Q) The filters make a popping sound and show sparks when I plug them in. Is there something wrong?
A) This is perfectly normal. The filters are always-on and attract the high frequency energy to them, so when you are inserting them it is completely normal to see and hear sparks or arcing. It is safe and nothing to worry about.
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Q) Is there a whole-house filter that can install by the breaker panel, so that I don't have to use individual small filters throughout the house?
A) When Dave Stetzer and Dr. Martin Graham were developing the Stetzerizer filters, one of the first things they tried was a larger centralized filter placed at the main breaker panel of the house. This helped alleviate the problem, but it was not as effective as placing smaller filters throughout the house on the different circuits.
The reason for this is that the filters work best when they are placed closest to the various sources of dirty electricity (high frequencies). Examples of typical sources are: computers, TVs, dimmer switches, compact fluorescent or regular tube fluorescent lights, LED lights, high powered motors like vacuums and blenders, variable frequency motors like modern furnaces/AC units, dehumidifiers, sometimes refrigerators, and much more. You can identify a device or appliance as a source by using the Stetzerizer Microsurge Meter and plugging it into the same outlet (remove any nearby filters while measuring) and then turning the device in question on/off or plugging it in and unplugging it.
We have tested filters made for other uses and have found that nothing works as well as the Stetzerizer filters. Often times customers will install Stetzerizer filters near their main breaker panel. For information and instructions on that, click here.
But the filters work much better when installed properly - throughout the home in each room and when there is a source of dirty electricity then it's best to put 1 or 2 filters into the same outlet or power strip as that device that is producing dirty electricity.
We have not found any other type of filter that we recommend using yet. The Stetzerizer filters work far better and are usually much less expensive than whole house filters.
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Q) I install a filter, but the reading doesn't go down to 30 or below. What can I do?
A) The first filter you install will bring the reading down the most. So if you are starting at 500 G/S units on the meter for example, one filter may bring it down to 50. 50 is still higher than (we recommend 30 or below is good, and the back of the meter says 25 or below is ideal) we'd like to see. Try installing another filter at the same location. You may need to use an outlet adapter that plugs into one plug and gives you 3 empty plugs, just while testing to allow you to have 2 filters plus the meter plugged in at the same time.
The easy rule to remember is the 20% rule. Anytime we plug in a filter we want to see at least a 20% reduction. So if you are at 50 with 1 filter, try installing another. If it goes down to 40 or lower, then that is a good 20% or more reduction, so leave the filter. If it goes down only to 48 for example, the filter is probably better used somewhere else. Sometimes you will run into a wall where you can't seem to get it any lower. You can try installing a few extra filters to see if you can breakthrough, and sometimes you can, but not always. You can also consider installing filters by your main circuit breaker.
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Q) My meter displays a 1 or a 0 or doesn't display anything when I plug it in.
A) Your meter has "maxed-out" which means the reading on the line you are plugged into is over 2000 (two thousand) and the meter is unable to display it. When you install a filter on that line, it should immediately come into a readable area, most likely under 100 G/S units.
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Q) My filters make a buzzing or humming sound. Are they defective?
A) This is rare, but is nothing to worry about. Your filters are not defective. Some people may notice a slight hum or buzz of the filters. This is caused by certain frequencies on the line that are most likely coming from your utility company (the electrical grid). The particular frequencies are just right to make the filter(s) resonate with them.
This can sometimes be alleviated by adding more filters. If the hum is very loud, you should definitely add more filters and ensure that all your circuits with plugs have at least 1 or 2 filters on them. There are sometimes other things that can be done as well. Dimmer switches and some other types of lighting can cause a hum. Contact us if you need help with this issue.
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Q) When I install a filter in my kitchen, the reading in the outlet goes down, but the reading in another outlet goes up. Why is this??
A) This can be caused by improper wiring in your home. Sometimes multiple circuits share the same neutral return, causing an imbalanced load. Under these conditions you could have the reading in an outlet go up. Some other things can cause this too. Try installing more filters at the problem site and this usually solves things. Look for the best combination of filters to reduce the readings everywhere as low as possible.
We have not found any other type of filter that we recommend using yet. The Stetzerizer filters work far better and are usually much less expensive than whole house filters.
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Q) I install a filter, but the reading doesn't go down to 30 or below. What can I do?
A) The first filter you install will bring the reading down the most. So if you are starting at 500 G/S units on the meter for example, one filter may bring it down to 50. 50 is still higher than (we recommend 30 or below is good, and the back of the meter says 25 or below is ideal) we'd like to see. Try installing another filter at the same location. You may need to use an outlet adapter that plugs into one plug and gives you 3 empty plugs, just while testing to allow you to have 2 filters plus the meter plugged in at the same time.
The easy rule to remember is the 20% rule. Anytime we plug in a filter we want to see at least a 20% reduction. So if you are at 50 with 1 filter, try installing another. If it goes down to 40 or lower, then that is a good 20% or more reduction, so leave the filter. If it goes down only to 48 for example, the filter is probably better used somewhere else. Sometimes you will run into a wall where you can't seem to get it any lower. You can try installing a few extra filters to see if you can breakthrough, and sometimes you can, but not always. You can also consider installing filters by your main circuit breaker.
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Q) My meter displays a 1 or a 0 or doesn't display anything when I plug it in.
A) Your meter has "maxed-out" which means the reading on the line you are plugged into is over 2000 (two thousand) and the meter is unable to display it. When you install a filter on that line, it should immediately come into a readable area, most likely under 100 G/S units.
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Q) My filters make a buzzing or humming sound. Are they defective?
A) This is rare, but is nothing to worry about. Your filters are not defective. Some people may notice a slight hum or buzz of the filters. This is caused by certain frequencies on the line that are most likely coming from your utility company (the electrical grid). The particular frequencies are just right to make the filter(s) resonate with them.
This can sometimes be alleviated by adding more filters. If the hum is very loud, you should definitely add more filters and ensure that all your circuits with plugs have at least 1 or 2 filters on them. There are sometimes other things that can be done as well. Dimmer switches and some other types of lighting can cause a hum. Contact us if you need help with this issue.
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Q) When I install a filter in my kitchen, the reading in the outlet goes down, but the reading in another outlet goes up. Why is this??
A) This can be caused by improper wiring in your home. Sometimes multiple circuits share the same neutral return, causing an imbalanced load. Under these conditions you could have the reading in an outlet go up. Some other things can cause this too. Try installing more filters at the problem site and this usually solves things. Look for the best combination of filters to reduce the readings everywhere as low as possible.