Trane CleanEffects ??

[54regcab]

For those who have installed them, do they really work as well as advertised?
http://www.trane.com/Residential/Downloads/Brochure/AirCleaners/72-1218-07_web.pdf

[RoBoTeq]

How does this product really differ from any other electronic air cleaner?

[54regcab]

That's what I wanted to know. It looks like the cell has a "beehive/honeycomb" type structure instead of the standard plates. They claim vacuum cleaner to clean cells instead of washing with water.

[mark beiser]

I'm not a big fan of them, or any air cleaner that requires regular maintenance from the homeowner that is more involved that changing the media.

They do seem to work though, at least for keeping the equipment clean.

[ga-hvac-tech]

IMO the HoneyWell 'TrueClean" is a better filter system than the Trane, albeit in the same price range.

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/Products/Air+Cleaning/Whole-House+Enhanced/TrueCLEAN+Enhanced+Air+Cleaner.htm

I have a bunch of HW TC filters on homes with asthmatic kids... they sleep like babies according to the parents.

[mark beiser]

IMO the HoneyWell 'TrueClean" is a better filter system than the Trane, albeit in the same price range.

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/Products/Air+Cleaning/Whole-House+Enhanced/TrueCLEAN+Enhanced+Air+Cleaner.htm

I have a bunch of HW TC filters on homes with asthmatic kids... they sleep like babies according to the parents.

I saw one of those at a supply house, but didn't look into it much.
It looks like it is about the same thing as the Aprilaire 5000, but comes in more useful sizes.

I may have to look into the pricing of them. I'm always dubious about any electronic air cleaning product, and typically stick with good media air cleaners, but at least the Aprilaire 5000 and Honeywell TC won't ever perform worse than a good media air cleaner.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I saw one of those at a supply house, but didn't look into it much.
It looks like it is about the same thing as the Aprilaire 5000, but comes in more useful sizes.

I may have to look into the pricing of them. I'm always dubious about any electronic air cleaning product, and typically stick with good media air cleaners, but at least the Aprilaire 5000 and Honeywell TC won't ever perform worse than a good media air cleaner.

I think you are right Mark, the TC is similar to the AA 5000. I like honeywell products, so I use the HW... the local supply house is friendly on pricing... :)

IMO the better part about the TC or 5000 is a disposable 'media-style' cartridge (which is semi-metallic and is charged). Where-as the Trane CE is a pass through that could clog and be as useless as a traditional electronic cleaner, the TC or 5000 has a paper media (charged) insert, so no pass-through. Replaceable media is kinda pricey... however what price does one put on the health of their kids?

The only time I quote a TC is when someone has SERIOUS breathing issues... or they have $$$ to burn... :grin2:

[mark beiser]

Yeah, I have an AA5000 in my system. The problem with them is that they are USELESS for anything bigger than about a 3 ton system because of the PD through them at higher airflows, so you would have to stack 2 with parallel airflow. I've done it before, but between the cost of 2 air cleaners, and transitions from the return and back to the furnace/AH, it is real spendy.

We usually stick with AA 2210 and 2410 air cleaners, but it is good to have a low maintenance option when someone wants something just a little better.

If people would just let their kids play in the dirt, instead of keeping them in a sterile bubble while their immune systems are developing, fewer of them would have allergy and asthma problems as they mature!
This has been proven by several different studies.

[ga-hvac-tech]

Yeah, I have an AA5000 in my system. The problem with them is that they are USELESS for anything bigger than about a 3 ton system because of the PD through them at higher airflows, so you would have to stack 2 with parallel airflow. I've done it before, but between the cost of 2 air cleaners, and transitions from the return and back to the furnace/AH, it is real spendy.

We usually stick with AA 2210 and 2410 air cleaners, but it is good to have a low maintenance option when someone wants something just a little better.

If people would just let their kids play in the dirt, instead of keeping them in a sterile bubble while their immune systems are developing, fewer of them would have allergy and asthma problems as they mature!
This has been proven by several different studies.

