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Panasonic BZ Heat Pump PM2.5 filter query

Scoob · 2024-07-03T13:36:33Z

Hi, Not sure if this is the right place for this one... While the device IS an air-sourced heat pump, it's just a regular split AC unit - able to provide both hot and cold air as desired. I've got two, one in an Office, one in a Bedroom as this house gets particularly warm at times, due to how the sun hits these two rooms in particular. Heat from computers in the office can really warm things up.Anyway, these devices - Panasonic BZ units - work really well and take little power. Having solar, any cooling they do is essential using free power. One thing that confuses me about these units though is that they claim to have PM2.5 air filtration, able to filter out dust, pollen and the like. This was an attractive feature to have.However, looking at my units, they just have regular plastic mesh type filters - the exact same sort of thing you get on some PC cases - and certainly NOT the "proper" PM2.5 Filters I have on other dedicated air filters I have, or the one fitted to the car. So, I'm a little confused by this claim as I see no evidence of it. For the record, my units are: "Panasonic BZ25-KZE" - google that, you'll find a link to Panasonic's own product page, where PM2.5 is mentioned again.As mentioned, I have other PM2.5 filter devices, they're pretty old and I've not used them for ages - well, except the one in the car lol. These units though have some very substantial filters on them, several layers of material with a sponge lay to trap any larger particulates first. The filter on my AC units is a far cry from this, being just simple plastic with gaps of one full millimetre in the mesh, and certainly no 2.5 microns.I've searched for videos on how to change the filters on this unit, and they simply show people removing the plastic mesh and cleaning it with water. I've not found anything about any kind of secondary actual PM2.5 filter being present.Not sure where else I could ask about this. I've spoken to the installation Engineers (when I had the second unit fitted) and they have no response for me. As I live in a rural (farming) area, being able to filter the air (oil seed rape pollen is a nightmare certain times of the year, as is general crop harvest dust) was a major draw for this product. However, I see no evidence of what I'd expect from a PM2.5 filter - based on prior experience - unless a simple plastic mesh can genuinely claim to achieve this these days?Any input welcome on this. I have an Engineer due tomorrow for the unit's regular service - required to preserve the seven year parts and labour warranty - so I'll pick their brains as they might know more than an installation engineer.

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Abernyte

(@abernyte)

Honorable Member Member

Joined: 3 years ago

Posts: 239

05/07/2024 11:22 am

As Derek has observed, the literature seems to indicate that this unit does not have a physical pm2.5filter per se. It uses some proprietary technology/magic, Nanoe-G, to trap or eliminate particles by ionising water droplets. I doubt that this is a mis-described product.

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Scoob

(@scoob)

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Joined: 1 year ago

Posts: 11

Topic starter 05/07/2024 10:11 pm

Posted by: @abernyte

↑

As Derek has observed, the literature seems to indicate that this unit does not have a physical pm2.5filter per se. It uses some proprietary technology/magic, Nanoe-G, to trap or eliminate particles by ionising water droplets. I doubt that this is a mis-described product.

No, that's a different model. The one I have clearly says it has PM2.5 filtration. Mine is the BZ, which clearly lists PM2.5 Filtration capabilities. It's the more expensive TZ model that uses their Nanoe tech. Mine certainly does not have that.

I'm going to ponder this further and consider my options. Thank you @Mars for your suggestions.

Attached is the data sheet from Panasonic themselves, used in their marketing material. This is the information installers provide to potential customers and it was this unit, with these specs, that I was sold.

Panasonic BZ Wall Mount.pdf

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Abernyte

(@abernyte)

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Joined: 3 years ago

Posts: 239

06/07/2024 9:06 am

Agh..okay Does your unit have the secondary filter indicated in the manual? It seems to be an activated charcoal mesh sandwich.

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Scoob

(@scoob)

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Joined: 1 year ago

Posts: 11

Topic starter 09/07/2024 8:50 am

Posted by: @abernyte

↑

Agh..okay Does your unit have the secondary filter indicated in the manual? It seems to be an activated charcoal mesh sandwich.

-- Attachment is not available --

One of mine has what that diagram calls a "purifying filter" the other does not, they are both the exact same model. It does NOT offer any filtration as it's only exposed to a very tiny portion of the overall air flow. If that filter covered the ENTIRE intake area and fit behind the plastic mesh I'd accept that the unit was PM2.5 compliant. However, it does not, it takes up less than 10% of the air intake area. When I queried why the second unit had this, but the first did not, the installer said it's there to tell you when the mesh filter needs cleaning - i.e. it gets dirty - and they don't usually bother fitting them because they're pointless.

So, definitely no PM2.5 filtration ability on this unit at all. So, dust etc. goes through the mesh and makes that little strip of material dirty = there's basically no filtration at all, let alone PM2.5.

I've not been in a position to contact Panasonic, or anyone else, about this yet, but I plan to. I very much doubt it'll result in anything though. I mean, it's not like they'd cover the labour to fit a device that ACTUALLY offers PM2.5 filtration even if they admit the truth. Labour is the Lion's share of the cost with such devices.

👍

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Scoob

(@scoob)

Eminent Member Member

Joined: 1 year ago

Posts: 11

Topic starter 16/07/2024 12:18 pm

Hi,

No updates on this yet. I thought I'd initially raise a query with the company who both supplied and fitted the unit, as my contract is with them. We'll see what they say.

Part of me is second-guessing myself, wondering if there is indeed hidden "filter cartridge" deep inside the unit, but surely the servicing Engineer would have been aware of that? That said, I cannot see how it could be in the air-flow if not visible. It's really quite a simple design, air in the top and out the flap on the front.

Here's a photo of the interior unit open:

You can see the plastic mesh, and the aluminium fins behind it. My phone camera isn't very good, sorry about that. There's a small section to the right, but I think that's just electrical gubbins behind that. Not opened it and the service engineer didn't either.

The yearly servicing of these items is pretty expensive, and they don't actually do much at all, yet it's needed to preserve the seven year parts and labour warranty.

I am feeling a little irked that this unit doesn't appear to offer what it claims. I was hoping to be proven wrong by the Service Engineer, as "clean filters" is one of their tasks, but no such filter was cleaned, just the basic mesh.

👍

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Mars

(@editor)

Illustrious Member Admin

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 3433

16/07/2024 10:16 pm

@scoob I’d be irked too. The filter can’t be too hidden because you need access to clean it… it’s just so frustrating when you can get a simple yes or no answer.

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