threeputt
Well-known member
I found it best to just delete message
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Another home air condition question
- Thread starter threeputt
- Start date
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Dust doesn't come out of the ducts unless the insulation is deteriorating. If you have additional filters on the supply registers all you're doing is reducing air flow, which may eventually freeze up the evaporator. Get yourself a good filter with a high efficiency rating in the proper return location & change it frequently.
IMO, mechanical brush style cleaning internally insulated duct work is just asking to have the insulation destroyed. If it was still intact before the duct cleaning, I can almost guarantee it won't be afterwords. If you have mold growing in your ductwork, you have other problems with the system.
Tommy
IMO, mechanical brush style cleaning internally insulated duct work is just asking to have the insulation destroyed. If it was still intact before the duct cleaning, I can almost guarantee it won't be afterwords. If you have mold growing in your ductwork, you have other problems with the system.
Tommy
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southalabama
Well-known member
From what I've read carpet contributes more dust than ac units. Some people with extreme allergies go to laminate flooring. Also frequent changing of bed linen. I don't know if this is an issue for you.
I doubt the ac drain plays any significant role in your allergies. Frequent changing of your filters is important. Quality filters.
I doubt the ac drain plays any significant role in your allergies. Frequent changing of your filters is important. Quality filters.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Get a tinknocker shop to build new all metal ducts that can be wrapped on the outside. A friend in Wisconsin built a new house a number of years ago, and that is how their ductwork was done, it is a work of art and flows air wonderfully. Here in the south, everyone wants to use insulated flex duct and no one seems to know how to make real ducts any more. Other issue is to get a HEPA filter installed (which will take a different, larger, filter housing) and also consider an electronic air filter built into the system. A friend in the mid '80's had a son with allergies and when they built a new house, they had the electronic air filter installed. He said that he could tell when it needed cleaning out, as everyone in the house started having runny eyes and sneezing. They didn't realize how much it did for them, until it didn't work right.
If you have a pet, say goodbye, because they are a huge source of dander (fine dust) and hair and dust mites and believe it or not, cats have a protein in their saliva that many people are allergic to. When they clean the protein gets on their fur and then the dried saliva flakes off as dander and that is where cat allergies come from. Russian Siberians do not have this protein in their saliva (hypo allergenic cat).
Its only been in the past 15 years or so that vehicles have cabin air filters, and since no one reads their owners manual, and shops don't seem to upsell the customer on them, many never get changed. The one in my '04 Vibe (built in late '03) was original when I bought it in Sept '11.
Charles
If you have a pet, say goodbye, because they are a huge source of dander (fine dust) and hair and dust mites and believe it or not, cats have a protein in their saliva that many people are allergic to. When they clean the protein gets on their fur and then the dried saliva flakes off as dander and that is where cat allergies come from. Russian Siberians do not have this protein in their saliva (hypo allergenic cat).
Its only been in the past 15 years or so that vehicles have cabin air filters, and since no one reads their owners manual, and shops don't seem to upsell the customer on them, many never get changed. The one in my '04 Vibe (built in late '03) was original when I bought it in Sept '11.
Charles
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Replacing the ductwork may open up a can of worms due to the dust that will be disturbed when it is ripped out, it might be worth having a company that does mold remediation or asbestos abatement use their equipment to contain the dust as much as possible.
New steel ductwork will have the least potential for mold growth and is cleanable if needed, I would recommend sealing the whole system with mastic but if you're sensitive to anything in the mastic you may need to stay out of the house until it has fully cured.
A good media filter with a high merv rating seems like a must and this is a case that I might consider UV lights as well.
If VOCs are a concern Lennox makes a filter called the Pureair that uses a special catalyst along with UV lights to reduce them.
When it's all said and done up may or may not see a major change in your symptoms depending on how much the A/C system is contributing to the problem. As an HVAC guy I would offer no guarantee that it would help.
New steel ductwork will have the least potential for mold growth and is cleanable if needed, I would recommend sealing the whole system with mastic but if you're sensitive to anything in the mastic you may need to stay out of the house until it has fully cured.
A good media filter with a high merv rating seems like a must and this is a case that I might consider UV lights as well.
If VOCs are a concern Lennox makes a filter called the Pureair that uses a special catalyst along with UV lights to reduce them.
When it's all said and done up may or may not see a major change in your symptoms depending on how much the A/C system is contributing to the problem. As an HVAC guy I would offer no guarantee that it would help.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Forgot to mention, since you have a basement that is not conditioned air, get a humidifier for it. That should help. Also, get the air in the basement tested for Radon.
Charles
Charles
finn
Well-known member
If it is that bad, consider moving to a place with a more suitable climate.
nobody says you have to live in a climate where mold propagates.
nobody says you have to live in a climate where mold propagates.
get the air in the basement tested for Radon ? How would I go about that ? I also understand from a AC tech that no promise of replacing the ducts would solve all problems. The one thing that worries me is this house had a dirt floor until about 1980 when I had it poured with concrete. I bought this house in 1973. It has leaked in the past year so I know mold might be present. We cleaned it up within 24 hours after the flood but lots of water got in. I paid a man lots of money years ago to fix this problem several years ago but it did not last. Maybe I need to find another place to live. The symptoms of allergies I suffer from is low energy, headaches and general do not feel like doing much. I though starting with the AC ducts might be a start
http://www.walmart.com/ip/First-Alert-Home-Radon-Test-Kit-Model-RD1/10848835
There are also mold test kits.
If you have mold and/or radon problems there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
The first place to start is by testing.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Does not look good. I removed a vent in the basement and took some pictures. Now, the tech that came to my house last fall said everything looked good. This is why I trust nobody. Here is the inside of ducts
I see no signs of mold. Other than the low quality installation, things look pretty normal to me. I have seen cleaner ductwork...
Tommy
nochina1966
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 2, 2014
- Messages
- 144
I once had a lady who would run out of her house thinking she was having a heart attack when the air was running. Air handler and ductwork were in the attic. When we got there to do the cleaning and sealing the inside of the ducts with porter paint with ' Intersept' , we found that the return air ducts in the attic had major leaks near the intake.Didnt help that her pest control guy dusted the whole attic including covering the A/H. We did the whole job with full Ty-Vak suits and full-face respirators, cleaned and sanitized then sealed the fibre-glass interior, and Mastic sealed all the exterior rips. She wrote a letter to the company saying we probably saved her life....pretty scary what's out there.
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