Whole-Home Air Purifier Installs in Eugene & Salem for Lingering Odors
James Heating & Air Conditioning installs the Air Scrubber by ActivePure, a small unit that sits in your supply duct and treats the air your furnace or heat pump sends through the house. It isn't a filter, so we check first whether a better filter would serve you more.
Air purifier services we provide
We install the Air Scrubber by ActivePure for Eugene, Springfield, Salem and Keizer homes whose main complaint is odor, and we check the duct layout and blower first so the unit sits where it treats the most air.
Air Scrubber installation
We install the Air Scrubber by ActivePure, model A1013V, in the supply duct just past your furnace or air handler, wired to low-voltage power from your system. A home over 2,000 square feet may need a second unit.
Filter and airflow check first
Before we cut into any duct, we check the filter slot and test airflow. A purifier added to a system that's already struggling won't fix it, and sometimes a better filter does more for you than a purifier would.
Cell replacement every two years
ActivePure's manual requires a new cell every two years, even if the light still glows. James Heating replaces the cell on units it installs and checks its date during a yearly tune-up.
How the Air Scrubber we install works
Inside the unit, a UV lamp shines on a honeycomb cell coated with a catalyst, a material that speeds up a chemical reaction. ActivePure calls the process photohydrolysis, and the wider category is photocatalytic oxidation, or PCO. The company says it reduces odors, VOCs (the gases from cleaners, paint and new furniture) and germs in the air and on surfaces.
It only treats air that moves past it, so it works while your blower runs. The EPA notes that home heating and cooling systems run under a quarter of the time in season, which is why we talk through your fan setting at the install.
Problems we match to a purifier, a filter or another fix
Valley air is mostly a particle problem. The American Lung Association's 2026 State of the Air report ranked Eugene-Springfield second worst in the country for short-term particle pollution, driven largely by wildfire smoke, and particles are a filter's job rather than a purifier's.
Pet and cooking odors
This is where an in-duct purifier earns its place. ActivePure says the unit reduces odors, and it reaches all your ducted rooms while the blower runs, though the source of the smell still needs dealing with.
A house shut tight all winter
Months of closed windows hold onto cooking and pet smells. A purifier helps with the odor, and if the air also feels damp or stale, the answer is fresh air through home ventilation.
Germs on surfaces
ActivePure says its lab tests show the unit reduces up to 99.9% of many common bacteria, viruses and mold in the air and on surfaces. That's the maker's claim, and normal cleaning still comes first.
Wildfire smoke
The purifier can cut the smell of smoke, but it doesn't trap smoke particles. Those need a MERV 13 filter, if your system can take one, or a portable air cleaner sized for the room.
Pollen and dust
These are particles, and an in-duct purifier lets them pass straight through. A better-fitting furnace filter does that work, which matters in a valley that grows grass seed.
A musty smell
Musty air means water, such as a damp crawlspace or a wet coil drain, and no purifier fixes water. We check for the moisture source before anything else.
What we tell you about ActivePure's claims
We present ActivePure's odor and germ results as the maker's claims, and you should weigh them that way.
- The EPA's air cleaner guidance says research hasn't yet shown that PCO, plasma or UV technologies remove gases effectively in portable home air cleaners. In-duct units weren't part of that finding.
- The EPA also says an air cleaner works alongside source control and ventilation, not in place of them.
- CARB, California's air board, has raised open questions about by-products such as formaldehyde from PCO purifiers, and it favors filters that trap particles.
That's why we install a purifier next to a good filter, never instead of one.
How we compare an in-duct purifier, a portable air cleaner and a better filter
Each of the three handles a different part of the problem, and plenty of valley homes end up with two of them.
Coverage
In-duct purifier (Air Scrubber)Ducted rooms, while the blower runs
Portable air cleanerOne room
Better furnace filterDucted rooms, while the blower runs
Catches smoke and pollen particles
In-duct purifier (Air Scrubber)No
Portable air cleanerYes, with a particle filter
Better furnace filterYes, MERV 13 if your system can take it
Odors
In-duct purifier (Air Scrubber)Reduces them, per ActivePure
Portable air cleanerCarbon models help
Better furnace filterNot designed for odors
Upkeep
In-duct purifier (Air Scrubber)New cell every two years
Portable air cleanerFilters on the maker's schedule
Better furnace filterFilter changes on schedule
Size a portable unit by its CADR, the clean air delivery rate printed on the box. The EPA's chart runs from 65 for a 100-square-foot room to 390 for a 600-square-foot room. If your power bill comes from PGE or Pacific Power, Energy Trust of Oregon offers up to $75 off select ENERGY STAR certified portable purifiers, while EWEB and SUB customers aren't eligible. We're not aware of a rebate for in-duct purifiers, though utility HVAC rebate lists change during the year.
Ozone and safety, and why we check the model number
Some air cleaners give off ozone, which the EPA calls a lung irritant, so the model on the label matters more than the brand name. We check that model number before we install anything.
