Whole house air cleaner/purifier

Alright, I've decided to invest in a whole house air cleaner/purifier to help with my severe allergies and MOL is always my first stop!

Is there a difference between air cleaner and air purifier? Is it a stand alone unit? If so, where does it go?

I've heard about filters for the furnace? I wonder if we have one, but I doubt it. Where does it go exactly? Who should I call to have either of these installed?

Thanks for your help.

You would only have filters for the furnace if it is forced air heat. What is your heating/cooling system like?

Aha! No wonder I've never seen a filter - I have the old radiators. I also have central air.

bklyngirl said:
Aha! No wonder I've never seen a filter - I have the old radiators. I also have central air.

If you have central air, there should be a filter at the air handler. Depending on the type of filter, it should either be changed monthly or annually (because you are only using it for a/c and not also heat).

Thank you steve - I change the AC filter often during use. Guess I have to only deal with winter months when heat is on, which means I may need to get a unit.

This was helpful, thanks, again.

You're welcome. You could likely just run the air handler with the a/c unit to filter the air during the Winter. If your filter uses the 1" filters, you might see if it could be swapped out for one of the newer filter systems that uses more effective filters.

bklyngirl said:
Thank you steve - I change the AC filter often during use. Guess I have to only deal with winter months when heat is on, which means I may need to get a unit.
This was helpful, thanks, again.

In order for the filtration effect you desire, your system would need to have return air ductwork from the bedroom back to the system; and perhaps it does. The filter Steve is referring to is really meant to protect the coil in the system, not improve air quality for occupants. (This does not prevent filter makers from marketing their products to the effect you are seeking.) If you are hoping to improve air quality in a second floor bedroom, but your system is in the basement, the airborne particles in your bedroom are most likely just moving around and not being drawn back to the system where they can be captured in the filter. I don't have a system to recommend, but it seems to me that you should look for a portable system that can be moved from room to room as you see fit.

I used to go to a wonderful allergist in West Orange who told me the most important space to keep allergen-free was the bedroom, and she recommended getting an air purifier for just that room. Also showering before bed and keeping bed linens, curtains and floors as clean as possible to avoid allergens getting trapped in fabrics. This was for my cat allergy, so perhaps it doesn't apply to your case, but I think keeping the bedroom as free of allergens as possible makes a lot of sense regardless

But a good filter will also clean the air, right

I see. I have a return on the 3rd floor and one on the 1st floor - unfortunately none on my 2nd floor where the bedrooms are. The more research I do it seems that I need a portable unit.

Thanks again everyone.

Steve said:
But a good filter will also clean the air, right

Yes, since the air is constantly returned and put through the filter provided you have forced air heating and A/C. Some thermostats have a "clean" setting to be used when heating and A/C is not running or needed. If not, get one that does.

The clean setting runs the fan from 5 to 20 minutes per hour based on the time setting you put in the thermostat.

What you need is a media filter with a MERV of about 11. You need a media filter case attached to your furnace duct where the air enters the furnace. That cost me about $200 to buy and get installed.

http://www.mechreps.com/PDF/Merv_Rating_Chart.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/Media-Air-Cleaner-1400-CFM/dp/B000R8JR9U/ref=sr_1_2?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1442957258&sr=1-2&keywords=media+filter+duct

My question was rhetorical in response to Red Barchetta's post.