Friday, August 16, 2013

Carbon Pre-filters

I noticed these the last time I was at my local Aerus shop...carbon post-bag or pre-motor filters, made to fit the Style C/R/U models. The new Aerus Lux Guardian Platinum comes with one of these (in a plastic holder, if I recall rightly), and I guess the company thought it a good idea to make them available for the other models. Naturally, I bought a couple of packages for my machines.

Installed in the Aerus Lux 6000:



Installed in the Renaissance:



Style R and Style U carbon pre-filters:



Since I just bought and installed these today, I'm not sure how they work practically, but I'll see how it goes and report back in the near future. Theoretically, with a Home Solutions filter bag, a carbon pre-filter, and a HEPA after filter, (and, of course, providing the motor is clean!), there should be next to no smell coming out of an Electrolux or Aerus vacuum*. Of course, the new Platinum goes one step better with the second HEPA filter.

UPDATE 08-29-13: I've been using the carbon pre-filters for a couple of weeks now, and they definitely do seem to absorb odors well. It remains to be seen how long they can do so; perhaps they're meant to be replaced at the same time as the after or HEPA filter.

UPDATE 09-05-13: I've since tried the carbon filters in a couple of machines that had fairly full (and smelly) bags as well as used after filters, and the exhaust air smelled quite clean and neutral. It seems, therefore, that these carbon pre-filters do their job.

*My experience with Electrolux and Aerus HEPA filtration has been with the Style R vacuums, so I can't speak about the models that followed, but, as I've pointed out elsewhere in this blog, the Style R HEPA filter works quite well for me. It does a good job of making the house smell cleaner, for a longer time. In addition, since I have more than one Style R machine, each one only gets used semi-regularly, and therefore the bags and filters last for a longer time. With the addition of the carbon filter, the air quality in the house will be even better.

2 comments:

  1. I don't why it took me so long to Google information on my Electrolux ZB55 but it was coincident with realizing that there was an exhaust air filter I have never taken out to clean and perhaps that was the reason my machine (still used on a regular basis) wasn't working as well as it once did. I did my best to vacuum the quite black looking exhaust filter but would like to know if you know a source for replacement filters that would fit this machine? It has faithfully served me for 45+ years and still works well enough to clean around my apartment and its wonderful for vacuuming out the car as it's almost light enough to hold with one hand while contorting myself down and around the interior of the car. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

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  2. I can't say with 100% certainty, but those filters are no longer available. I have (used) filters in my machines, and I keep them vacuumed regularly, along with the cloth bag, so they perform well. I agree with you; the ZB55 and the other 50 series vacuums are great Electroluxes; super quiet, lightweight, and powerful enough to get the job done.

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