Air Cleaning Devices

An electronic air cleaner cuts household cleaning chores by substantially reducing dust buildup.

It can provide personal relief from pollen, dust and other airborne irritants. According to some manufacturers, air cleaners can prevent circulation of up to 95 percent of all air pollutants in a home.

A portable air cleaner, uses a fan to draw air into the bottom of the cleaner. The air moves upward through an aluminum mesh filter, which catches lint and other large dust particles.

From there, the air enters a two-stage electronic cleaning cell where invisible dust particles are ionized and virtually "washed" from the air.

After the washing, air is drawn up and through an activated charcoal filter that acts as a deodorizer, removing any remaining odors.

An electronic air cleaner can be put in any room, but for best effect it should be used in the area where family activity is centered. Each unit has one switch that governs the two speed fan. At low speed, 1,050 rpm, the unit will clean 200 cfm-sufficient for an area up to 15' x 20'. High speed, 1,500 rpm, cleans up to 300 cu. ft. and can be used for areas of 20' x 30'.

No special wiring is required, and the unit uses less electricity than a 100-watt light bulb.

An electronic air cleaner installed in the central duct network works by electrostatic precipitation.

The furnace blower pulls airborne dust, smoke and pollen particles into the air cleaner. The larger particles are trapped by a pre-filter screen while smaller particles pass through to the charging section where they receive charges from a series of tungsten wires.

Then the charged dirt particles are drawn into a collection section. Here, a series of positive plates repel the positive dirt particles like a magnet. Pollutants are held in this section until washed away during cleaning. Some air cleaners then circulate the cleaned air through a charcoal filter to reduce odors.

Most forced air furnaces re-circulate air in the house because normal air exchange in the average home is sufficient for good health. The rest bring in air from outside. As inside air is drawn through cold air returns, it passes through one or more filters. They remove dust, dirt, lint and pollen from the air before it is heated and re-circulated.

Permanent filters need to be removed, thoroughly cleaned, re-oiled and reinserted at least once during the heating or cooling season. Replaceable filters should be changed three to four times during a heating or cooling season.

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Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.