4a. Re: Hot Attic/HRV

[Guest guest]

In regards to HRV and fresh air intakes, problem with cleanliness:

, does this apply to Therm Stor units also?

A handyman ten years ago put first fresh air intake in saying it

would help a leaky old house to be warmer in winter by adding

positive pressure and thus instead of having cold air leaks in

house, fresh air would be warmed by furnace and then distributed to

house and extra air pushed out of inevitable accidental holes and

gaps in house. This really worked for me. What it was doing to

inside of walls was another matter I don't know about or attic,

etc.

Anyway about three years ago I took it down and it was *very* dirty

inside. He only put a 3 inch pvc pipe in but no filter as you say

or screen, a grate but no screen. It could have contributed to my

developing allergies. I don't know. When I took it down, it was

because I was sick and examining house air system looking for

trouble. I don't think it was the problem but wasn't a good thing

as far as pulling unfiltered air right into furnace system. I think

fact I liked the humidity in house to be 50%-60% could have

contributed to house problems.

Anyway, I put a fresh air intake back in, 6 " to bring in more fresh

air than the small 3 inch one, I rigged up a screen on outside and

wrapped it with 3M Filtrete fabric to protect from allergens, since

I was very allergic now to everything. I had to change it almost

weekly though since intake was only about a foot above ground so

blowing dust could dirty even though there was some barrier. 3M

fabric I don't think supports mold or mildew growth but it was a

jerry-rigged thing. It helps me in the winter SO FAR but as I said

maybe not doing anything good to walls. However I have humidistat

set down to 30% in winter, rather than the 55% I used to like. The

cold fresh air made it easy to keep humidity down to that but I

was 'shocking everyone at work when I came in'.

What I realized was that filter at outside area wasn't good since

when it rained it did not get wet because there was a protective

sheath over but dust on it would get dampish, so finer filter fabric

of course has to go inside somewhere, fine mesh screen outside to

keep smallest critters out of furnace system.

When I look at HRV etc on sale I see that, Therma Stor offers an

upgrade to high end filtration in the unit. However I think there

is also a problem with intake ductwork collecting dirt from where

air enters house to where it enters HRV.

If I bought one I think I might try to fix some sort of filtration

near exterior of intake. It might just be wrapping the Filtrete

fabric over end of the intake and fixing it with rubber band, since

I'm not a professional installer, I don't have to care what that

looks like.

>

> Jim,

>

> I would like to underscore your " except for cleaning and

maintenance " with

> respect to heat recovery ventilation (HRV).

>

[Guest guest]

I am not making a sales pitch but I do have an air purifier that I use due to my allergies. It has helped a ton. It uses 2 forms of ionization, UV light, trace amount of Ozone, It is not an ozonenator. No collection plates and no filter. NASA uses it in the space shuttle to purify their air, the Liberty Bell has it installed in their ductwork of their exhibit building. It was even used in the Pentagon after 9/11. I took 2 shots a week for a year. I am bad with mold and grasses, and pets. I got a stuffy nose a lot. In one day the machine helped me to breathe better. I really like the ionization technology. I am enjoying this group as I am in HVAC and am always interested in learning, in air quality, and ways to help. My personal email is robert_powell82@... I will answer any personal questions away from

this board there about the air purifier that I use. barb1283 wrote: In regards to HRV and fresh air intakes, problem with cleanliness:, does this apply to Therm Stor units also?A handyman ten years ago put first fresh air intake in saying it would help a leaky old house to be warmer in winter by adding positive pressure and thus instead of having cold air leaks in house, fresh air would be warmed by furnace and then distributed

to house and extra air pushed out of inevitable accidental holes and gaps in house. This really worked for me. What it was doing to inside of walls was another matter I don't know about or attic, etc. Anyway about three years ago I took it down and it was *very* dirty inside. He only put a 3 inch pvc pipe in but no filter as you say or screen, a grate but no screen. It could have contributed to my developing allergies. I don't know. When I took it down, it was because I was sick and examining house air system looking for trouble. I don't think it was the problem but wasn't a good thing as far as pulling unfiltered air right into furnace system. I think fact I liked the humidity in house to be 50%-60% could have contributed to house problems. Anyway, I put a fresh air intake back in, 6" to bring in more fresh air than the small 3 inch one, I rigged up a screen on outside and wrapped it with 3M Filtrete

fabric to protect from allergens, since I was very allergic now to everything. I had to change it almost weekly though since intake was only about a foot above ground so blowing dust could dirty even though there was some barrier. 3M fabric I don't think supports mold or mildew growth but it was a jerry-rigged thing. It helps me in the winter SO FAR but as I said maybe not doing anything good to walls. However I have humidistat set down to 30% in winter, rather than the 55% I used to like. The cold fresh air made it easy to keep humidity down to that but I was 'shocking everyone at work when I came in'. What I realized was that filter at outside area wasn't good since when it rained it did not get wet because there was a protective sheath over but dust on it would get dampish, so finer filter fabric of course has to go inside somewhere, fine mesh screen outside to keep smallest critters out of furnace system.

When I look at HRV etc on sale I see that, Therma Stor offers an upgrade to high end filtration in the unit. However I think there is also a problem with intake ductwork collecting dirt from where air enters house to where it enters HRV.If I bought one I think I might try to fix some sort of filtration near exterior of intake. It might just be wrapping the Filtrete fabric over end of the intake and fixing it with rubber band, since I'm not a professional installer, I don't have to care what that looks like. >> Jim, > > I would like to underscore your "except for cleaning and maintenance" with > respect to heat recovery ventilation (HRV). >

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