Dust

RockerGuy

RockerGuy

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Does anybody get dust in their homes during the winter months?

I have a filter in my furnace but it appears its not trapping it at all. I tried fiddling with the controls to have the blower fan come on more often, but that doesnt seem to be an option. Down in the furnace room, there is a switch that says "auto" and "on" for the fan, but is there a way where I can have the fan run for 2-3hrs a day to filter the air?

I have an ionising air purifier in my room, doesnt seem to do much.
 
1) Get a really big plastic bag.

2) climb inside it.

3) Seal it.

Voila, no more dust.
 
RockerGuy said:
Does anybody get dust in their homes during the winter months?

I have a filter in my furnace but it appears its not trapping it at all. I tried fiddling with the controls to have the blower fan come on more often, but that doesnt seem to be an option. Down in the furnace room, there is a switch that says "auto" and "on" for the fan, but is there a way where I can have the fan run for 2-3hrs a day to filter the air?

I have an ionising air purifier in my room, doesnt seem to do much.
Click to expand...

Electronic air cleaners do a good job, as long as they're clean. As far as running the fan for a few hours a day - I haven't seen one but there should be a thermostat available with that function because most you can turn the fan on and off manually.
 
01cbr said:
If you really wanted to run the fan for a few hours a day you could wire in a timer.
Click to expand...

Is that a specialty timer? What would i be looking at?

Sent from my tablet using my paws
 
RockerGuy said:
Does anybody get dust in their homes during the winter months?

I have a filter in my furnace but it appears its not trapping it at all. I tried fiddling with the controls to have the blower fan come on more often, but that doesnt seem to be an option. Down in the furnace room, there is a switch that says "auto" and "on" for the fan, but is there a way where I can have the fan run for 2-3hrs a day to filter the air?

I have an ionising air purifier in my room, doesnt seem to do much.
Click to expand...

Make sure your return ducts aren't blocked by furniture.

When was the last time you had your ducts cleaned?

Make sure doors and windows have a good seal.

All of these things will lower your heating bill as well.
 
RockerGuy said:
Does anybody get dust in their homes during the winter months?
Down in the furnace room, there is a switch that says "auto" and "on" for the fan, but is there a way where I can have the fan run for 2-3hrs a day to filter the air?
Click to expand...

I have one of these:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...rogrammable+Low+Volt+Thermostat.jsp?locale=en

It has a "circulate" mode that comes on at random times when the a/c - furnace is not running.

If you have floor vents - get some of these:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...ststop+Airduct+Polyester+Filter.jsp?locale=en
 
Are you also running a cool mist humidifier (or does your air purifier have a humidifier function)? If you use regular tap water they will put out mineralized water mist, and you might notice the minerals collecting on electronic equipment like TVs. It looks like a really fine white dust. Use distilled water instead of tap water to avoid this.
 
Get a dog. You won't notice the dust for all the hairs around. JK

I run my fan continuously on low. It might cost a bit, but it also helps to distribute the heat from the wood stove to the rest of the house.
 
I've been having this issue as well.. Two weeks ago replaced the furnace filter - my issue was that the intake/return lines had a lot of dust around them....a good vacuum....two weeks later very little dust.

There are expensive filters...$26 for two or three...made by 3M? They are suppose to filter better....you can try that.

How about this? https://www.oreckcanada.ca/index.asp - "1 Payment of $459.95 and FREE Shipping &Processing"
 
frekeyguy said:
I've been having this issue as well.. Two weeks ago replaced the furnace filter - my issue was that the intake/return lines had a lot of dust around them....a good vacuum....two weeks later very little dust.

There are expensive filters...$26 for two or three...made by 3M? They are suppose to filter better....you can try that.

How about this? https://www.oreckcanada.ca/index.asp - "1 Payment of $459.95 and FREE Shipping &Processing"
Click to expand...

Does that even work, lol

Sent from my phone using my paws
 
The filter on your furnace is only meant to keep the furnace components from getting too dusty, not to clean the air in your house. Don't use those ****** floor register filters; they don't help as much as you might think. They mainly restrict airflow which reduces the efficiency of your furnace and can cause it to over heat.

If you want to get rid of dust, the electronic air cleaner is the best option. It has electrically charged wires which attract all the dust and dirt in the air and zaps them. If you or your family members have allergies, it also helps reduce pollen and other allergens during allergy season. You can also clean them yourself in the dishwasher or laundry tub (never have to buy a filter). The catch is that they are very expensive ($800-1000).

The most economical option is to have an electrostatic air filter installed. They sort of look like blinds and come in various thicknesses. As the air passes through them they develop static electricity which helps attract the dust particles. Some of them are washable with oil and a brush but eventually they get plugged up enough that you have to replace them. Canadian tire won't have these, and you might also have to have someone install a new filter box upstream of the furnace (might require a bit of ductwork modification).

Ash said:
Are you also running a cool mist humidifier (or does your air purifier have a humidifier function)? If you use regular tap water they will put out mineralized water mist, and you might notice the minerals collecting on electronic equipment like TVs. It looks like a really fine white dust. Use distilled water instead of tap water to avoid this.
Click to expand...

Maybe the humidifier is also dirty.
 
Some homes will be naturally more dusty than others. My old apartment was nearly unbearable.

It's a tedious chore, but I've found regular vacuuming does well to keep dust at a minimum. That, and a humidifier to keep the dry air from carrying all the dust around
 
RockerGuy said:
Does anybody get dust in their homes during the winter months?

I have a filter in my furnace but it appears its not trapping it at all. I tried fiddling with the controls to have the blower fan come on more often, but that doesnt seem to be an option. Down in the furnace room, there is a switch that says "auto" and "on" for the fan, but is there a way where I can have the fan run for 2-3hrs a day to filter the air?

I have an ionising air purifier in my room, doesnt seem to do much.
Click to expand...

For the filter in your furnace to be effective, you need as much air circulation as possible and a filter medium that can trap the dust particles. Some recommend running the fan around the clock all year round. It is a low pressure system and it does not have a lot of draw on the intake so you will need to run it longer to get the sort of air cleaning you want. It also depends on where the air intake (the cold air return) is located. Ideally it is in the centre of the house and depending on the size of the house and the number of floors, it may be a good idea to have more than one.

Oddly enough, an fan motor that runs year round will tend to last longer than one that is only run during the winters. Any equipment that sits unused for a long time goes through more stress at startup than if it is used frequently.

As well, you need effective filters, the thicker and denser the better. And once a filter is clogged, it will need to be replaced. Your best bet is to call in a HVAC professional and have them assess the air flow throughout the house and, as part of the yearly furnace maintenance, get them to look at the the filter installation and see what can be done to increase the filter's effectiveness.

Portable air cleaners may help but clearly, if the cleaner is in one part of the house, it is not going to be much use for other rooms that are far away. You may need multiple air cleaners.
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