Aprilaire 5000 User manual

owner’s manual
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OWNER’S MANUAL Includes Operating and
Maintenance Instructions
MODEL 5000
ELECTRONICAIR CLEANERS
Nobody Makes Clean Air Easier®
®

WARNING:
• 120 Volts may cause serious injury from electrical shock.
Disconnect power to the furnace/air handler before
starting installation. Leave power disconnected until
installation is completed.
• Arcing in electrical components may cause an explosion.
Do not install unit where explosive gasses will be present.
• Sharp edges may cause injury from cuts. Use care when
cutting and handling sheet metal.
• To reduce the risk of electrical shock, this equipment has a
grounding-type (three prong) plug. This plug will fit only
into a grounding-type power outlet. If the plug does not fit
into the outlet, contact qualified personnel to install the
proper outlet. Do not alter this plug in any way.
• To reduce the risk of electrical shock, locate product so
that the power cord can be plugged into an electrical outlet
without the use of an extension cord.
CAUTION:
• To prevent component failure, do not install the air cleaner
on the warm air supply or in an area where the temperature
may exceed 125° F. This may include areas above heat
exchangers in downflow furnaces or above exhaust flues in
lowboy furnace cold air returns.
• The air cleaner must be installed where the ambient air
temperature remains between 40° F and 125° F [4° C
and 52° C].
• Installation must conform to all applicable codes.
• Do not install an atomizing humidifier upstream of the air
cleaner. Water or mist will cause power supply to shut down.
1

table of contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Principle of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Trouble Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Media Replacement Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2
ELECTRONICAIR CLEANERS
Nobody Makes Clean Air Easier®
®

Thank you for your recent purchase of an Aprilaire®Electronic Air
Cleaner. We sincerely appreciate your business and are pleased to add
your name to our growing list of customers. With this purchase, you
have invested in the highest quality equipment available. Absolutely
no other whole-house air cleaner on the market today can provide
cleaner, healthier indoor air. Research Products Corporation is one of
the largest manufacturers of indoor air comfort products and a
recognized leader in the heating and air conditioning industry.
Please be assured that in addition to product quality and performance,
we’re also committed to customer satisfaction.
IMPORTANT: Scheduled replacement of the Aprilaire Electronic Air
Cleaner filtering media and cleaning of the control electrode is
necessary. See page 7 for details.
Please take a few minutes and read this booklet. This will familiarize
you with the benefits you will receive from the equipment you just
purchased and help you understand the routine maintenance that will
3
ELECTRONICAIR CLEANERS
Nobody Makes Clean Air Easier®
®
To obtain service parts and/or replacement media, please
proceed with any of the following options:
• Call the installer of your Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner.
This information is often found on your equipment.
• Call your heating and air conditioning contractor.
• Use our Dealer Locator at www.aprilaire.com.
• Look for the Aprilaire brand name in the Yellow Pages
under air cleaning and purifying equipment.
• Look in the Yellow Pages under heating and air
conditioning contractors. Many contractors can order
service parts or media replacements for you.

performance
be required. Be sure to register your warranty with us for our records
and your protection. You can do this by either returning the warranty
registration card or by registering on line at www.aprilaire.com/warranty.
Your Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner delivers the cleanest, healthiest
air ever available from a whole-house air cleaner! It is an investment
in healthful comfort for your family and protection for your home
and furnishings.
Your Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner features patented, breakthrough
“electrically enhanced air filtration” technology that provides a unique
combination of both electronic and media air cleaner qualities. It
permanently traps even the smallest particles so they cannot re-enter
the air stream.
PERFORMANCE
Air cleaners are effective only when air is circulated through them. The
Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner operates silently, removing a very high
percentage of the pollutants from the circulated air while maintaining
its level of efficiency with use. There is pollution in air everywhere –
even in the air we normally consider to be fresh outdoor air. The
infiltration of outside air into the home can be minimized by keeping
doors and windows closed as much as possible, therefore, increasing
the indoor air quality.
You may have purchased your air cleaner for allergy relief. Allergy cases
differ widely – and not even the Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner is a sure
cure for any allergy. However, this air cleaner can be highly beneficial
because it is over 98.5% efficient at removing particles the same size
as allergy-causing pollen, fungus, mold, and spores from the air passing
through it, which makes it the healthy choice for cleaner indoor air. It will
also remove over 90% of particles the same size as many disease-
causing airborne bacteria.
The reduction of household dust, tobacco smoke particulate, and
smudging particles may have been the motivating influence in your
decision to have an air cleaner installed. The Aprilaire Electronic Air
Cleaner removes 86% of cigar and cigarette smoke particulate which
represents greater efficiency than any other residential air cleaner. Since
this air cleaner reduces the amount of particles in the air, you can expect
4

