Question:
Have you had any feedback on the Trane CleanEffects Electronic Air Filter? We need a whole new AC system and they are really pushing this filter. At nearly $1000.00 I’m not so sure it’s needed. Any thoughts or words from others?
What some quick research revealed
I am not familiar with these filters so I did some quick research and found out that there have been some recalls on those units. I didn’t research the details of the recall.
From what I see they look like a combination of media air filter and electronic air cleaner. I have never been a fan of traditional electronic air cleaners because they allow larger dust particles to pass through the filter. I always recommend installing a pleated air filter as a pre-filter or post filter when using them. This may be their attempt to eliminate that flaw in the electronic air filter design.
They claim the filter is 99.98% effective. That’s better than a HEPA filter by .01%. If it is that efficient it may require constant maintenance to prevent it from having a negative impact on air flow. I also predict that the filter material will require replacement more often than a person would expect for a reusable air filter and that will probably not be cheap. I would recommend going with one of the more traditional filters.
Best,
P.S. Here’s a demo on the Trane site of how the filter works.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
CleanEffects doesn’t need replacement filters, you clean the cells. Much easier than old Honeywell EAC
CleanEffects prefilter is as good or better for collecting large particles as any 1″ fiberglass or poly filter.
Yes it is better than HEPA. Tested and verified by Harvard School of Health
Yes static pressure is higher than 1″ fiberglass filter. But it is much better than any 3m type 1″ filter.
The recall was nothing. It involved downflow mount applications which were not the majority at all. It was a reliability issue not safety. Trane did a voluntary replacement of the cell on every unit installed and no cost to customer.
CleanEffects is a much different technology than standard EAC units.
Thanks for the comments Corey. I was hoping somebody who has experience with these filters would provide some information about them.
I purchased a Trane CleanEffects system about 18 months ago. Don’t repeat my mistake.
1. Produces ozone in your home. EPA, OSHA say that ozone high enough to kill microbes is certainly harmful to people. Ozone at any level will react with VOC and create harmful substances that are in quantities high enough to injure humans. Check out EPA websites and references.
2. The prefilter will remove larger particles but is not better then any standard 3M type filter, probably worse.
3. The electrostatic filter is impossible to really clean once dirty and stained, contrary to owners guide.
4. The plastic honeycomb filter gets a little dirty very quickly and then stops removing dirt from the air resulting in much debris returning into my house.
5. The air flow seems to be reduced significantly when all sections of the filter system are in place.
Bottom line even when I clean this system often I have loads of dust in my house and in my duct work. The system was built to introduce ozone into the home even when there is considerable evidence that adding to ozone already present in the home has no positive health effect and is almost certainly increasing health risks for everyone in the home.
The Clean Effects filter is NOT designed to kill bacteria only collect it in the collector cell portion. Therefore the ozone does not need to be at a high level. The Trane Clean Effects Filter has one of the lowest ozone emissions on the market. The prefilter is not worse than a standard 1″ pleated but is about as efficient. Lastly, the Clean Effects collector cells may get discolored over time but the effectivenss of the cell is not diminshed. As long as the LED read indicator on the door of unit shows green, the flow rate through the system should be fine.
i keep hearing how my electronic air cleaner is NOT good for my kids because it releases ozone into the air. please let me know about this issue thank you John
Hi John,
I often receive questions about ozone so I posted an article. It links to a report published by the US Environmental Protection Agency. You can read the details here.Electronic Air Cleaners and Ozone
How much maintenance is required for a CleanEffects filter?
Is it possible to go 6 months between cleaning if there are no pets, no smoking, and no smog? I live on the beach and the air handler is in the attic, i.e., difficult to get to.
I DO NOT recommend the use of the Trane Clean Effects filter. I had two of them installed when I replaced old heat pump compressors and air handlers. We noticed an acrid smell in the house after installation but the dealer said it would go away. The smell did not go away and we developed sore throats and a constant cough. After numerous Dr. visits we discovered the cause was the ozone produced by the Clean Effects. The dealer disconnected the Clean Effects and the acrid smell went away and we both feel much better.
I have had mine in my home for a couple of years now. I live in Florida and get a lot of use out of my unit. I have had no problems that anyone above has mentioned. I clean the frst step filter every couple of months as the manual instructs and it works great. The only thing i dislike is that it is in my attic and it gets hot up there when the door over the filters doesn’t want to go back on easily.
