3 Common Problems Of Electronic Air Cleaners
Posted on: 25 April 2017
An electronic air cleaner is one of the best ways to ensure that the air circulating through your home's HVAC system is as clean as possible. These cleaners go one step beyond mere air filters by capturing dust, pet dander, and other allergens on electrostatically charged metal plates. Yet their great power also comes with potential drawbacks. If you would like to learn more about the sorts of problems to which an electronic air cleaner is subject, read on. This article will discuss three of the most common.
The Basics
Here is how an electronic air cleaner works, in a nutshell. After pre-filters remove larger particulate matter from the air stream, it passes into the so-called ionizer. Here, each minute particle is imbued with a positive electrical charge. The air then passes into the collecting section and through a series of electrically charged cells. Each of these cells is made up of numerous thin metal plates, which are alternately charged either positive or negative. The positive plates push the positively charged particles into the negative plates, where the particles become stuck.
Dirty Cells
An electronic air cleaner is able to capture a much larger volume of dust than a standard air filter. One consequence of this is that the cells that make up an electronic air cleaner become dust-choked much more quickly. Once the negative plates have reached their maximum capacity of particulate matter, the air cleaner will no longer be able to fulfill its task. For this reason, to maintain optimum efficiency, it is important that the cells be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions on a regular basis.
Missing Components
As elementary as it may seem, another common source of air cleaner problems are missing components. This is generally the result of a mistake on the homeowner's fault. For instance, they may have forgotten to replace either the pre-filter or the cells after removing them for cleaning. Unless all of its filtration elements are present, an electronic air cleaner simply won't work correctly. Likewise, it is important to ensure that the cells are fully seated inside the cabinet when reinstalling them. Even a small gap will be enough to allow dirty air to escape through the system unfiltered.
Damaged Cells
Damaged cells are a common problem and are generally the result of careless or sloppy cleaning. The most frequent location of damage are the wires that run along the cells and provide the plates with their electrical charges. Be sure to check for any signs of broken wires when removing a cell for cleaning. Likewise, pay attention for any plates that appear dented, scratched, or otherwise damaged.
For more information on electronic air cleaners or other accessories for your air system, contact a professional HVAC company, such as CHAMBERS MECHANICAL SERVICES.
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