Lennox PCO-20U, PCO-12C, PCO-20C, PCO-12U User Manual

HOMEOWNERS’ GUIDE

2003 Lennox Industries, Inc.

Dallas, Texas USA

HOMEOWNERS’ GUIDE FOR LENNOX HEALTHY CLIMATE

INDOOR AIR QUALITY PRODUCTS

Methods to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Optimal indoor air quality can be obtained by using four
strategies in your home environment:

 Eliminate sources of poor air quality;
 Ventilate the home properly;
 Clean contaminants from the home;
 Monitor the indoor air quality to maintain a healthy

home environment.

Eliminate sources of poor air quality

Identify and remove or reduce the sources of poor
indoor air quality in the home. Pollutants which may
affect indoor air quality include:

Dirt and Dust: Prevent filtration of dirty air and dust
from unconditioned spaces (i.e. attics) into the HVAC
system. Seal the ducts using mastic or aluminum foil
tape along all joints. Use a vacuum cleaner equipped
with a HEPA filter to permanently remove small dirt
particles, rather than simply redistributing them, as is
the case with a conventional vacuum cleaner.

Odors and Chemicals: Remove sources of odors and
chemical contamination from the home and use
products that minimize contaminant levels in the air.
Lennox’ PureAir air purification system removes and
destroys odors and chemicals.

Mold: Minimize mold by controlling moisture in the
home. Prevent roof and water pipe leaks. Contact a
contractor if your home develops a water leak.

Control the relative humidity in the home to keep it
between 30 percent and 50 percent. Contact your
Lennox dealer about products that reduce the humidity
levels in the home [variable speed air handlers,
furnaces and compressors, humidity controls and
dehumidifiers (85X74)].

If mold is in the home, it must be properly removed. After
the mold has been removed, Lennox’ Healthy Climate
PureAir air purification system [model PCO−12C
(75X69), PCO−20C (75X61), PCO−12U (X1179) and
PCO−20U (X1183)] will help to remove mold spores
from the air.

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Optional Healthy Climate® germicidal lights [models
UV−500 (46X85), UV−1000 (46X87) and UV−2000
(46X89)] greatly reduce new mold growth on
illuminated surfaces.

An accumulation of dirt and dust in the air ducts
provides an ideal site for mold growth. To ensure
optimal indoor air quality, non−porous insulation or
externally insulated ducts should be used, particularly
on the supply side (i.e. externally insulated metal
plenums and ducts or smooth−lined flex duct are
preferred). If your home has significant existing active
mold growth, you should contact a company that
specializes in mold removal. Lennox is a sponsor of the
Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). Contact the
IAQA (phone: 301−962−3804 or web: www.iaqa.org) or
your state’s health department for a list of companies
which specialize in mold removal and training.

Ventilate the home properly

Contaminants in the home can be reduced by adequate
ventilation. Open windows will allow natural ventilation;
however, this is not a good option for people who are
sensitive to pollutants in the outdoor air (pollens,
chemicals, etc.). Lennox’ Healthy Climate® Energy
Recovery Ventilators [models ERV1−150 (64X66) and
ERV1−200 (64X69)], Heat Recovery Ventilators
[models HRV1−150 (64X65) and HRV1−200 (64X67)]
and Ventilation Control System [model LVCS
(X4141)]provide filtered ventilation. If you, or someone
in your family is sensitive to outdoor pollutants, ask your
Lennox dealer about these products. Exhaust fans
which vent stale or contaminated air to the outside
should be installed in the kitchen, bathroom(s) and
laundry areas to effectively remove contaminants.
Clothes dryers should be vented to the outdoors also. If
there is a sudden source of contamination in your home
[caused by burned food, oven cleaner, paint or hobby
work that releases chemicals (model airplanes,

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soldering, furniture refinishing, etc.)], the PureAir air
purfication system WILL NOT reduce the odor
immediately. In cases of sudden source contamination,
open windows and doors to rapidly reduce the
concentration of the contaminant.

