It may not be June 21 yet but Summer is definitely here! A friend recently wrote me extolling the heat pump they installed last summer as doing the job of temperature control better than expected as we experience record dry weather and more than a hint of the heat to come. They’re looking forward to a hot summer – and a cool house. The reduction in fuel bills is a benefit as well. Their two regrets are that they didn’t get the heat pump until August last year (miserable July, great September) and that they missed the tax credit offered this year for the same unit. “Minor regrets true, but I’m glad for the comfort in our home these days as our hybrid system now delivers great temperature control and amazingly clean air as well.”

How is the Air in the House Cleaner You Ask?

Well, they had an EAC (electronic air cleaner) installed on the furnace when the heat pump was put in and the air quality and reduction of pollen and dust in the house is a terrific benefit. Like many people, my friends have allergic reactions to pollen, bacteria and dust mites. Allergies including hay fever and asthma affect 41 million Americans or about one out of six people. This month here in the Pacific Northwest many are being affected by tree pollen, including maples, alders and the cottonwood cotton floating through the air like snow, reminding us to keep allergy meds stocked up. It’s a blessing to have a set of filters capturing the bulk of the pollen and dust in the house and providing a much healthier indoor breathing experience. The Honeywell EAC is “an advanced and easy-to-use, whole-house solution that traps and filters up to 98% of pollutants from the air passing through your heating and cooling system. This advanced air cleaner captures microscopic impurities like dust, smoke and smog particles in addition to larger particles like mold spores and cat dander. It works by placing an electric charge on airborne particles, and then collecting the charged pollutants like a magnet.  Plus, you can say goodbye to monthly filter replacements by simply washing the air cleaner cells in your dishwasher or sink.”That was the sales pitch, and they are sure glad the HVAC company suggested it to them. My friend gladly admits to being part of the 81% of people using EACs who say they have found “significant” relief from having cleaner air in the home. The unit wasn’t expensive and the filters are easy to clean, they were advised to simply run them through the dishwasher.

How do I Clean My Electronic Air Cleaner Filter Cells?

The EAC filters are two large metal boxes (cells) that come out of the front of the unit and have handles to carry them like a couple of brief cases. The toughest part of getting them out is climbing the ladder to reach them (theirs is installed about 3 feet above the furnace, yours will depend on your system needs).They are multilevels of honeycombed filtering metal sheets and are washed down with hot water in the laundry room sink then run through the dishwasher all by themselves about once every 3 months – a bit more often now in the pollen season. Honeywell recommends consulting the manufacturer of your dishwasher before you attempt to wash the electronic cells – always a good idea. The only recommended washing methods for Electronic Air Cleaner cells are with soaps that are safe for use on aluminum, such as automatic dishwasher detergents. Set four mugs or glasses upside-down to rest the cells on top of. This protects the cells from the dishwasher spikes that may break ionizing wires, and bend collector plates. Never allow the cells to go through the drying cycle. This will “bake on” any materials that were not removed during the wash cycle, my friend says she opens the dishwasher door after the wash and lets them air dry on the racks. If you don’t let them air dry then be careful when removing cells after washing, the cells may be hot, and sharp edges may cause cuts. After washing the cells, take a clean cloth and gently wipe down the ionizing wires. Then slide them back into the EAC unit.

Many folks say their filter cells come out of the EAC nearly black with dust, pollen and other pollutants and go back in sparkling clean, ready to keep the air in their home cleaner and purer no matter what is floating in the atmosphere outside. Of course having the entire heating system kept cleaner and in better working order by having less dust and gunk in the works is a great benefit as well – and not one to be sneezed at.