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Where is all the dust coming from? Julie 09-16-2007
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Posted by Julie on September 17, 2007, 6:04 pm
trainfan1 wrote:
> Julie wrote:
>
>>>> I don't use the central AC because I suspect there's dust in the
>>>> ductwork so
>>
>> We had an electrostatic filter for our previous house but there's no
>> way to install one with these units.
>>
>
> If you don't have a filter in your central A/C, this may be part of your
> problem too. If there's a filter, you can order an electrostatic one to
> fit the existing cut-out.
>
> How about humidity? Where/how do you maintain it?
>
> Rob

The humidity was 55% (I have a hygrometer). I thought that was rather
high and the electrical bill was incredibly large. After I got the first
electrical bill, I raised the temperature to 84 degrees.

I called in a respected HVAC company and they fully checked, oiled,
cleaned everything and charged the Freon. I was there right next to him
the entire time.

I replaced the filters with a much higher quality brand. When all was
said and done, the humidity was still 55%, the electrical bills were
huge and the dust something awful.

I bought Energy Star compliant window A/C's. Humidity dropped down to
43-47% and I was able to keep the house at 72-78 degrees (depending upon
how hot and sunny it was). My electrical bill dropped to near nothing
(relatively speaking). The window A/C's paid themselves off within 2
months.

While I was at it, I added attic fans and cut out a whole bunch of
soffit vents (nice and neatly, thank you) to increase air ingress. That
dropped the temperature of the attic from over 160 to 110 degrees. I
can now store non-temperature sensitive items in the attic. It's
incredibly stupid to have a central AC in the attic when it's as hot as
it is down here in the South.

Since I was on a roll, I thought a relatively easy way to keep a house
cooler was to paint it a much lighter color (increased albedo) which I
did in the early spring. The outside walls are now cool to the touch on
blistering hot and sunny days.

I think I just went tangential in this post.

Posted by trainfan1 on September 17, 2007, 6:59 pm
Julie wrote:
> trainfan1 wrote:
>> Julie wrote:
>>
>>>>> I don't use the central AC because I suspect there's dust in the
>>>>> ductwork so
>>>
>>> We had an electrostatic filter for our previous house but there's no
>>> way to install one with these units.
>>>
>>
>> If you don't have a filter in your central A/C, this may be part of
>> your problem too. If there's a filter, you can order an electrostatic
>> one to fit the existing cut-out.
>>
>> How about humidity? Where/how do you maintain it?
>>
>> Rob
>
> The humidity was 55% (I have a hygrometer). I thought that was rather
> high and the electrical bill was incredibly large. After I got the first
> electrical bill, I raised the temperature to 84 degrees.
>
> I called in a respected HVAC company and they fully checked, oiled,
> cleaned everything and charged the Freon. I was there right next to him
> the entire time.
>
> I replaced the filters with a much higher quality brand. When all was
> said and done, the humidity was still 55%, the electrical bills were
> huge and the dust something awful.
>
> I bought Energy Star compliant window A/C's. Humidity dropped down to
> 43-47% and I was able to keep the house at 72-78 degrees (depending upon
> how hot and sunny it was). My electrical bill dropped to near nothing
> (relatively speaking). The window A/C's paid themselves off within 2
> months.
>
> While I was at it, I added attic fans

DING DING DING there you go. You're moving a lot of air above your head
with those attic fans...

Rob


and cut out a whole bunch of
> soffit vents (nice and neatly, thank you) to increase air ingress. That
> dropped the temperature of the attic from over 160 to 110 degrees. I
> can now store non-temperature sensitive items in the attic. It's
> incredibly stupid to have a central AC in the attic when it's as hot as
> it is down here in the South.
>
> Since I was on a roll, I thought a relatively easy way to keep a house
> cooler was to paint it a much lighter color (increased albedo) which I
> did in the early spring. The outside walls are now cool to the touch on
> blistering hot and sunny days.
>
> I think I just went tangential in this post.