a reduction in the need for dusting and cleaning and a longer time
interval between redecorating.
The efficiency of the Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner on the smallest
particle which can be seen with the naked eye (approximately 10
microns) is never less than 99%.
The visible household dust particles, and nearly all pollen and spore
particles, therefore, can be caught and permanently and easily held if you
can get them to the air cleaner.
Recommendations for Optimum Performance
The air movement function of a central air cleaner is performed with the
blower of your heating/air conditioning system. Continuous air cleaning
will be accomplished when your thermostat is set for continuous air
circulation. If continuous air cleaning is not required, or desired, you
can manually set your control for any time period you desire. Many
thermostats have a switch position for manual fan. “Automatic” turns
on the blower only when heating or cooling is required. “Fan” or
“manual” allows you to control blower operation.
For those who choose periodic cleaning (as opposed to continuous
cleaning through continuous furnace blower operation), the most
important period is during – and for several hours after – vacuuming
your home. The vacuuming process (unless you have a central vacuum
system) stirs up a large volume of dust particles which must be drawn
into your air cleaner.
5
pollutants
common
Particle sizes in microns*(1 micron = 1/25,400 inches)
*American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering Guide
0.01 0.1 1
POLLENS & SPORES
SMUDGING
DUST
SMOKE
AIRBORNE BACTERIA
5 10 50 100
Common Pollutants

operation
Many of the dust particles generated while vacuuming, are so heavy
that they “fall”out of the airstream before they can be drawn out of
your living area. This is why it is important to do household dusting
several hours after vacuuming. Normally once the heavy particles “fall
out,”they are only reintroduced to the air by vacuuming, or similar
vigorous activity.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The Aprilaire Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner is an electrically
enhanced high efficiency air cleaner that utilizes an ionization and
electric field. It is the first and only residential air cleaner that utilizes
this recently patented technology. As shown in the schematic below,
a particle passes a control electrode and enters an intense ionization
and electric field. This intense electric field ionizes (applies an electrical
charge to) the airborne particles. The charged particles are then
attracted to and collected by the air cleaner media, which is maintained
at ground by means of the ground electrode. Then, the clean air is
distributed throughout your home.
6
Combination of Media and Electronic Technologies
Improves Efficiency
Howthegreatestair
cleaning efficiency is achieved.
Particlesenteringtheaircleanerpassthrough a controlelectrode,which focuses
andintensifiesan electricalfieldgenerated bytheionizingwires.The particlesare
chargedintheelectricalfieldandthencollectedongrounded micro-fiber media.
Dirty Air
ControlElectrode
Electrical
Field
Clean Air
GroundedAir Cleaner Media
Ionizing
Wires

maintenance
components
7
POWER PACK/
DOOR ASSEMBLY IONIZER FRAME
CONTROL
ELECTRODE
OUTER HOUSING
INNER HOUSING
#501
MEDIA
PLEAT SPACERS
Handle
MAINTENANCE
Replacement of your Aprilaire Air Cleaner media is normally required
just once a year. However, in an excessively dusty environment (i.e., in a
new home or during/following a remodeling project) it may be required
more frequently. Replace the media according to the instructions on
the Stock No. 501 replacement media carton. For air cleaner to
function properly, you must use only Aprilaire Stock No. 501
replacement media. Semi-annually, you should inspect the control
electrode and ionizing wires for dust and dirt build-up. If necessary,
remove the control electrode and clean by rinsing it with water. With a
damp cloth, gently wipe any dust from the ionizer frame and wires.
The control electrode, ionizer frame, and ionizing wires must be
completely dry for the air cleaner to operate.
COMPONENTS OF
APRILAIRE ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER –MODEL 5000

trouble shooting
TROUBLE SHOOTING
When the air cleaner is operating correctly and the following
conditions are met, the green light on the power pack/door
assembly will be on:
•The air cleaner is correctly assembled and installed.
•The power pack/door assembly is fully closed.
•The unit is plugged into a live 120 VAC outlet.
•The switch is in the ON position.
•The furnace/air handler blower is running.
If those conditions are met and the green light does not come on,
the air cleaner circuit is not being activated. If the green light blinks
at approximately one-minute intervals, the air cleaner circuitry is
attempting to turn on, but is quickly turning off due to either an over-
current condition or because arcing is occurring between components.
Check the inner assembly as follows:
1. Turn the furnace/air handler blower off.
2. Turn the air cleaner off.
3. Unplug the air cleaner.
4. Open the power pack/door assembly.
5. Remove the inner housing assembly.
(Continued on next page)
8

