Re: Air Exchangers - carbon filters

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I'm in a non-profit rental. There's no way they will change the air intake

location. People in the past have tried to get them to install bathroom and

kitchen exhaust fans in the units, but an engineer's report said it couldn't be

done (or would be too expensive). Not sure why those weren't done originally...

Moving the intake would be even more extensive.

I know the carbon filters won't deal with it all, but I was hoping they might at

least help a bit so I didn't have to turn the unit off as often, which might

prolong the life of the new HRV, whatever make it is, whenever it comes...

So, I'm hoping there might be some filters with carbon available somewhere that

are more affordable than the ones NEEDS has to custom order, since like you

said, they aren't going to eliminate the problems, just reduce them...

hopefully. Ventilating by windows has proven difficult here.

linda

>

> :

>

> One thing to consider is that carbon filters are no panacea.

>

> The contributing factors to my statement are as follows:

>

> 1) It takes about four pounds of activated carbon to collect one pound of

VOCs,

>

> 2) There is no easy way to predict when the useful life of the carbon filter

is over, and

>

> 3) Carbon filters are very expensive.

>

> ...

> Question: Can you relocate where your outdoor air is captured?

>

>

>

> Life Energy Associates

> www.LifeEnergyAssoc.com

> 20 Darton Street

> Concord, MA 01742

>

>

> Re: Air Exchangers

>

> The HRV where I live broke down recently and needs to be replaced. I think

what hastened the demise of the original HRV is that the area is often full of

laundry product fumes so I've had to turn off the HRV when this happens in order

to avoid it sucking in all those fumes.

>

> What didn't help is that the model does not have carbon filters. I'd looked

into finding some (4x12x24) and they aren't available except as custom orders

from NEEDS for over $50 a piece...

>

> I wonder

>

> 1. if you are aware of which units might be designed to be turned on and off

more frequently due to outdoor air quality issues.

>

> and

>

> 2. if there is anyone who makes carbon filters that size (4x12x24) (it's not

very likely the ductwork will be changed out, it's not in the same location as

the machine part). Currently it uses a pleated MERV 13 that gets changed every 3

months. I'm not sure how much a carbon filter will actually remove of the

laundry chemicals, but I think it would be more than the one that's there now,

so perhaps I wouldn't have to shut the whole unit down as often.

>

> I'm in the Ottawa area if that makes any difference.

>

> Kind regards,

>

> linda sepp

>