I have had a Clean Effects installed in my home for two years and have to say it has made a huge impact on my wifes allergies! I noticed a comment from a previous post in regards to ozone? If you do some research all air cleaners will produce ozone with the correct amount of airflow across the filters. One of the biggest problems you will find in the hvac industry is not the equipment but poor installation and application of the products.
The EPA link posted in #6 above is talking about the small table top Ozone generators that companies sell as air cleaners and make dubious medical claims about. These units intentionally produce ozone. The Trane CleanEffects is not this type of device, it is a whole house air filter that incidentally produces a tiny amount of ozone, 0.3 parts per billion (or 0.0003 ppm) according to their website.
The problem experienced by G.Ruskosky in #7 above sounds like an error in the installation (perhaps the installer hooked up the wrong voltage?) or defective product.
I’m not in the business but am researching for replacing our old furnace & filter so it’s good to hear from people with actual experience.
Thanks for pointing that out DanJ. My intention was only to provide information about ozone and its effects on people who are exposed to various concentrations, not to imply that electronic air cleaners generate that much of it. I’ll add a note to the article pointing that out.
Regarding the amount of ozone that the Trane CleanEffects units produce. I checked their site and the following is a quote from that site.
“Trane CleanEffects also generates a minimal amount of ozone, less than 5 PPB (parts per billion), well below the 10 PPB FDA voluntary emission limit for medical devices and significantly below some ionic-type room appliances that may reach hundreds of PPBs.”
Regarding the comment by G. Ruskosky, it certainly could have been a problem with the installation or defective equipment, but also consider that people have different tolerance levels when exposed to pollutants and irritants.
Carl, You should always follow manufacturers recommendations, especially with an air cleaner of this type. I think you would have problems with this unit if you didn’t service it for six months. Not changing or cleaning any type air filter or air cleaner regularly decreases equipment operating efficiency and costs you more money.
Basic question to clear up some confusion…what are the pre-filters? are they the same as first-step filters? Are they in addition to the CleanEffects filter (which I understand can be cleaned with water)?
Thanks
Basically they do the same thing. They both pre-filter the air before it gets to the second stage filter.
In my opinion the difference is this:
I consider the first filter in a system which uses two different types of filters to be a pre-filter. For example,in a commercial application using media pad filters and bag filters. I would call the media pad filters pre-filters because they remove larger particles of dust from the air before it gets to the more efficient bag filters.
Although the pre-filter in the Trane CleanEffects does the same thing, you could call it a first-step filter. The difference being that it is integrated into the design of the CleanEffects filter.
Most people use the term pre-filter, but either one is correct.
I am a Trane dealer and have installed 100′s of cleaneffects and have never had an issue with them.
They do not produce ozone and if they are the unit must have poor airflow or some other installation issue.
The light indicators on the door will tell you when to clean the pre filter and the collector cells. the charging cell should be cleaned once per year more if needed.
The newer models with 200 on or near the serial number can be washed with water but must be dry be for putting back into service.
I suggest you check out Tranes web site for more info
Thanks for the tips Dave. Good info. I have to disagree about ozone though. According to the Trane website the CleanEffects does produce a “negligible amount of ozone – less than .3 ppb to the living space”. You have to click on “Trane CleanEffects specifics” below the main text on the page.
We’ve had our CleanEffects filter on our new Trane variable speed fan furnace for over two years and as an engineer and remodeler I wouldn’t recommend this to clients because of the high cost to my perceived benefit. We still get plenty of dust buildup around the house and after cleaning the unit again today, I feel the system will not have a long life, especially the charging pins which seem to get noticeably shorter and appear rusty. Also, based on observing the typical homeowner, they struggle to change out basic filters on a timely basis let alone one that has four components to remove and clean. Bottom line, I’m not sold on this system (yet).
I agree with you B David, changing or maintaining furnace filters is a very important part of equipment maintenance but is often neglected. It’s unfortunate because dirty furnace filters reduce operating efficiency, increase operating costs and are a common reason for service calls.
I echo B David’s comments. I just bought a pleated filter for my other unit as I can’t see benefit to the clean effects. Hard to clean, requires frequent maintenance of the prefilter and the status lights are just timers…they don’t measure anything but days since you reset. In my opinion, this was a waste of money.