TROUBLE SHOOTING (Continued)
6. Inspect components to ensure the following:
a. All components must be dry.
b. The ionizer frame-grounding clip must be in contact with
the control electrode. See Figure 1.
c. The conductive rubber strip must be in contact with the
conductive-coated tips of the media. See Figure 2.
d. The nine ionizing wires must be clean, straight, and hooked
onto the bus bar at one end and the ionizer frame at the
other. See Figure 1.
9
Handle
Ionizer
Wires
Inner Housing
Ionizer Frame
Grounding Clip
Control Electrode
Bus Bar
FIGURE 1

e. The control electrode must be properly inserted in the
ionizer frame.
f. The openings for the airflow detection circuit on the inside
of the power pack/door assembly must be unobstructed.
See Figure 3 on next page.
g. There must be no debris bridging the gap between the
ionizing wires and any other component.
7. Re-install the inner housing assembly and close the power
pack/door assembly.
8. Plug in the unit and turn it on.
9. Turn on the furnace/air handler blower.
10. Wait three minutes after the blower starts and check unit for
proper operation. (The airflow sensing circuitry takes a few
minutes to warm up the first time the unit is plugged in and
turned on.)
10
Pleat
Spacer
“PRESS
TO OPEN”
End Panel
Conductive
Rubber Strip
FIGURE 2

TROUBLE SHOOTING (Continued)
11
Air Flow Detection
Circuit Openings
Power
Cord Slot
FIGURE 3

replacement
12
DATE DEALER NAME
MEDIA REPLACEMENT RECORD

13
warranty
LIMITED WARRANTY
Your Research Products Corporation Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner is
expressly warranted for two (2) years from the date of installation to be
free from defects except, however, for the disposable media which will
have to be replaced from time to time depending upon the use, and the
inner housing seals. Research Products Corporation’s exclusive obligation
under this warranty shall be to supply, without charge, a replacement for
any part of the Electronic Air Cleaner which is found to be defective within
a two (2) year period and which is returned not later than thirty (30) days
after said two (2) year period by you or your original supplier to Research
Products Corporation, Madison, WI 53701, together with the model
number and installation date of the Electronic Air Cleaner.
THIS WARRANTY SHALL NOT OBLIGATE RESEARCH PRODUCTS
CORPORATION FOR ANY LABOR COSTS AND SHALL NOT APPLY TO
DEFECTS IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIALS FURNISHED BY YOUR
INSTALLER AS CONTRASTED TO DEFECTS DISCOVERED IN THE AIR
CLEANER ITSELF.
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL BE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE
AFORESAID TWO YEAR PERIOD. RESEARCH PRODUCTS
CORPORATION’S LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, OTHER THAN DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURIES,
RESULTING FROM ANY BREACH OF THE AFORESAID IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OR THE ABOVE LIMITED WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY
EXCLUDED. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS VOID IF DEFECT(S) RESULT
FROM FAILURE TO HAVE THIS UNIT INSTALLED BY A QUALIFIED
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR. IF THE LIMITED
WARRANTY IS VOID DUE TO FAILURE TO USE A QUALIFIED
CONTRACTOR, ALL DISCLAIMERS OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SHALL BE
EFFECTIVE UPON INSTALLATION.
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty
lasts or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages
so the above exclusion or limitations may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.

14
notes
NOTES

Aprilaire®
Automatic Humidifiers
The Best Cure For Dryness®
Theworld’s first computer-equipped,
completelyautomatic humidifiers.
Aprilaire®
Electronic Thermostats
Energy Efficiency Never
Looked So Good™
Ultra-thin,easy-to-usedigital, programmable, and
communicatingcontrolsfeaturing pinpoint accuracy.
Aprilaire®
Zone Control Systems
Custom Comfort
Throughout Your Home®
Themost reliable wayto achieve temperature
controlin every areaof your home.
Aprilaire®
Fresh Air Exchangers
Only The Freshest Homes
Have April Air™
Your best valuefor a constant,controlled
supplyof fresh airwith energy-recovery.
Aprilaire®
High Efficiency Air Cleaners
Nobody Makes Clean Air Easier®
Deliversthe cleanest, healthiestair ever
availablefrom a whole-houseair cleaner.
THE BEST IN INDOOR AIR COMFORT
®
The Aprilaire®Indoor Air Comfort System is an integrated group of air quality
enhancement products designed to work with your heating and cooling system to
make your home more comfortable. For the best in indoor air quality, ask your
heating and cooling contractor about these fine Aprilaire products, or visit us
at www.aprilaire.com to solve your Indoor Air Comfort needs.
P.O. BOX 1467 •MADISON, WI 53701-1467 •Phone [phone] •FAX [phone]
Products For Better Indoor Air Quality™
DP#10004152 5.5.00