Aprilaire 2250 HEPA Air Purifier
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- Filter Type: HEPA
- Filter Change Indicator: With Replace Filter Indicator
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Living and learning
Pros
Keeps indoor air cleaner, might extend life of furnace
Cons
Expensive filter, can be a hassle to change
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Carefully consider your specific needs.
Size: 22 1/16" X 25 3/8" X 10"
aka Space-Gard
Cost to replace filter, at least annually: $22 (cheapest I've found)
This air filter unit fits at the point where your air intake duct meets your furnace. The unit itself is nothing more than a box to hold a large, pleated, high efficiency filter made from microscopic fibers to trap airborne particles of dust, pollen, animal dander, etc. According to the company literature, it's supposed to be up to 98% efficient.
I had one of these units installed about 10 years ago when the furnace was replaced and so far as I've observed, it does make a slight difference over a regular furnace filter. But in my particular case, I'm not sure the slight difference is worth it.
MY PARTICULAR CASE
I live in the Upper Midwest, in a house which is about 90 years old. It has a rubble foundation, which means the foundation is built of roughly square-cut stones with mortar in between. Of course, the mortar deteriorates, and critters find their way into the basement through the inviting little maze of holes, so one has to patch it here and there every couple of years. Even folks in my neighborhood who have paid big bucks to have their foundations professionally mortared say it has only slowed the critters down, not stopped them.
Mostly we ignore them...they don't do any harm with their comings and goings, and they keep the cat entertained (and on at least one occasion I know of, fed.) But about every other year, one of them finds their way into the ductwork, so when I change the filter, I find a nest (or worse) inside.
If you don't have a critter issue, then this is a moot point. But it could be a deal breaker if you do.
PROS
The HEPA filter does catch a lot of airborne particles.
CONS
Circumstances will vary, but you typically need to change this filter at least once a year. And when you remove the old one, be sure to wear a dust mask because it is going to be loaded with crud...and you'll be handling it more than if just changing the typical single filter media.
Filter is expensive: the cheapest I've found is $22, purchased from my local furnace guy.
It takes some dexterity to fit the five plastic "pleat separators" through the filter when you install the new one, so I wouldn't recommend this unit to somebody with, for example, arthritic fingers. (TIP: insert the center pleat separator first, and it makes the rest easier to do.)
IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER
If I knew then what I knew now, I'd just use single filters (there are high efficiency ones out there) and change them monthly or more. The cost would be less, and I think the result wouldn't be much different. An old house has lots of dust no matter what the furnace filter is doing, and the only way to stay ahead of it is by weekly cleaning.
Also, by changing the filter monthly, I'd eliminate the cozy nesting site for critters. I remove the filter in spring when I no longer need the furnace, and I just leave the Aprilaire door open during the summer so they can come and go, rather than come and not go.
AN ALLERGY TIP
Most people purchase this type of filter to cope with allergies. Three years ago I discovered the single most important trick to eliminating my winter sinus drip: once a week, I crank my water heater up to 140 degrees and wash all the sheets and pillowcases. I do the same thing once a month for all the bedclothes. Washing at the typical setting of 120 doesn't kill dust mites, and they're the #1 cause of winter allergies. Take it from me...it works!
aka Space-Gard
Cost to replace filter, at least annually: $22 (cheapest I've found)
This air filter unit fits at the point where your air intake duct meets your furnace. The unit itself is nothing more than a box to hold a large, pleated, high efficiency filter made from microscopic fibers to trap airborne particles of dust, pollen, animal dander, etc. According to the company literature, it's supposed to be up to 98% efficient.
I had one of these units installed about 10 years ago when the furnace was replaced and so far as I've observed, it does make a slight difference over a regular furnace filter. But in my particular case, I'm not sure the slight difference is worth it.
MY PARTICULAR CASE
I live in the Upper Midwest, in a house which is about 90 years old. It has a rubble foundation, which means the foundation is built of roughly square-cut stones with mortar in between. Of course, the mortar deteriorates, and critters find their way into the basement through the inviting little maze of holes, so one has to patch it here and there every couple of years. Even folks in my neighborhood who have paid big bucks to have their foundations professionally mortared say it has only slowed the critters down, not stopped them.
Mostly we ignore them...they don't do any harm with their comings and goings, and they keep the cat entertained (and on at least one occasion I know of, fed.) But about every other year, one of them finds their way into the ductwork, so when I change the filter, I find a nest (or worse) inside.
If you don't have a critter issue, then this is a moot point. But it could be a deal breaker if you do.
PROS
The HEPA filter does catch a lot of airborne particles.
CONS
Circumstances will vary, but you typically need to change this filter at least once a year. And when you remove the old one, be sure to wear a dust mask because it is going to be loaded with crud...and you'll be handling it more than if just changing the typical single filter media.
Filter is expensive: the cheapest I've found is $22, purchased from my local furnace guy.
It takes some dexterity to fit the five plastic "pleat separators" through the filter when you install the new one, so I wouldn't recommend this unit to somebody with, for example, arthritic fingers. (TIP: insert the center pleat separator first, and it makes the rest easier to do.)
IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER
If I knew then what I knew now, I'd just use single filters (there are high efficiency ones out there) and change them monthly or more. The cost would be less, and I think the result wouldn't be much different. An old house has lots of dust no matter what the furnace filter is doing, and the only way to stay ahead of it is by weekly cleaning.
Also, by changing the filter monthly, I'd eliminate the cozy nesting site for critters. I remove the filter in spring when I no longer need the furnace, and I just leave the Aprilaire door open during the summer so they can come and go, rather than come and not go.
AN ALLERGY TIP
Most people purchase this type of filter to cope with allergies. Three years ago I discovered the single most important trick to eliminating my winter sinus drip: once a week, I crank my water heater up to 140 degrees and wash all the sheets and pillowcases. I do the same thing once a month for all the bedclothes. Washing at the typical setting of 120 doesn't kill dust mites, and they're the #1 cause of winter allergies. Take it from me...it works!