- CARB certified. California caps ozone from air cleaners at 0.050 parts per million, and in-duct electronic cleaners had to be certified by October 1, 2022. The A1013V carries that certification, and Oregon has no rule like it.
- UL 2998 validated. The A1013V is also validated to UL 2998, which means less than 0.005 ppm of ozone, ten times below California's limit.
- Older models. These results cover the A1013V only. Older Air Scrubber units and other brands need their own check against the public list of CARB-certified air cleaners.
The Air Scrubber model we install
You may know it as the Air Scrubber by Aerus. The company renamed itself ActivePure Technologies in 2021, and its current home model is the A1013V.
Where it goes
Air Scrubber by ActivePure (A1013V)Supply duct, after the furnace or air handler
Coverage
Air Scrubber by ActivePure (A1013V)Up to 2,000 sq ft nominal, 3,000 sq ft maximum
Power
Air Scrubber by ActivePure (A1013V)17 watts, low-voltage (24 V)
Bulb life
Air Scrubber by ActivePure (A1013V)18,000 hours
Cell replacement
Air Scrubber by ActivePure (A1013V)Every 2 years, required by ActivePure
Ozone
Air Scrubber by ActivePure (A1013V)CARB certified, validated to UL 2998
Checks we suggest before you call
Three quick checks sort out whether you need a purifier, a better filter or a different fix, and none of them needs tools.
- Pull your furnace filter and hold it up to a light. If no light gets through, change it first and see whether the dust or smell eases.
- On an Air Scrubber you already own, look at the indicator light on the front. If it's off while the unit has power, the cell needs replacing. Never look at the lamp itself, because ActivePure warns the UV light can cause severe eye damage.
- Notice when the problem peaks. Smoky August points to particles and a filter, while a closed-up January points to odors a purifier can handle.
How our Air Scrubber install process works
Where the unit sits and how it's wired both matter, so we plan them before cutting into a duct.
- Look first. We check that your system is healthy and that one unit covers the house.
- Pick the spot. We choose a supply-side spot away from a heat exchanger or heat strips that could push the cell past ActivePure's 200°F limit.
- Mount and wire. We install the unit through a small opening in the duct, seal it and wire it to the low-voltage power the manual calls for.
- Set the fan. You decide with us whether the unit runs full-time or with the blower.
- Test and register. We test the unit, show you the indicator light and go over registering it with ActivePure.
Why homeowners choose us for air purifier installs
James Heating repairs, installs and maintains the furnaces and heat pumps the purifier rides on, so we know what it adds and what it can't.
- Licensed to install it. ActivePure's manual calls for a licensed HVAC contractor or electrician, and we hold Oregon CCB #47396.
- A price before the work. You get a written price for the install and the cell before anything starts.
- Family-owned since 1983, with offices in Eugene and Salem.
- We answer 24/7 for heating and cooling emergencies.
Whole-home air purifier questions
What is a whole-home air purifier?
A whole-home air purifier is a device mounted in your ductwork that treats the air your furnace, heat pump or central AC moves through the house. Some types filter particles and others, like the Air Scrubber, treat odors and germs without trapping dust.
What does an Air Scrubber install cost?
We quote after looking at your system, with a written price before work starts. How many units your house needs, how easy the ductwork is to reach, whether the filter slot or airflow needs work first, and the replacement cell every two years all move the number. A tight crawlspace or attic takes longer than an open basement.
Will a whole-home air purifier help my allergies?
It isn't a proven allergy treatment. The EPA's evidence for allergy relief comes from portable air cleaners with high-efficiency particle filters, and even those studies don't always show big gains. A good furnace filter plus a bedroom air cleaner is the safer bet.
Will it work with my heat pump?
Yes, if the heat pump uses ducts. We install the Air Scrubber in the supply duct after the air handler, so it works with ducted heat pumps and gas furnaces alike. Ductless heat pumps have no ductwork to mount it in.
Is ActivePure the same as REME HALO?
No. Both mount in your ductwork and target odors and germs rather than catching dust, but different companies make them with different technology. Whichever brand you're offered, look up that exact model on CARB's certified list and ask whether it's validated to UL 2998.
Our whole-home air purifier service areas
Our local team handles the visit and the install.
What our customers say
"When I think of 'hassle Free' service, James Heating & AC is first on my list."
P. Rollins
"We appreciate your courteous and prompt service, it is so reassuring to know that we can depend on you to help us if we have problems."
The Richmonds
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Book an Air Scrubber install
Not sure whether you need a purifier or just a better filter? Describe the problem, and we'll tell you which one fits your house before we book anything. Call Eugene at (541) 461-2101 or Salem at (503) 581-9982, or send us a message.
Call Eugene at (541) 461-2101 or Salem at (503) 581-9982.
Oregon CCB #47396 · Family-owned since 1983 · Licensed, bonded and insured