I work on these all the time, there is an adjustment to lower the intensity on the door. I have one . I just put in at my lake house for the musty smell. I noticed my sinuses were bothering me this weekend. I need to try adjusting my own. The cells should be cleaned every 3 months from what I see on the job depending on dust in your area.
I don’t post on forums much, but I must get the word out about Trane. I had a Trane CleanEffects installed a few months ago. The ozone level is not negligible to me. I end up with a sore throat at its highest setting but not as sore at a lower setting. (dry throat, not quite sore, at lower setting.) I am angry that I spent so much money on this because it led to other potential problems that I won’t bore you with.
I should note that i sense environmental toxins at levels most people can’t, so most people won’t be bothered by Trane’s ozone output. Also, I don’t know if ozone is the compound which bothers me, but the air feels like those old-school Ionic Breezes. So, I’m guessing ozone. Perhaps you may not perceive the change in air quality, but the Trane spews at least one irritant. Life is more inconvenient due to my sensitivities, but I’ve accepted my lot in life as sort of a canary in a mine and be more appreciative of my sensitivity issues that can warn others. You are at liberty to install it, but just because you don’t sense it doesn’t mean everything is okay. I would not recommend it to anyone because the hidden, imperceptible ones are sometimes the most dangerous.
Thanks for your input me. Your symptoms are very similar to G. Ruskosky. It seams that there is potential for very negative reactions to these units for those who have a low tolerance to environmental pollutants.
Before giving up on the unit totally I would recommend having a technician who is experienced with these units look at it to make sure it has been installed correctly and set up properly. Its a small expense compared to just having the unit sit there not operating.
When contacting a contractor be very specific about the problem you are having and ask lots of questions. If they don’t seam knowledgeable about the unit just call a different contractor. You will most likely be able to tell in a 5 minute conversation if the guy knows what he’s talking about or not.
DonaldT, Thank you for your reply. I did contact the installer who ordered a new power pack because the unit “flashed the warning lights” at the lowest setting. So I’m stuck at a medium, thus leaving me with a dry throat which is better than a sore throat. Maybe a new power pack will solve the problem, but honestly I’m not that hopeful…
The installer also cleaned the unit which wasn’t that dirty. But I was told that without the electrostatic attraction the air cleaner provides, much of the particles weren’t being captured, which means much of the collected dirt can spew throughout the ducts and enter my house again. I was stunned to learn this because most people wouldn’t even know if the air cleaner even works or not – I was lucky that the technician was observing the unit after cleaning it to notice failure.
There has to be a fail-safe mechanism so the air cleaner works at least like a regular filter. Although I feel confident about the knowledge my technician has, I sincerely hope that he’s wrong… If the unit fails, it should at least still function like a regular pleated HEPA-level air filter without an air scrubber. Otherwise, homeowners would have no clue if it’s working or not.
Hopefully that will solve your problem.
One of my biggest complaints with any electronic air cleaner is that it is not always obvious when they stop working properly. Sometimes the first obvious sign of trouble is when the evaporator coil ices up because of poor air flow due to dirt build up on the surface of the coil.
Most electronic air cleaners have pre-filters but they are not very efficient and only stop the larger dust particles.
I have had two CleanEffects units for 5 years now, and I can tell you that they do not function as advertised. I clean my pre-filter every month, the cells every 2-3 months, and the electronic filter every 6 months. I was initially told they would stop dust and help allergies, but I can assure you that they do neither. I have more dust now than I had with my old units.
I have had my 16 SEER units and CleanEffects filters repaired several times. I now have one that when it is cleaned and reset, the red light again begins flashing within a day or so. I called the installer and was told to clean everything again and reset the filter. I was also told that sometimes you have to reset them 2-3 times before the red light stops flashing, and that when the red light is flashing, the filter essentially shuts down, which negates the necessity for even having it.
Usually when the filter has problems, the heat pump itself is not far behind. Sometimes, I think it is an indicator of trouble to come. In my opinion, Trane CleanEffects units are a waste of money, and their heat pumps aren’t much better. I initially had Amana units in my house, and they operated flawlessly.