Posted by Ken on September 18, 2007, 8:25 am
trainfan1 wrote:
> Julie wrote:
>> trainfan1 wrote:
>>> Julie wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> I don't use the central AC because I suspect there's dust in the
>>>>>> ductwork so
>>>>
>>>> We had an electrostatic filter for our previous house but there's no
>>>> way to install one with these units.
>>>>
>>>
>>> If you don't have a filter in your central A/C, this may be part of
>>> your problem too. If there's a filter, you can order an
>>> electrostatic one to fit the existing cut-out.
>>>
>>> How about humidity? Where/how do you maintain it?
>>>
>>> Rob
>>
>> The humidity was 55% (I have a hygrometer). I thought that was rather
>> high and the electrical bill was incredibly large. After I got the
>> first electrical bill, I raised the temperature to 84 degrees.
>>
>> I called in a respected HVAC company and they fully checked, oiled,
>> cleaned everything and charged the Freon. I was there right next to
>> him the entire time.
>>
>> I replaced the filters with a much higher quality brand. When all was
>> said and done, the humidity was still 55%, the electrical bills were
>> huge and the dust something awful.
>>
>> I bought Energy Star compliant window A/C's. Humidity dropped down to
>> 43-47% and I was able to keep the house at 72-78 degrees (depending
>> upon how hot and sunny it was). My electrical bill dropped to near
>> nothing (relatively speaking). The window A/C's paid themselves off
>> within 2 months.
>>
>> While I was at it, I added attic fans
>
> DING DING DING there you go. You're moving a lot of air above your head
> with those attic fans...
>
> Rob

        You are correct about the movement of air in the attic, but the
ductwork should not be pulling any of that air into the house unless
they are leaking. My home has the air handlers in the attic and I also
use attic fans in order to keep the attic temperature reasonable. I can
tell you that many so called HVAC pros do not take all the necessary
steps to seal the units or the ductwork. But that is a long story.

        If it were my home, I would turn on the furnace blower and check for
air leaks in the attic. She may be shocked at what she finds.
>
>
> and cut out a whole bunch of
>> soffit vents (nice and neatly, thank you) to increase air ingress.
>> That dropped the temperature of the attic from over 160 to 110
>> degrees. I can now store non-temperature sensitive items in the
>> attic. It's incredibly stupid to have a central AC in the attic when
>> it's as hot as it is down here in the South.
>>
>> Since I was on a roll, I thought a relatively easy way to keep a house
>> cooler was to paint it a much lighter color (increased albedo) which I
>> did in the early spring. The outside walls are now cool to the touch
>> on blistering hot and sunny days.
>>
>> I think I just went tangential in this post.

Posted by CJT on September 17, 2007, 9:06 pm
Julie wrote:
> trainfan1 wrote:
>
>> Julie wrote:
>>
>>>>> I don't use the central AC because I suspect there's dust in the
>>>>> ductwork so
>>>
>>>
>>> We had an electrostatic filter for our previous house but there's no
>>> way to install one with these units.
>>>
>>
>> If you don't have a filter in your central A/C, this may be part of
>> your problem too. If there's a filter, you can order an electrostatic
>> one to fit the existing cut-out.
>>
>> How about humidity? Where/how do you maintain it?
>>
>> Rob
>
>
> The humidity was 55% (I have a hygrometer). I thought that was rather
> high and the electrical bill was incredibly large. After I got the first
> electrical bill, I raised the temperature to 84 degrees.
>
> I called in a respected HVAC company and they fully checked, oiled,
> cleaned everything and charged the Freon. I was there right next to him
> the entire time.

Nonetheless, it sounds like your ducts are leaking.

>
> I replaced the filters with a much higher quality brand. When all was
> said and done, the humidity was still 55%, the electrical bills were
> huge and the dust something awful.
>
> I bought Energy Star compliant window A/C's. Humidity dropped down to
> 43-47% and I was able to keep the house at 72-78 degrees (depending upon
> how hot and sunny it was). My electrical bill dropped to near nothing
> (relatively speaking). The window A/C's paid themselves off within 2
> months.
>
> While I was at it, I added attic fans and cut out a whole bunch of
> soffit vents (nice and neatly, thank you) to increase air ingress. That
> dropped the temperature of the attic from over 160 to 110 degrees. I
> can now store non-temperature sensitive items in the attic. It's
> incredibly stupid to have a central AC in the attic when it's as hot as
> it is down here in the South.
>
> Since I was on a roll, I thought a relatively easy way to keep a house
> cooler was to paint it a much lighter color (increased albedo) which I
> did in the early spring. The outside walls are now cool to the touch on
> blistering hot and sunny days.
>
> I think I just went tangential in this post.


--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.

Posted by HeyBub on September 16, 2007, 7:11 pm
Julie wrote:
> I've done all that I can do and think of and I'm stumped. I need fresh
> input.
>
> My 10+ year old 2000 sqft house is always dusty.
>
> Where is all the dust coming from? What more can I do?

I think I found your answer, but you're not going to like it.

You're really not going to like it.

The dust is formed - wait for it now - inside your home. That's exactly
right - inside your home!

I didn't read the whole article: I don't know whether dust-excreting
organisms are eating various raw materials or some exotic chemical reaction
is turning brass light fixtures into particulate matter or whether there's a
case of spontaneous creation going on, but, well, there you are.

Here's the straight skinney, directly from the National Allergy Nursing
association.

http://www.allergynursing.com/questions2/dust.php

I just knew you weren't going to like it...



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