I will be installing a new Goodman furnace and there are a number of options that I can get: are electronic air cleaners worth the cost? It is supposed to clean up to 3.0 microns and cost about $450 Canadian. Also what kind of thermostat do you recommend? I want an easy to use one. We have never had a humidifier in our house, do I need one? (We live in a dry climate especially in winter.)

Thanks

I would not get a electronic air cleaner, go with a media filter.

Electronic air filters are good for a few years but the do need service more often than most people give them. But I think a good media filter with the pleated design are just as good and will give you lots of area to catch the dust and dirt. The secret is to clean them often and to make sure that they fit the furnace and that they do not pull up in the air stream when the furnace is working. When they pull up that just lets all of the dust and dirt go around the filter.

About the humidefier, about the same thing applies. They take lots of service to make them work as they should. One thing depends on the type of water you have. With some water the media in the humidifier will get coated and will not work but it will blow powdered dust all over the house.

So both have drawbacks.

I agree with both Joshdta and letmetellu in regards to the air cleaners. The electronic one are nice but they run at a high electrical voltage and that means that the power packs do not last forever so they need to be serviced more and then you have to clean the cells in the dishwasher. Another mess.

The media type is simple and all you have to do is pull out the old media and replace with new when the time comes.

I have an Aprilaire 5000 air cleaner. It combines a pleated filter with electronic. See comparisons here: http://www.aprilairecontractor.com/p...ners/52329.pdf

My system does have the ability to tell me when to change the filter based on static pressure, not time, and I end up changing the element about every 6 months.

The first time changing the filter took a while. Every other time was quick.

If your bothered by allergens, it's best to determine what you need. The Aprilaire will not handle odors, nor is it a filter for viruses and bacteria (UV lamps).

It's very easy to clean and the electrostatic portion doesn't get very dirty. The large pleated element does all the work.

Since the filters are expensive, it does make sense to monitor the pressure dropped across it to determine the replacement interval.

Overall, happy.

Humidifying requires some thought as to methods and if it's really necessary. It could introduce a place for pathogens to grow and can cause premature rust of components if not managed properly.