Is the Lennox PureAir S worth it?
It's worth it if odors and chemical smells bother you as much as dust, because PureAir pairs a MERV 16 filter with a UV lamp and catalyst stage aimed at odors and vapors. For dust, dander and pollen alone, a MERV 13 or 16 media cabinet does most of the job for less.
Key points
- PureAir combines Lennox's Carbon Clean 16 (MERV 16) filter with a UVA lamp and a titanium-dioxide PCO cartridge.
- Lennox says the PCO stage breaks odors and chemical vapors down into carbon dioxide and water, and that the system produces no ozone.
- Lennox rates the filter for up to 12 months and the lamp and PCO cartridge at 12 months each.
- PureAir S adds sensors that report filter and lamp life through a Lennox communicating thermostat; standard PureAir works with any system type.
- For dust and allergies alone, a MERV 13 or 16 media cabinet does most of the job for less.
The Lennox PureAir S is worth it when odors and chemical smells bother you as much as dust. It pairs a MERV 16 filter with a UV lamp and a catalyst cartridge aimed at cooking, pet and chemical smells, and Lennox says it produces no ozone. If dust, dander and pollen are the whole problem, a MERV 13 or 16 media cabinet does most of the job for less money and one replacement part a year. And if the smells come from new flooring or paint in a tight house, fresh air from a ventilator is the first fix, not a better filter.
That matters in a Minnesota house, where the windows stay shut from November to April and cooking and pet smells hang around for days. This post covers what's in the box, what Lennox claims for it, what it costs to keep running, and who we think it fits.
How does Lennox PureAir clean the air?
Lennox describes PureAir as a three-step process:
- Filtration. A Lennox Healthy Climate Carbon Clean 16 filter, rated MERV 16, captures particles and bioaerosols. Lennox says it catches them as small as 0.01 micron.
- The catalyst. Air then passes through a PCO (photocatalytic oxidation) cartridge coated with titanium dioxide.
- The light. A UVA lamp shines on the cartridge. Lennox says the light and catalyst together break odors and chemical vapors down into carbon dioxide and water.
Lennox also says the carbon in the filter reacts with odors and that the system as a whole reduces ozone. The lamp is labeled as containing mercury.
There are two versions. PureAir is listed by Lennox as compatible with all HVAC system types. PureAir S is built for Lennox's communicating systems and its iComfort smart thermostats: sensors track the life of the filter and the UVA lamp and alert you on the thermostat when it's time to replace them.
What Lennox claims, and how to read it
From Lennox's product pages:
- Particles: up to 95% down to 0.3 micron and up to 99.99% down to 3 microns, based on ASHRAE 52.2 test conditions. That lines up with MERV 16, which by definition has to catch at least 95% in every test band.
- Viruses: Lennox says the Carbon Clean 16 filter removes over 99% of the virus that causes COVID-19 from the air, based on third-party testing with a bacteriophage used as a stand-in for virus-sized particles.
- Ozone: zero ozone produced, and ozone already in the home reduced, based on third-party testing.
- Scope: Lennox calls it the only single indoor air quality system that addresses all three classes of indoor contaminants: particles, bioaerosols, and odors and chemical vapors.
The particle numbers can be checked against the MERV standard. The odor and chemical-vapor side can't, because there's no equivalent of a MERV rating printed on the box for that. You're relying on Lennox's description and testing there, which is normal for this category but worth knowing.
PureAir vs other options
| Option | Particles | Odors and vapors | Parts to replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media cabinet, MERV 13 | Good for dust, dander, pollen | Little, unless you use a carbon filter | Filter |
| Lennox Carbon Clean 16 cabinet | MERV 16 | Some, from the carbon in the filter | Filter |
| Lennox PureAir or PureAir S | MERV 16 | Carbon plus the UV and PCO stage | Filter, lamp, PCO cartridge |
| Coil UV light | None | None; keeps the AC coil clean | Lamp |
| HRV or ERV | None | Dilutes them with outdoor air | Filters, core cleaning |
Two notes on that table. First, a plain media cabinet is still the backbone for dust and allergies; our Aprilaire 5000 vs 2000 series post compares two common ones. Second, for chemical smells from new flooring, paint or furniture, fresh air comes first. A tight house with no mechanical ventilation will hold those smells no matter what's on the furnace; see ERV vs HRV. A coil UV light solves a different problem entirely, which our post on UV lights for HVAC covers.
