House duct cleaning vs dust allergy

Post by **June** » 24 Dec 2019, 16:17

matthew1 wrote: ↑24 Dec 2019, 16:03 Nice thinking. Not a bad idea.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! And thanks for being here, June!

Merry Christmas! I love Mike's big compressor. I feed a open spray nozzle on
a hose through my dryer vent a couple times a year to keep the lint out. That duct reminded me of a bigger version. June

Phainein7 · Post by **Phainein7** » 24 Dec 2019, 20:17

Oh, a converted Octopus furnace setup.

Cleaning those intake pipes real well is helpful. But, it appears an evaporator drain-pump has been added onto it. I'd venture to say bottom of evap pan, evap, and the drain-pump are thick with dirt/etc.

Just a guess, but furnace might be 75% efficient, and quite old. If same vintage AC unit, I'd remove its evaporator, and get a window AC unit when needed. I lived up in Loveland, and never had AC...open windows at night, closed during day:-)

I know its a pile of bucks, but furnace unit needs to be replaced.

I would suggest getting a carbon monoxide detector

Phainein7 · Post by **Phainein7** » 24 Dec 2019, 20:47

FWIW: Trane's 2009 tech literature, showing options like electronic filters.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Dec 2019, 10:16

Ok, lots of new info to report. The return plenum accepts two 16x20 and one 16x25 filter.

So I'll remove the current filter and outfit the plenum with its three. More CFM, better filtering.

Concerningly, I borrowed an air quality meter and the particle readings are very bad. "Very Unhealthy" level 150-250 PM2.5 and PM10 measurements. It's the 5th of 6 levels of increasing severity. There's only one level worse: Hazardous.

Phainein7 · Post by **Phainein7** » 26 Dec 2019, 11:14

matthew1 wrote: ↑26 Dec 2019, 10:16Hazardous.

Older and even newer carpets can be an issue; if so, steam cleaning might assist, along with cleaning all walls.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Dec 2019, 12:58

Phainein7 thanks. I'll steam clean the only rug we have. No carpets.

My friend here suggested it might be the kitty litter box in the basement. It has no dome. Just a deep big Rubbermaid thing.

I put my son at that same friend's house. I'm not having my son back here til I get these numbers down.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Dec 2019, 13:09

Phainein7 wrote: ↑24 Dec 2019, 20:17 Cleaning those intake pipes real well is helpful. But, it appears an evaporator drain-pump has been added onto it. I'd venture to say bottom of evap pan, evap, and the drain-pump are thick with dirt/etc.

Do you mean the black/white unit attached to the outside of the furnace, visible in the photos? It's for AC unit, correct? I'll clean it.

Phainein7 wrote: ↑24 Dec 2019, 20:17 Just a guess, but furnace might be 75% efficient, and quite old. If same vintage AC unit, I'd remove its evaporator, and get a window AC unit when needed. I lived up in Loveland, and never had AC...open windows at night, closed during day:-)

I know its a pile of bucks, but furnace unit needs to be replaced.

AC unit is outside, and isn't as old as the furnace, which is 2009. A 2009 furnace should still be good, right?

Phainein7 wrote: ↑24 Dec 2019, 20:17 I would suggest getting a carbon monoxide detector

Will do. Thanks again.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Dec 2019, 13:20

Large Hooded Litter Box coming in from Amazon.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Dec 2019, 15:35

Your contamination is mostly P2.5, remember P10 includes P2.5 unless your meter backs it out, see manual

Definitely check that condensate trap, pump, and pipes for mold. That’s where stuff is just dying to grow in that arid climate.

Your ducts don’t look bad. Can You get a look at the condenser evaporator with a borescope?

If your furnace was pumping that out you would be dead from CO. It’s not that.

Phainein7 · Post by **Phainein7** » 26 Dec 2019, 15:41

matthew1 wrote: ↑26 Dec 2019, 12:58kitty litter box

"Owning a pet with a coat of hair comes with health risks. Your dog or cat shedding is probably a nuisance when you clean, but that hair has a slightly more sinister impact on your air quality. Pet dander is extremely tiny pieces of skin that any pet with hair sheds along with its hair. If someone is allergic to that particulate animal, the pet dander is what triggers a reaction. Beyond the dander itself, allergens such as saliva, urine, and feces can trigger allergic reactions. If a pet licks itself and that air and skin is then shed, the pet dander can carry the allergens along with it."

RE: "black/white unit"

Yes

RE: "2009 furnace"

Usually good for twenty years or so. "Trane offers a 20-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger," so a carbon monoxide detector should not be needed, in theory.

I know they knock up prices on 90+ efficient furnaces, but with yours, the exhaust ductwork will be sucking inside air when running, and also when not running, air will draft up exhaust pipe. More efficient furnaces suck in outdoor air in for combustion.

RE: AC's Evaporator Unit

Might ask how the professions clean that, after all of your efforts.

House duct cleaning vs dust allergy

Re: House duct cleaning vs dust allergy