Home Improvement News Bureau

For Sale: Fresh Air

Research shows portable air cleaners don’t always deliver

MONEY PIT NEWSBUREAU - May 5, 2005: Millions of people buy portable air cleaners to improve their health, remove harmful particles from the air and maintain clean home.  But consumer research shows that portable air cleaners also have drawbacks.

Consumers in a nationwide study conducted by Bainbridge (www.bainbridge.com) complained that the air cleaners make too much noise.  Others say the units are unsightly, expensive to maintain and take up too much space.  And many didn’t realize that a portable only cleans the air in a very limited area of the home.

“An alternative for those who want to have clean air in every room of the house is a whole-home air cleaner,” said Tom Kraeutler, Home Improvement Expert for the nationally syndicated radio show The Money Pit.  “Whole-home air cleaners attach to the heating and cooling system and are installed by a professional contractor.  They reduce all airborne contaminates such as dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria and even viruses.  And recent reports show that these irritants, not germs, may be responsible for chronic colds.”

A recent study sponsored by Aprilaire revealed that homeowners prefer a whole-home air cleaner versus a portable air cleaner when comparing performance, installation and maintenance factors and lifetime cost.

For instance, the Aprilaire whole-home air cleaner costs around $600 for the first year and about $50 thereafter.  The price includes the unit, filter and professional installation.  The equipment is installed in the utility room, basement or attic, where it does not detract from the home’s aesthetic appeal.  Typically, a whole-home air cleaner requires maintenance just once a year.

Conversely, in the first year alone, a homeowner with four portable units serving about 500 square feet a piece would spend nearly $2,500 for the cleaners, filters and electricity.  Plus, the units are placed throughout the house and detract from the room’s décor.  Portable air cleaner filters also need to be changed four times a year making them inconvenient to maintain.

In terms of energy costs, people who choose portable units can expect to pay up to $220 in annual costs per unit.

To learn more about the benefits of whole-home air cleaners and to determine which air cleaner is best for your home, visit www.aprilaire.com.

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