Match the equipment to the complaint
| Main complaint | Usually the best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dust back on furniture in a day or two | MERV 13 media cabinet | Catches the particles; one filter a year |
| Allergies or asthma | MERV 13 or 16 media, if the airflow allows | Fine particles are the target |
| Cooking or pet odors that linger | PureAir, or a carbon filter plus ventilation | Odors are gases, which plain media barely touches |
| Smell from new flooring or paint | An HRV or ERV first | Dilution with outdoor air does the heavy lifting |
| Dry skin and static shocks | A whole-home humidifier | No air cleaner adds moisture |
| Musty smell when the AC starts | Clean the coil and drain, maybe a coil UV light | The smell usually lives on the coil |
Does PureAir make more sense in a Minnesota house?
A few local facts shift the math. Winter is when the house holds its smells longest, so the odor stage earns more of its keep here than in a mild climate. Summers bring days when wildfire smoke settles over the state, and the fine particles in smoke are where a MERV 16 filter beats cheaper media; on those days, set the thermostat fan to run continuously so more air passes through it. Newer, tighter houses built with balanced ventilation already have a way to dilute odors, which lowers the value of the PCO stage. And no air cleaner fixes January dryness; that's a whole-home humidifier job.
How often do Lennox PureAir parts need replacing?
Lennox rates the Carbon Clean 16 filter for up to 12 months and both the PCO cartridge and the UVA lamp at 12 months. Lennox sells replacement kits, and for PureAir S, standalone filter, lamp and cartridge parts. Budget for all three every year, not just the filter. Recycle the old lamp.
Lennox lists a 5-year limited warranty on covered components for PureAir and a 10-year limited warranty for PureAir S. Check the current terms and any registration requirement when it's installed.
National cost guides don't break out PureAir specifically. The closest category, UV-plus-filter hybrid systems, runs a typical $1,200–$3,000 installed nationally according to HomeGuide, compared with $400–$800 for a basic media cabinet and $400–$800 for a stand-alone UV light. Our own installed range for indoor air quality equipment is $350–$2,800, quoted flat-rate in writing before any work. The cheapest time to add any cabinet is during a furnace replacement in Saint Paul or anywhere else we work, since the return plenum is being rebuilt anyway.
Before you buy
- Name the problem. Dust, allergies, odors or dryness each point to different equipment.
- Measure static pressure. Any MERV 16 filter restricts more air than a MERV 11, and a starved return makes the furnace run hot and can ice the AC coil.
- Check the space. The cabinet goes in the return right before the furnace and needs room to slide parts out.
- Pick the version. PureAir S only makes sense on a Lennox communicating system with its thermostat.
- Plan for the yearly parts. Filter, lamp and cartridge, every year.
Who is Lennox PureAir a good fit for?
A good fit:
- Households where cooking, pet or chemical odors are the main complaint.
- Allergy or asthma households that want MERV 16 filtration and are willing to handle the yearly parts.
- Owners of a Lennox communicating system who'd use the PureAir S's filter and lamp tracking.
Probably not:
- Houses where dust, dander and pollen are the whole problem. A MERV 13 or 16 cabinet covers that for less; our MERV guide explains the ratings.
- Systems with a starved return. Lennox says its MERV 16 filters have the lowest airflow restriction in their class, but any MERV 16 filter restricts more than a MERV 11. We measure static pressure before recommending one.
We service Lennox systems along with every other major brand, and our air purification service covers media cabinets, electronic air cleaners and UV lights. If you're weighing a new Lennox furnace at the same time, our Lennox furnace comparison covers the lineup.
What to do next
Decide what's actually bothering you: dust, allergies, odors or dryness. That points to the right equipment faster than any brochure. If you want the airflow checked or your current air cleaner looked at, call 612-429-3465, any day from 7am to 9pm. For repair calls, the $79 trip charge is waived when you approve the repair.
Questions
Does the Lennox PureAir produce ozone?
Lennox says no. It states that PureAir produces zero ozone and actively reduces ozone already in the home, citing third-party testing from 2018. That's a real difference from ionizing air cleaners, which EPA says can generate ozone and other by-products unless specific precautions are taken.
Can PureAir go on a non-Lennox furnace?
Lennox lists the standard PureAir as compatible with all HVAC system types. The PureAir S's sensing features need a communicating Lennox system and its smart thermostat. Either version needs room in the return for the cabinet and enough airflow for a MERV 16 filter, so static pressure should be checked first.
How often do PureAir parts need replacing?
Lennox rates the Carbon Clean 16 filter for up to 12 months, and the UVA lamp and PCO cartridge at 12 months each. The PureAir S tracks filter and lamp life based on actual use and reports it on the thermostat. The lamp contains mercury, so recycle it rather than tossing it in the trash.
Is PureAir worth it just for allergies?
For pollen, dust and pet dander alone, a MERV 13 or MERV 16 media cabinet handles most of what matters, costs less to buy, and needs one part a year. PureAir's extra value is the odor and chemical-vapor stage. If smells aren't part of the problem, you're paying for a feature you won't notice.
Sources
- HomeGuide cost guides (2026 editions) homeguide.com