Ozone-Carrier Infinity Air Purifier

homeschoolmom2 · 01-05-2007, 10:23 PM

We are building a 3000sqft 2-story house in Oregon. We have to make a decision about the HVAC system this weekend. Sub is planning on putting in Performance Series heat pump with HRV and Infinity Air Purifier ($18,000). My big quesstions are 1)how much ozone does this cleaner emit 2)is it an electronic or electrostatic or is there a difference 3)is this a good setup?

Thanks alot, I've learned alot already from this forum!

Laura

rabadger · 01-07-2007, 07:22 AM

The system is only as good as the duct system installed. Ask to see the load calculations and Manual D duct sizing calculations.

homeschoolmom2 · 01-08-2007, 06:37 AM

Anybody like or dislike this combination?

homeschoolmom2 · 01-08-2007, 06:41 AM

Rabadger,

Thank you for the reply. I wish I could have more control over how the system is being installed. The company came recommended but when the guys came out to do the first part of the install back in Nov. they barely seemed old enough to be flipping burgers. I have watched it closely but don't feel very qualified to be overseeing this stuff. My GC certainly wasn't down in the crawlspace making sure the ducts were being sealed!

homeschoolmom2 · 01-08-2007, 09:49 PM

Just thought I'd let you guys know that we decided to go with the Performance series heat pump and air handler and the Infinity Air Purifier and the HRV. Thanks so much for your input!

Laura

vaintrain · 07-08-2008, 06:46 PM

Hey I had an infinity put in with new furnace and a/c last fall.
I didnt run it much in winter because it blew cold air, bummer.
NOw in the summer I run it a lot because I like the cold air but I started to think it was blowing a musty basement smell up here so I called installer to come put new filter in (annual for whole system) and he is going to but said it could be ozone smell but not to worry. Well I have actually been starting to have a nagging little scratch and cough in my throat intermittently especially at night and I know I am not sick and I don't smoke and I don't usually cough. Now I am paranoid its from too much ozone. We were told at our work place few years back that ozone can be bad and can 'condition' your lungs to be like you live in the smog of LA or something.
At any rate hopefully the cough isnt connected but either way is this ozone smell safe and I thought I was told or heard last year not to worry about the ozone with this product as it wasnt that bad kind or was designed safely.
and What is that about the ducts relating to it all that you guys postd in the past?
Any info so much appreciated!

rabadger · 07-09-2008, 04:49 AM

All electronic air cleaner emit ozone. Some people can smell it, some not. Some people have them taken out.

First find out where the musty smell is coming from.

vaintrain · 07-09-2008, 08:30 AM

hey thanks for advice
thing is, that smell I thought could be musty actually could be ozone once I was reminded that I have a system that might kick that out. I had just started in last month, well since I started running air cleaner most of time, I had just started to notice the smell, cus of all the rains I had assumed it was perhaps the basement smell getting kicked upstairs with the air flow thru vents, but my basement isnt that bad, I don't know. It seems like it could be an ozone smell, the system is about due for its annual filter change, don't know if that would help with possible ozone smell. Do you think as far as it being mildew or something, could that have gotten into the system or filter? I didnt have water that got up that high but there were a few spots in basement where I had alittle water come up thru floor for first time, its gone now.
Do you think the infinitys are completely safe?

rabadger · 07-12-2008, 05:18 AM

Infinity equipment is built to be safe. All manufacturers must follow the same rules. What happens when it is installed is up to the contractor and local code inspections.

vaintrain · 07-13-2008, 06:52 PM

if its installed properly?

ccarlisle · 07-14-2008, 09:20 AM

Saying it is 'safe' doesn't mean a whole lot, actually, in re ozone. As mentioned they all emit ozone and there are no controls over how much is emitted - so every manufacturer has their own standard. Some machines are being banned in California in 2010...some people are sensitive to less than 10ppb of ozone, some not. Allergy suffereres probably more than non sufferers.

You may smell it but ozone is pretty reactive and doesn't hang around long. Musty smell is probably mold-ridden cellulosic materials in the basement that stayed in over 60% RH air for a period of time. Now you smell it.

vaintrain · 07-15-2008, 02:19 PM

Hi
my infinity is sitting on the floor of my basement by furnace.
this spring./summer the outside ground got saturated like never before because of snow and then rains. my basement handled the snow with no water but unfortunately it succumbed to the rain and some water bubbled up in the cracks in the floor. It didnt get the infinity system wet but I didnt discover water for a couple days and it pooled in a few spots in basement until I got rid of it. During that time couldnt the moisture down there have been sucked into the infinity and the filter? Not that its supposed to do that but just the situation.
Wht can one do to prevent that? basements can be wet. usually mine is not.

I do wonder though, say if moisture got into infinity merv filter, and made it smell (smell gone with new filter, was smelling musty before that when i ran air fan) well couldnt that have left residue in vents? or could it have harmed anything else?
what is one supposed to do if this situation arises?

also wonder if way to test ozone level.