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QUESTION:I have been doing some research about cleaning out my heat vents. I
have allergies real bad and I am allergic to house dust so I believe
that I ill benefit from having this done. I always like doing things
myself instead of paying someone one else.
I have a crazy idea that I would like to run across and maybe get
some comments to see if this might work.
I was thinking of using my shop vac and placing the hose through a
board that is cut to fit the vents right behind the furnace
filter(filter removed) to get a air tight fit. then tape up all of my
vents through out the house. Then start at one of the vents from up
stairs and slowly feed a air line (hooked up to a air compressor) into
the vent as far as it will go,then tape that vent up and go to another
one. After doing all of the vents do you think there will be a big
improvement? Do you think a shop vac will have a strong enough suction
to pull the dust down two stories? after I am done I was even thinking
of cutting a piece of the black charcoal filters that I use in my air
purifier behind each one of my vents. Do you think that my blower on my
furnace will be strong enough to force the air through all of the
filters that is behind the vents? Or do you think this will cause damage
to my furnace?
ANSWER: I believe you would be far better off to hire a company to do the duct
cleaning - and you stay out of the house until it is done. The last thing
you should be doing is exposing yourself to a bunch of dust swirling around.
The company should offer a truck mounted vacuum with brushes that sweep the
insides of the ducts.
o.k. - that cleans the ducts - but in no time the dust is going to return
unless you have:
Central Vac - Exhausted outside. If you don't have this then you are
re-circulating dust every time you vacuum. Sure, some vacuums - like the
Rainbow - filter through water - but central vac beats them all for suction.
Once installed - don't be using your shop vac. indoors.
Fresh Air inlet to house with filter. Typically a 6" pipe running to your
furnace room (in older houses conected to the return air duct). Put some
velcro around the opening & buy some polyester 'batting' at a fabric store
to use as a cheap disposable filter. Outside 'fresh' air has dust in it.
Electrostatic filter on the furnace - catches fine particles (be sure you
maintain it properly)
Oil media filter on the furnace - This is normally used in commercial
installations - it is a filter frame with a metal screen on one side with
polyester batting (the same material you used for the fresh air inlet
filter). The "incoming air" surface of the padding is sprayed with a
'filter oil' - buy it at your heating contactor outlet. This filter will
trap additional crud. I have one of these - AFTER - my electrostatic
filter - and even so - this filter gets dirty over time with stuff that
passed throug the electrostatic filter. Ideally this filter would be placed
before the electrostatic filter. Get your heating contractor to measure the
bonnet temperature after this is installed - as it restricts air flow - so
you may have to go to a higher fan speed to compensate.
Central Air - which extracts humidity - and fine dust particles (when the
plenum coil gets cold - moisture in the air condenses on it and the dust is
trapped in this moisture - ending up in the A/C drain).
Have you removed your rugs? Big breeding ground of allergens.
Well, now that I've spent all your money - time for you to do some research
on the web - for additional suggestions.
Of course you could always move to Winnipeg - not much pollen here for 6
months of the year -- when its 30 below.
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