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So I want to get a box fan and attach a 20" filter to run in my son's bedroom in the evenings to alleviate his dust allergies. We already took some other steps: got rid of rug, wipe hardwood floorsmore often, change furnace filters, etc. This box fan with a 20" filter is on top of the other things. I cannot located one built for this purpose (LASKO used ot make one), so I am gonna do my own. I wonder if I should put the filter on the input side or on the exit side, any opinions on which is better? If I put it on the entrance side, the dust will the exposed on the outside surface of the filter. I am leaning to put the filter on the exit side, so the dust is now trapped on the inside side of the filter (between filter and fan). What do you all say?
intake?
exhaust?
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Intake. I wouldn't want the fan blowing against the dust clogged filter.
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Filter on the intake.. lots of people do that.
As a lifelong dust allergy sufferer, there are a lot of things you can do. But bedroom controls are the biggest. If his bedroom is 'minmalist' it's best.. a bit difficult to take for a child, but it helps.
My parents installed a complex electrostatic dust filter in the home HVAC system, and we cleaned it off every month. I've installed a big HEPA filter in our houses.
Many people will tell you to remove all carpets.. I kind of disagree... carpets attract the dust and keep it so you can get it with a HEPA vacuum. At least that's my experience.
Keep in mind that his allergy is not to 'dust'... it's probably to dust Mites... a microscopic life form that eats dead skin from us humans.
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Intake - FWIW I've done something similar. Just a box fan and a furnace filter, the nice kind that picks up as many allergens as possible. I just ended up duct taping the filter to the fan. I've seen others that create a slot for easy changing of the filter - but for my purposes the duct tape approach was just fine.
You know one thing you might consider especially if it's an older house, is duct cleaning. The furnace and the furnace filter are one thing but dust can easily travel from one room to another via the ducts. It could get sucked in one room and blown into your son's room just by the system turning on and off.
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DRR wrote:
You know one thing you might consider especially if it's an older house, is duct cleaning. The furnace and the furnace filter are one thing but dust can easily travel from one room to another via the ducts. It could get sucked in one room and blown into your son's room just by the system turning on and off.
I second that emotion.
(You're all singing it in your heads now.)
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yes, we'll clean the ducts too. I had a guy come and inspect the chimney and clean the drier vent, and he said he can also clean the HVAC vents. I askedm him how they do it, and he said he blows compressed air agains the normal flow and catch the dust with some filters at the furnace. Does that make sense?
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We use a box fan in the window for exhausting the hot and pulling in the cool air during the summers. Best advise I can offer is to look for a sturdy unit with good speed selection. Make sure is has a slow speed that is really quiet and like a breeze. I'll be looking for one this summer as the favorite Lakewood (as in made in Ohio) gave up after 12 years. A couple "jumbo" rubber bands will hold the filter on.
