If you’ve ever taken a box fan out of a closet after a long winter, you probably registered the “eww factor” upon seeing the blades covered with dust and dirt. Clearly, that fan isn’t going to speed along with that amount of grime slowing it down.
Your electronic air cleaner collects dust and dirt as well. Whether it’s attached to your furnace or is self-contained, a clean electronic air cleaner is an efficient electronic air cleaner.
Compared to other home maintenance tasks, keeping your electronic air cleaner in tip-top shape is a breeze. If you’ve never cleaned yours before, find your owner’s manual so that you can identify and remove the collector plates. This is the component of your electronic air cleaner that must be cleaned.
- Put a large rag or an old towel next to your air cleaner and remove the collector plates. Take the bundle outside, where you can remove the dust and dirt from the plates with a rag.
- Next, submerge the collector plates in a combination of warm water and mild dish soap in a large sink or bathtub.
- Clean the plates with a soft sponge, then rinse the soap away.
- Dry the plates by hand or let them air dry. Then reinsert them into your electronic air cleaner.
With this simple task done, your electronic air cleaner will be up to the challenge of trapping all of the substances it was designed to: dust, dirt, pollen, allergens, bacteria, fungi, viruses, vapors and mold spores.
Even in the cleanest homes, an electronic air cleaner can make a real difference in indoor air quality. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that no research thus far shows a direct correlation between electronic air cleaners and better health, many people who have suffered from asthma and upper respiratory illnesses swear by them and say they make a distinct difference.
For help maintaining your electronic air cleaner, or choosing one that’s right for your home, call the home comfort professionals at the Rheem Pro Partner.
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