I wouldn’t recommend a Trane unit to anyone. I think that all their residential units are made in Mexico, and I believe their quality control has deteriorated significantly. When they tell you that “Nothing Stops A Trane”, they must be referring to one of those units that has never been started up. All I can say is that Goodman is made in the USA, and I just found out they bought Amana as well. My son will soon build a new home, and I am recommending that he avoid Trane like the plague. At the very least, I don’t plan to ever own another one.
Sounds like your experience with Trane has not been positive. That’s unfortunate and I am sure frustrating for you. Heat pumps and electronic air cleaners don’t come cheap (financially speaking).
Unfortunately, they often do come cheap in other ways. There have been mixed reviews here about Trane Clean Effects units. As I mentioned above, I’m not a fan of electronic air cleaners for reasons mentioned elsewhere on this site.
I have to admit, your negative experience with Thane heap pumps surprises me, I would recommend a Trane heat pump to anyone. I don’t know what problems you had with yours so it’s difficult for me to comment on that.
I will say, one of the biggest problems with heat pumps and air conditioning systems is the quality of installation. A poorly installed system can cause many problems and unfortunately there are many installers who don’t know, or care, what they are doing.
Hopefully, your son will have better luck.
As a Trane Comfort Specialist we have installed many Trane Clean Effects, we have yet to have a customer complain regarding the effectiveness of the filtration or discomfort from the Ozone emitted.
Perhaps homeowners should seek reputable companies familiar with building science and the whole house envelope when evaluating Indoor Air quality issues within a structure. While some particles are captured in filtration, a lack of complete and adequate filtration is not always due to a failure of the type of filtration in use.
One must evaluate where and why the structure is having a dust or contaminate issue. If I were to guess, I am sure you would find that these homeowners have not had a Blower Door Infiltrometer Test for duct leakage, nor identified possible unhealthy air leaks within the structure from the wall cavities, top plates, attic, garages, etc.
Suppy leaks within a system “suck”. Air conditioning is like a bank, money in = money out. Air in = air out. The system is designed to deliver for instance, 1200 Cfm for a 3ton system. It must be able to deliver and return 1200cfm. When delivery is impeded (due to leaks) or return is impeded, (improper size). The balance in air flow is incorrect.
The unit will continue to attempt to return 1200cfm of air. Now it has to pull it from wherever it can get it, thus the areas listed above. ALL unhealthy places are a cause for DUST. Let’s not forget one of the biggest offenders, recessed can lights!! Attic insulation in this instance makes a wonderful filter. EWWW. Did you know rat urine is a #1 contaminate and once dried, crystallizes and is spread through out the duct system.
I would suggest homeowners know the Indoor air quality and condition of their home and the entire a/c system including ductwork, before being so quick to blame failure on equipment. And proper duct sealing and envelope sealing, that too should be left with a properly trained contractor. Again, proper duct design when choosing equipment and filtration is integral in making sure static pressures are within tolerances for the system being installed.
In all things, knowledge, training and quality of service (installation) is everything when choosing a contractor.
Very informative comment AnnP, you sound like a knowledgeable contractor who cares about your customers and the quality of your work.
While you are correct that many problems can be avoided by simply hiring a good contractor who is knowledgeable and cares about customers, it is easier said than done. The HVAC industry is like any other profession, the best are too busy, too expensive or too few and usually it comes down to cost.
I can guarantee that many contractors wouldn’t even know what a Blower Door Infiltrometer Test is and unfortunately, fewer would care. So, you can’t blame the customer for not knowing about the things you mention in your comment when even the contractors who they hire often don’t know or care.
I am in the process of replacing my A/C and furnace and evaluating the Trane filter versus the Lennox filter (which you do have to change the MERV16 filter on and it is not inexpensive). Each of the contractors that quoted me said I could use either filter system on my intended install since they were not integrated into the furnace or anything along those lines. (In fact, my intended install is Lennox).
My biggest concerns are if either unit is anywhere nearly as effective at dust and allergen control as they claim. The consensus in this thread regarding the Trane offering is “not really” (assuming there are not a bunch of competitor installers posting – which is far more common than most people realize).
