ionic breeze

Installing air cleaner can be worth extra cost Q.I am having a new furnace and air-conditioning system installed. The contractor recommends an air cleaner instead of just the standard filter. Is installing one worth the extra cost and which are best? A. The answer to your first question depends on your family and its clean air needs. An air cleaner on your furnace will improve indoor air quality. If your family has allergies or an activity in your home generates much dust, then extra cost is justified. An air cleaner can also maintain the highest efficiency for your heating-cooling system. All air cleaners are mounted on the return air side so they remove dirt from the air before it enters the blower. Clean air reduces dirt deposits on the heat exchanger surfaces so heat is transferred more efficiently. This is most important when air-conditioning because cooling coils get damp and the particles stick and build up. If you don't install an air cleaner, be careful about installing so-called "air cleaner filters" that slide into the one-inch filter slot. They are inexpensive and are better than a filter, but may increase the air flow resistance above the furnace manufacturer's recommendations as they get dirty. This can reduce air flow and furnace-air conditioner efficiency. With any of the above air cleaners, you may consider installing an ultraviolet light air purifier. The intense UV rays generated inside the air duct kill many bacteria and viruses. This is harmless to people because the light source is enclosed in the duct. The best UV air purifiers I've seen are Second Wind Air Purifiers.