OT: Furnace filter

[htsource]

Sorry for posting an off-topic, but would like some opinion on furnace filter. Our old house used to have a Honeywell air purfier, but it was over 10 years old, I'm sure they now make something much better.

With our new house, it uses a standard 16x25x1 filter, I just replaced it about 2 weeks ago, and it's dirty again! It's a brand new house so I'd expect lots of dust, but I hate to keep replacing a new filter every 2 weeks. I was thinking of some washable filters. At Home Depot, they have 3M washable filters as well as another brand (can't remember the name), but it's electrostic so it's better than the 3M washable. But I don't know if they're any good?

Any suggestions? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wuench]

I can't help you on the filter, but step one is vacuum out your ducts, the best you can. My house is 4 years old and I just did that. Apparently construction workers think an open air duct is a garbage chute. I found all kinds of junk, food wrappers, drywall mud, screws, and a Christmas ornament

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I can't help you on the filter, but step one is vacuum out your ducts, the best you can. My house is 4 years old and I just did that.

Curious, how you did this? Conventional vacuum? Hose attatchment?

 

[wuench]

I can't help you on the filter, but step one is vacuum out your ducts, the best you can. My house is 4 years old and I just did that.

Curious, how you did this? Conventional vacuum? Hose attatchment?

I just used the hose on the vacuum and crammed it as far down as I could. Most of the junk was at the first bend. But a hose attachment wouldn't be a bad idea. And don't be stupid like me, use a shop vac. I actually started with my regular house vacuum and broke it because of all the junk it sucked up, the motor jammed and burned out. But it was a cheapo old one so it wasn't that big a deal.

 

[Steve]

There are professional ducts cleaners that use a special brush on a long hose that goes thru the entire system. I guess there are varied opinions on that one tho. As for the filters, I like the 5" Merv11 pleated filters. I use one in a Honeywell F200. You should be able to get 6 months out of it easy. I never liked the washable ones. I know there are some pro HVAC guys around (pete?) that I'm sure can offer more detailed professional advice.

 

[htsource]

Thank you guys, apparantely the builder cleaned the ducts before we moved in, but it still dusty. I'll try to get the builder to clean it again. Otherwise, I may contact Sears as I have heard they do a great job, although on the expensive side!

Will run the vacuum down the ducts, they seem to look alright, although there's probably lots of goodies down there

Curious to know, we have a Trane high-efficient furnace, does it have an electronic ignition system? With the PDI, I was told it has a pilot but I can't find it. But I see a red light similar to the old furnace we used to have. I thought all furnace nowadays should have electronic ignition, no?

 

[Madcodger]

We used a professional duct cleaning company a few months back under advice from our HVAC guy after he noticed a lot of dust on the blower motor. We change out the filter every 30 or so days, so it wasn't like it was building up from neglect. It's made a big difference in the amount of dust in the house, and was well worth it. For ~ 3400 sf, I think it was somewhere around $600.

As for the washable filters, I'm just trying one I picked up from Home Depot (also 16 x 25). It's only been about 2 weeks, though, so hard to tell how much it's picking up. I may pull it out today and report back.

 

[RAM]

There are professional ducts cleaners that use a special brush on a long hose that goes thru the entire system. I guess there are varied opinions on that one tho. As for the filters, I like the 5" Merv11 pleated filters. I use one in a Honeywell F200. You should be able to get 6 months out of it easy. I never liked the washable ones. I know there are some pro HVAC guys around (pete?) that I'm sure can offer more detailed professional advice.

I got one of these when we got a new furnace 4 years ago now and have been getting over 6 months out of them. I run the furnace fan on low speed 24/7 during the winter to help keep temps even throughout the house. They are a high capacity/very efficient filter. I have been satisfied with mine.