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Clean contaminants from the home

The PureAir air purification system helps to signif
icantly reduce levels of airborne volatile organic
compounds, cooking odors, common household odors,
airborne dust particles and mold spores, and pollen in
residential spaces. The PureAir air purification system
includes a MERV 9 pleated filter (PCO−12C/20C) or
MERV 8 pleated filter (PCO−12U/20U), UVA lamps, and
a metal insert that is coated with a titanium dioxide
catalyst. As air enters the system, a percentage of
airborne particles and bioaerosols, such as mold and
bacteria, larger than .3 microns are captured by the
pleated filter. The smaller airborne particles, odors, and
chemicals continue through the system. The UVA lamp
activates the catalyst on the metal insert. The catalyst
combines with water vapor in the air to form hydroxyl
radicals that destroy a percentage of the remaining
odors and chemicals. The PureAir air purification
system is NOT intended to be used for removal of active
mold growth or high levels of chemicals in the air. For
existing mold growth, the mold must be properly
removed PRIOR to installation of the PureAir air
purification system.

Filtration: Lennox offers a portfolio of products to
remove airborne pollutants such as pollen, dust mites,
and mold spores: a 1" MERV 8 pleated filter requires
quarterly replacement; a 5" MERV 8 pleated filter
requires annual replacement; a high−efficiency,
collapsible Merv 10 media air cleaner requires annual
maintenance depending on the home environment; and
an electronic air cleaner which is equivalent to a MERV
10 filter requires monthly maintenance (washing) to
obtain maximum energy efficiency.

The MERV rating of a filter describes the size of the
holes in the filter that allow air to pass through. The
higher the MERV rating, the smaller the holes in the
filter, providing enhanced filtration. The dirtier the filter,
the better the filtration, however, the filter does need to
be changed for maximum efficiency over time. With
electronic air cleaners, however, the filtration capability
diminishes over time. Filters need proper maintenance
to ensure optimal system performance. Filtration
products are designed to remove particles and capture
bioaerosols, providing a comfortable living
environment.

Purification: Organic chemicals are reduced by
converting them to carbon dioxide, water and minerals
(as done by the PureAir air purification system).

Molds can be killed or de−activated on illuminated
surfaces by the Healthy Climate® germicidal lights. For
optimal indoor air quality, the Healthy Climate
germicidal lights are recommended as a companion
product to the PureAir air purification system.
Germicidal lights should be installed near the indoor
coil to sterilize the surface to preven mold growth on the
damp coil.

Monitor the indoor air quality to maintain a

healthy home environment

The air quality in homes should be continuously
monitored for temperature and relative humidity
(%RH). Ask your Lennox dealer about long−term
monitoring of temperature, relative humidity and
carbon monoxide levels (CO detector −− X1124), as well
as other monitoring options as they become available.

Humidification: Dry, cold air in your home can make
your nose and throat feel dry. It may also cause or
aggravate other respiratory ailments. It may be
necessary to add moisture to your home’s air to ensure
comfort in your home and to reduce the occurrence of
dry skin, chapped lips and annoying static shocks. The
Lennox Healthy Climate® humidifiers [WB2−12
(35X51), WB2−17 (35X52) and WP2−18 (35X50)] are
available in by−pass and power models. Of course,
these humidifiers are designed to work in conjunction
with the PureAir air purification system.

Maintenance: A healthy climate can be sustained
ONLY with regular maintenance of the home system.
The homeowner must change filters, germicidal lamps,
metal inserts, humidifier pads, etc. Air ducts and indoor
coils must be cleaned and units must be properly
charged to ensure optimal efficiency. Maintenance is
particularly critical if there are people in the home who
have allergies, asthma, or other envirnmental
sensitivities. The best way to ensure that the HVAC
system and optional indoor air quality equipment are
well−maintained is to take advantage of a semi−annual
service contract offered by your Lennox dealer.

For a better understanding of the triggers that are
related to allergies and asthma, please contact the
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
(www.aafa.org). Lennox is a sponsor of the Asthma and
Allergy Foundation of America to promote improved
consumer education about indoor air quality.

Refer to the installation and maintenance instructions
included with your new Lennox Healthy Climate
product for recommended maintenance.

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