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Whole House Air Cleaners Report, Why They Can and Do Work

A popular report titled “Whole House Air Cleaners – Why They Do Not Work” prompted this article and we thought it important to clarify the subject.  The author of the article begins by stating that “whole house air cleaners and whole house air purifiers cannot clean a whole house” and that our human nature somehow tricks us into thinking that whole house air cleaning is possible because it sounds like a great idea.  We’re not sure what this statement actually means, since after all it is the 21st century and we are currently exploring Mars.  Is it a stretch to think we can actually improve the quality of our air inside our homes with one “gizmo” (as the author calls it)?  The report goes on to suggest “place a quality HEPA air cleaner in the most important areas of your home or building that need to be the most dust or allergy free.”  Let’s explore the contents of this report further and see why whole house air purifiers can and do work.

No air purification solution fits every need

Firstly, it’s important to realize that no air purification solution fits every need.  We all have unique needs and desires and our homes reflect this uniqueness too.  Currently, there is no whole house air cleaning solution that works in all cases.  While there are many whole house cleaning products available, we’re going to write from our window of expertise which is with the IQAir Perfect 16 Whole House Air Purifier which works in conjunction with your home's heating ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC).  It’s very important to note that the Perfect 16 is designed for particle filtration only and is not appropriate for gaseous/chemical or odor filtration.  Stand alone units are better suited for this purpose.

The Perfect 16 whole house air purifier busts some myths
 
The original article lists five myths about whole house cleaner technologies but fortunately for us we only need to address myth number one (whole house HEPA air cleaner) since the IQAir Perfect 16 system is based strictly on HEPA air cleaning technology.  The Perfect 16 design is actually surprisingly simple.  It consists of a box with four HEPA filters configured in a V shape pattern.  There’s no electronic, electrostatic, UV, or ozone component.  Now, let’s look at each of the original reports statements.

“These somewhat expensive systems.”  The Perfect 16 currently costs $2,795 or $3,295 (depending on the size required) and includes an initial inspection and authorized installation.  Filters typically last three years and currently cost $295 to replace. However, it is suggested that an IQAir Authorized Installer replace the filters, so that the system can be retested and re-verified and would obviously incur an additional cost.  But you can also choose to simply replace the filters yourself.  The base cost of the Perfect 16 is equivalent to approximately four standing units (IQAir HealthPro Air Purifier).  Expensive?  You be the judge based on your individual health and financial circumstances.

“Home heating/air conditioning systems are not designed to pull dust, dander and allergens into a HEPA air cleaner from the return ductwork at far distances.”  True statement, yet IQAir guarantee a 90% reduction in particle pollution (for particles 0.3 microns or larger) as a minimum.  This is achieved by first inspecting the homes HVAC system to determine if it can support a whole house purifier and if it can achieve this level of air cleaning.  Not all homes and HVAC systems will be suitable and in these cases, IQAir will simply not install a whole house purifier.

“to work at all, the fan for the HEPA air cleaner and the fan for the air handler unit must run all of the time. This means high electric bills!”  It is true that air is only filtered when the HVAC fan is running (but note that just the fan needs to be running and not the heating/cooling system).  While every HVAC will have different electricity costs the Perfect 16 does not add any additional electricity costs due to its efficient airflow design.  In fact, it’s more efficient than the typical 1” furnace filter found on many HVAC systems and can actually reduce electricity costs.  So that you can draw your own comparison with a stand alone solution, IQAir stand alone units maximum energy consumption is 215 watts (about the equivalent of a computer).

“when you look at the system as a whole, it is only 30% efficient.” As mentioned previously, IQAir guarantees a 90% particular reduction (for particles 0.3 microns or larger) and will take measurements within your home with a laser particle counter and provide you with a written report.  Note that bacteria are considered to be of sizes 0.3 – 3 microns.

“require expensive pre-filter replacements.”  The IQAir Perfect 16 requires no pre-filter replacements and you can dispose of any other filters that were previously used in your HVAC system.

“Central HEPA air cleaner types that install into air conditioning / furnace systems cannot properly clean the air in an entire whole house or building”.  The reality is that IQAir has developed a whole house air purification system based on the same technology that hospitals use.  While not appropriate for all homes the Perfect 16 is certainly suitable for many homes and there’s no cost to find out!

Additional Things to Consider:
It’s also important to consider the alternative solution of multiple portable units.  Is it practical to have these throughout the house, do they take up valuable space, do they automatically switch on or off, will you run them 24x7, do they create additional noise, how often do they require filters to be changed, how much do they cost to run?  Even if the multiple portable units solution is more economical, a whole house purifier may be a more practical solution.  It’s even possible to mix the two options especially when chemical/gaseous and odor filtration is required.

The original article does go on to give some useful tips including:

1. Keep your ducted air conditioning system clean.
2. If possible, replace carpet with ceramic tile or hardwood.  New carpet often contains toxic chemicals that can outgas for years.  If carpeting is necessary, vacuum often with a quality HEPA vacuum cleaner.  (It’s worth noting that lacquers and glues used in tile or hardwood floors may also outgas toxic chemicals).
3. Keep your living spaces clean and free of clutter.

The original article can be found here:
www.aircleaners.com/wholehouse.phtml

Jun-2008