more dust now than before my air cleaner was installed, why?
Many times an air cleaner is installed with a new furnace capable of moving more air than the previous one. This causes the air to pick up particulate sitting in the supply ductwork and carry it into the living area. However, the furnace blower may not be strong enough to bring the particles back to the air cleaner and so particulate appears on furniture, tables and other home furnishings. The best way to reduce this is to run your blower continuously and bring as much air back to the air cleaner as possible.

8. What is the MERV rating of the Models 2200 and 2400?
They have a MERV rating of 10.

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