Agree on all points. I do not have any comparative data on whether the TC or 5000 will flow more air at less SP; I suspect neither is good for 4 tons though. When I used to do Ruud, I used the 'C' width (21") 75K VS drive furnace a lot... furnace has 4 ton blower, and the C width coil has lower static also.

I wish AA still made the old 2200... I liked the 'comb' filter. Difficult to change the element (well for the HO), however it worked well in lots of applications. I have lots of customers who have them, I generally buy the elements by the case.

Just try to tell that high-minded corp exec career woman who has a nanny raising their kids to let them be 'common' and see how quickly you loose the customer... :grin2: (I have some of those 'wealthy' customers... they do not listen well... :) ).
I thoroughly agree: The immune system is a muscle, it NEEDS exercise to develop. My brother is a nerd/genius type, with endless allergy issues. I am a business owner/worker-bee type who rarely gets sick, even approaching 60.

[JWB]

isn't the true clean the carrier infinity? HW built it for them?

[bja105]

We sell the Carrier Infinity, the April Aire 5000, and the Trane Clean FX. I only sell the April Aire 5000. I don't know enough about the Trane product to have an opinion. The Carrier replacement filter is too darn expensive. I have good luck with the April Aire. We also sell bunches of plain old media filters with good luck, if we get the airflow right.

[Central NC Tech]

The clean effects is a little cumbersome to maintain and is not recommended for the homeowner to touch. There is a one inch pre-filter that the homeowner can wash. But the semi annual work is for the contractor only. On the plus side it guarantees a service contract to you or someone for the maintenance. We typical sell the 5" media. It is less in cost and offers no nominal static drop.

[mark beiser]

The Carrier replacement filter is too darn expensive.

Heh, I have a customer that has one. I was shocked at how much Totaline wanted to charge me for a replacement media.:eek:
It was roughly 4x what a replacement media for an Aprilaire 5000 costs me.

I thought I was just getting the typical porking Carrier gives non dealers on parts, then I found out the largest Carrier dealer in north Texas only pays $5 less than I do for the replacement media.

I don't think I'd feel right about saddling one of my customers with a filter that costs that much to replace the media in...

There are a number of 3rd party replacement media available for cheap, but you loose the charged media functionality.

[Baycienda]

The pros to trane clean fx is that it runs off of a 24 volt. The other is that they are very simple to install but there are a lot of downfalls to them just like any electronic cleaner. High cost, cumbersome maintenance, customers that can't put them back together. I found out there is a lot of corrosion inside the trane and american standard cleaners between the power head and the filters. There is also corrosion on the needles that send in electronic charge. You really have to get your airflow right or else it will cause a restriction. I like just standard filters you can buy at the hardware store. Less hassle for me and the customer. But then again, you loose the up-sale.

[JWB]

can anybody keep track of which honeycomb's can be washed with water and which ones can't? I know I read that one day in a service bulletin, but come on Trane, vacuuming those off twice a year isn't really cleaning. As for the corrosion, there is a drip guard or something that is item #9 on the install instructions. I haven't ever seen anyone install it, but on units that have the CE below the AHU it is supposed to be there to keep the condesation from dribbling on the powerdoor.

[mark beiser]

can anybody keep track of which honeycomb's can be washed with water and which ones can't?

All of of the post recall ones are, if someone still has the non washable collection cells, they need to be swapped for the washable ones.
The post recall collection cells should all have the number 200 in black ink on the side.

[Baycienda]

Corrosion I am seeing is not from a condensate issue draining into the filter. It is an oxidation or corrosion where the lands on the power head meet the filter and each individual needle rusting. And this can be in a home with low humidity.

I believe the only one you can wash is the first 1 inch filter. The other two you are supposed to vacuum, which is a joke. If you do install one, make sure to tell your customers not to get them wet and then start up the system. Power heads get expensive.

[JWB]

All of of the post recall ones are, if someone still has the non washable collection cells, they need to be swapped for the washable ones.
The post recall collection cells should all have the number 200 in black ink on the side.

thank you.