As an engineer I do have to state that in regards to Ozone I find parts of this thread almost comical. People are stating significant reactions to ozone levels that essentially mimic environment conditions in many parts of the country. The EPA’s AQI index breaks down different levels into color coded groupings (the Government loves colors…) Their AQI of 0-50 is “Good: No health effects expected” calculates out to 0-37.5PPB. The Trane unit produces “less than 5PPB” assuming proper install and functionality. In addition, INTENTIONAL ozone generators have been used for at least 20 years for odor control and other air purification, including in many public places. Wal-Mart and infomercials sell tons of them… Apray bottles of the stuff are found in many a dorm room to cover up “certain” odors. While I respect that people have different tolerance levels to different environment conditions, the idea that someone would have such an adverse reaction is extremely unlikely. I have no doubt that they are experiencing the problem, but it is highly unlikely that these trace amounts of ozone are the cause.
I recently purchased a Trane system with the clean effects air filtration. I wish I read this blog before I made that decision. Big problems with the smell due to ozone, sore throat and sinus problems. A lot of problems with installation, eg attic installation in the duct vents. I’ve had several service calls, the owners mention that it is common for new systems to require “tweaks” before it will operate effectively!
Where can I locate a qualified technician to inspect the system? I’m very disappointed with the company I used, even they were recommended on Angie’s List.
I had Trane CleanEffects whole-house air cleaner installed in my house in 2007 (model number TFD215ALAH000AA). I have extensive experience with this air cleaner, which I’d like to share with others.
1. The ozone hazard is blown out of proportion. The amount of ozone that Trane CleanEffects produces is negligible, i. e. it is many orders of magnitude lower than what is considered safe for humans. In fact, the ozone level in my house was lower than the detection threshold of the ozone meter.
2. Trane CleanEffects does a perfect air cleaning job during the first three months (when it is new). Then the performance deteriorates, and after about one year it does not clean air at all (whether it is turned on or off, you will notice no difference). Cleaning the pre-filter and the collection cells does not make it work any better, although I have always cleaned the pre-filter and the collection cells on schedule and very thoroughly.
3. The pre-filter needs to be cleaned every two months. It takes just five minutes and requires a good vacuum cleaner.
4. The two collection cells must be cleaned once in six months, and this is a major work that takes about three hours. Vacuum-cleaning the collection cells does not make them any cleaner. I first rinse the collection cells with warm water under the shower for about 10 minutes; water runs through the cells and comes out black in color. Then I shake each cell for 15 minutes to reduce the amount of water stuck inside the cell. Then I repetitively wipe both sides of each cell with paper towels. Then I set each collection cell in front of a cold air blower and dry it for at least one hour. When both cells are dry, they can go back into the system.
5. In the summertime water condenses on the evaporator coil of the indoor air handler unit and drips down on the Trane CleanEffects air cleaner, causing it to malfunction. For some reason this did not happen during the first summer after installation, but since then it broke down on average twice per summer. Finally in the summer of 2011, i.e., after four years of work, the unit completely burned out (self-destructed) beyond repair. I am now looking for replacement.
Maintenance is a big problem when it comes to any HVAC equipment. Many people just don’t realize how important maintenance is to keeping equipment operating efficiently.
Seams like a lot of expense for something that only lasted 4 years.
Two years exactly since purchasing Trane XL20i and CleanEffects system. Everything worked great until one month ago. Front door on Cleaneffects was not put back on correctly (by the service tech) and the system stopped working. Since then, the techs have been out twice, with replacement parts from Trane, all of which have failed to get the system running again. At least I have a warranty, and will not incur any charges.
Side note, I clean the pre filter every month, and let me tell you it is a real b*&*% to get that door back on correctly. Poor design in my opinion. Not even the techs can do it easily. Can’t really say that I notice cleaning benefits either, as since my system has been down over a month (CleanEffects only, not heat pump) I have noticed zero change in the indoor air quality. Starting to doubt the effectiveness of the whole thing. 1200 bucks seems a bit much for this kind of experience
Has anyone had any luck merely replacing the Trane filter parts (pre-filter, middle filter (the piece with the honeycome and pins) and collection cells) with a disposable, several inch thick pleated HEPA filter like that which is used in a Space Guard Air cleaner in the existing filter cabinet?
I have had the CleanEffects for many years and echo the comments from Great&PowerfulPiggins. The door to the air cleaner is a bear to put back on. The electronic portion of the filter gets stained after only a few months of use and can never be cleaned properly. The manual says not to use water on it but my dealer said to soak it and let it air dry. I have not tried that yet. Bottom line, don’t buy one. The best thing Trane could do is to offer a replacement for the electrostatic part that is a passive filter, cheap and disposable.