Electrostatic (Repair) vs Media (Replace)

6 years ago

I have a 5-year old Goodman system with 20X25 2-cell GSASD-18 electrostatic air cleaner. I noticed that I hadn't been hearing any 'zaps' lately, and saw that the green 'activity' light wasn't on (orange power light worked OK) so I shut it down, washed the filters, dried them as per the instruction. Washed the pre-filter, replaced the carbon filters.

No green light, no 'zap's. I've called the guy who installed it, but he's taken a week to respond, so I called another company, who said that they don't even install electrostatic air cleaners anymore, and that it would be better to convert it to a media system, based on repair cost alone, since replacing one bad cell would be more than the conversion cost.

Agree / Disagree? Any experience swapping from one to the other?

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Comments (4)

PRO
Austin Air Companie
6 years ago
main reason electrostatic have gone away is:

1. noise.

2. no steady repeat revenue (filters).

3. repairs aren't typically worth it, leads to replacement of the unit.

Personally there's nothing wrong with electrostatic, other than the maintenance end of it.

Far easier to just replace a media filter. So while you have the constant cost of the media filters, the costs are smaller over time rather than big up front cost of the electrostatic.
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David Hollingsworth
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks - that lines up with what the guy was saying - if it has to be repaired anyway, the cost of replacement will likely be less than the repair, and media filters are a predictable cost - but a bad cell (or air sensor, etc) is likely to be $$ in comparison. Now I have to see if my filter can take media inserts...or if it was to be swapped out.
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energy_rater_la
6 years ago
the media filters that fit into existing returns are available but pricy.

better investment would to be to change return air filter grill to

one to accommodate a 4" media filter. you'll quickly make up

the cost of this new r/a filter grill by lesser cost of 4" filters

without 1" lip that retrofits it into existing r/a filter grill.

( learned this the hard way on my own house)

$250 for case of filters with 1" lip vs $60 for same amount of

filters without lip.

I usually modify existing r/a filter grills with help from my

local sheet metal duct work guy. but I've done this a lot

and it takes a bit of experience to get it right. plus access

to sheet metal company willing to do small jobs.

of course media filters work...but if your ducts & return air

are not air sealed. then these leaks are beyond the

area where filter is cleaning air.

invest in a good mastic seal of duct take offs on plenum,

plenum connection to equipment..for both supply & return air.

otherwise the better filters aren't going to catch dirt/dust beyond

the filter.

best of luck
0
energy_rater_la
6 years ago
IMO electrostatic filters & uv lights are band aid fixes for air leakage into

duct system that is supposed to be sealed air tight.
0

Electrostatic (Repair) vs Media (Replace)

Comments (4)

Austin Air Companie

David Hollingsworth
Original Author

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Electrostatic (Repair) vs Media (Replace)

Comments (4)

Austin Air Companie

David HollingsworthOriginal Author

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David Hollingsworth
Original Author