[jmac00]

I thought the whole idea behind the Trane clean effects was air flow?

I thought they said something about virtually no pressure loss's even if the thing fills with dirt?

Personally I like the AA5000 or the Honeywell True clean, even if the electronic part takes a dive, the filter still works.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I thought the whole idea behind the Trane clean effects was air flow?

I thought they said something about virtually no pressure loss's even if the thing fills with dirt?

Personally I like the AA5000 or the Honeywell True clean, even if the electronic part takes a dive, the filter still works.

First two paragraphs: Yeah, that is what 'they' said... <grin>
Agree on the AA5000 and HW TC

[techbill11]

I like the clean effects for the most part but as some have pointed out the pins corrode
and the vacuuming off does not seem to look clean just less dusty

[freefall]

I own one and have installed many. its hard for a cust to take care of, awsome air flow. use water and let set for a day, dont vaccum. best with vspeed furnace with reduced airflow it captures more dust in the honeycomb design. i have had many filters but this one is my favorite. I can tell right away if i have forgotten to turn mine back on after a cleaning

[Stamas]

They are a pain. I know I have one and have one in my daughter's house as well as customers' too.
The only ones that can be washed are the ones with 200 on the filter cartridge.
Blowing them out works much better than vacuuming, but do it outside and with a mask if you can.
The pins do corrode and should be checked and cleaned by a pro that knows, otherwise you risk damage.
You will have fun with the door too.
I wish I put a 2200 or 5000 in, but wanted to try it since many customers love them. My daughter has bad allergies and we both were given a heck of a deal to try them out.

[mark beiser]

The only ones that can be washed are the ones with 200 on the filter cartridge.

And if anyone has collections cells that don't have the 200 inked on the side of them, they need to have them changed out per the recall!

[RoBoTeq]

So, overall, what I am getting is that these air cleaners are just like any other electronic air cleaners in that they can do the job without harmful air blockage as long as they are properly maintained, which is a bit of a pain, and that some of them may have specific corrosion issues.

I think I will continue to recommend 4" pleated filters.

[mark beiser]

So, overall, what I am getting is that these air cleaners are just like any other electronic air cleaners in that they can do the job without harmful air blockage as long as they are properly maintained, which is a bit of a pain, and that some of them may have specific corrosion issues.

I think I will continue to recommend 4" pleated filters.

Yeap, that pretty much sums it up, with the addition that they actually do work significantly better than electronic air cleaners that don't incorporate a media type filter.

We only sold a few because of the way some factory rebates were bundled for a while, making them essentially "free".

Normally we don't offer any filter system that requires maintenance from the customer between our regular maintenance agreement visits, or has a replaceable media that costs us so much that we have to charge the customer a triple digit price to replace during said maintenance visits.

However, being a capitalist pig, I've got no qualms whatsoever about selling media air cleaners that use replacement media that is not available at the local home improvement store. ;)

[54regcab]

Watch out, the local home improvement stores are starting to carry the 4" media around here. They charge about 2X what the local HVAC supply does, but still... I send my customers to the local supply house if they want to buy their own 1" filters in case/box quantities. Pleated 1" filters cost about 1/4 the price at the HVAC supply, but don't have any pretty retail packaging...

[JBM1000]

The Chrono-Field tips become uneven in diameter and height and the ions become disrupted and not a 100% charged field, this causes further collection of bigger micron size particles and also spikes of DC voltage that dooms the head to failure way early. Air flow becomes an issue after this point of neglect and on and on. Maintenance every 90 days and renewing the internals is key within every 2 year cycle.

[ga-hvac-tech]

Watch out, the local home improvement stores are starting to carry the 4" media around here. They charge about 2X what the local HVAC supply does, but still... I send my customers to the local supply house if they want to buy their own 1" filters in case/box quantities. Pleated 1" filters cost about 1/4 the price at the HVAC supply, but don't have any pretty retail packaging...

Yeah, this works out for me. I can make a small profit on media style filters if i buy them by the case, yet sell them for around the same as the big-box stores.