Indoor air quality has become a growing concern for many households. With rising pollution, allergens, and simple dust accumulation, the air inside our homes can become uncomfortably stale and filled with contaminants. This is where an Aprilaire air cleaner can make a real difference! Aprilaire air cleaners are designed to filter and purify the air, removing allergens, odors, smoke, and other particles.

Using an Aprilaire unit can lead to cleaner indoor air quality, helping reduce allergy and asthma triggers. It can also get rid of stubborn odors from pets, cooking, or cigarettes. With cleaner air circulating through your home, you’ll breathe easier and may even see benefits like better sleep.

But not all Aprilaire models are equal. With different coverage capacities, filtration types, and special features available, choosing the right Aprilaire air cleaner for your home’s needs is key. In this guide, we’ll cover all the factors you should consider when picking the perfect Aprilaire unit.

Matching Coverage Capacity to Your Room Size

One of the first things to evaluate is the coverage capacity of the Aprilaire air cleaner you need. Aprilaire makes units suited for whole home coverage down to single room purification.

Larger models like the Aprilaire 8100 or 8800 are designed to filter the air for an entire home up to 5,000 sq ft. This makes them ideal for central air systems. They can be installed as part of your home’s HVAC ductwork to purify air circulating throughout the house.

For medium to large rooms between 500-1000 sq ft, the Aprilaire 5000 or 5800 models offer enough power to fully circulate and filter the air. Having one of these in an open floor plan home, large bedroom, or living room will keep the air fresh.

If you only need to purify a smaller room up to 500 sq ft, a compact Aprilaire unit like the 2200 or 3000 would work well. These can be ideal for single room situations like a nursery, office, or gym.

Make sure to measure out the room size and account for open adjacent spaces when deciding on capacity. An undersized air cleaner won’t be as effective in truly purifying the full area.

The Right Filtration for Your Needs

In addition to coverage capacity, choosing the correct filtration type based on your air quality concerns is crucial.

Aprilaire air cleaners use a few main filtration models:

• Allergen Filtration – These utilize Aprilaire filters down to 1 micron to trap pollen, dust, pet dander and other allergens. Great for allergy relief.
• Cellulose Filtration – Uses thicker pleated media filters to grab smaller smoke particles and bacteria under 1 micron. Ideal for asthmatics.
• Odor Filtration – Combination of activated carbon filtration plus allergen filtering helps remove strong household odors. Perfect if you have pets or deal with cooking smells.

Those dealing with seasonal allergies or pets should look for an Aprilaire with allergen filtration. People concerned about asthma triggers or secondhand smoke are better suited to the Cellulose filters in Aprilaire models like the 5000.

For eliminating odors, the carbon enhanced Odor filtration has the power to trap those stubborn smells. Some Aprilaire units also allow you to customize with carbon or chemical filters for specific issues like excessive radon or VOCs.

Specialized Features for Enhanced Performance

Beyond basic air purification, some Aprilaire units come with specialized features for enhanced performance. These include:

• Ionizers – Release negative ions to attract air particles, pulling them into the filter. Help improve air flow and cleaning efficiency.
• Automation – Built-in timers or smart controls to run on schedules or react to indoor air quality sensors. Useful for overnight operation or whole-home automation.
• Digital Displays – Allow monitoring of room particle levels and replace filter reminders. Takes the guesswork out of maintenance.
• Higher MERV Ratings – Ratings like MERV 15+ indicate ability to filter smaller particles like bacteria and smoke. Important for cleaner air concerns.
• Quiet Operation – Designs with sound absorbing materials and quiet brushless motors improve noise levels. Crucial for bedrooms and living spaces.

For most households, an ionizer and digital display for maintenance notifications provide great convenience and performance. Those with smart homes should look for automation like WiFi and app control.

Regular Maintenance Required

While Aprilaire air cleaners are relatively low maintenance, you do need to plan for regular filter changes based on use. Typical recommendations are:

• Prefilter: Clean/replace every 1-2 months
• Main filter: Replace every 6-12 months
• Carbon filters: Replace every 3-6 months

Higher-end Aprilaire models have an Intelligent Airflow System that tracks usage and gives accurate filter change alerts. This takes out the guesswork on maintenance timing.

It’s also important to note higher filtration models like Allergen and Cellulose tend to require filter swaps more frequently than cheaper mesh varieties. Factor filter replacement costs into long term maintenance.

Noise Levels Vary

Excess noise can be an annoyance with any air purifying system. Aprilaire models range from near silent operation around 40 dB to audible but not intrusive around 55-60 dB.

Units with variable speed motors like the Aprilaire 5000 allow adjusting sound levels on demand. Compact fan designs similar to the Aprilaire 2200 also operate very quietly for bedroom use.

Larger capacity commercial style models admit more noise in the 50-60 dB range. If noise is a concern, check official specs and reviews on volume before buying.

Smart Home Integration Available

For controlling your Aprilaire unit remotely, some models include WiFi and integration with smart home platforms.

The Aprilaire 8800 for example can connect to Amazon Alexa or Google Home. This allows voice commands to turn the air cleaner on and off or monitor particle levels.

The Aprilaire 5000 is also compatible with iHarmony Z-Wave home automation systems. You can easily sync it with other connected home tech.

This smart integration is appealing for adjusting run times and tracking whole home air quality from your smartphone or tablet. It does add to purchase costs, so weigh if you’ll really use the feature.

Budget to Premium Options Available

Aprilaire air cleaners range from budget-friendly around $200 to premium investments $800+. More advanced filtration, high capacity, and built-in tech add to costs.

To give an idea, here are good Aprilaire options in three categories:

• Budget: Aprilaire 2200 – Ideal for 1 room up to 550 sq ft. Uses allergen filtration with activated carbon odor layer. Around $200.
• Moderate: Aprilaire 5000 – Covers 2500 sq ft with Cellulose filtration. Features automation and quiet variable speed motor. Approximately $500.
• Premium: Aprilaire 6300 – Whole home capacity (5000 sq ft) with MERV 16 filtration. WiFi enabled and Alexa compatible. $800.

Keep in mind true air purification requires the right sized unit and filters for your home. It’s better to spend a little more upfront than pay ongoing costs for an undersized system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Aprilaire air cleaners require ductwork?

Some models like the whole-home 8100 or 8800 need installation into your existing ducts. But many smaller Aprilaire units work as standalone room purifiers without duct connections.

How often should filters be changed?

Most filters should be swapped every 6-12 months depending on model and usage. Prefilters clean air intake and need replacing more often, every 1-2 months.

What do the different MERV ratings mean?

MERV measures a filter’s particle removal efficiency. Higher MERV of 16+ captures very fine particles like smoke and bacteria most air filters miss.

How much electricity do Aprilaire air cleaners use?

Units like the 5000 use between 50-150 watts. Costs $3-5 per month for average operation – not a significant utility expense.

Conclusion

An Aprilaire air cleaner offers a great solution for removing allergens, odors, and other contaminants from your indoor air. Choosing the properly sized unit with the right filtration capabilities for your home is key to maintaining clean, breathable air.

Be sure to factor in room size, filtration needs, special features, operating costs, and noise levels before selecting the perfect Aprilaire model. With a quality air cleaner matched to your space, you’ll be able to breathe deep knowing the air is fresh and purified. Your allergies, asthma, and even sleep can improve thanks to cleaner indoor air.