1939 house with air returns in floor; poor air quality

9 years ago

There are odd-sized air returns in the floors of my 1939 house (I bought it earlier this year). It's 2-story and there are no air returns on the 2nd floor. On the first floor, there is a return in the dining room at the front of the house; and, another in the living room (opposite side) at the back of the house.

I'm building a first-floor master suite and kitchen addition right now, so there's extra dust and such (sheetrock had 2nd mud yesterday, so sanding tomorrow) even though there's heavy construction plastic taped up to separate the areas.

I couldn't find filters to fit the returns, so I bought a "cut to size" by NaturalAire. I didn't know what else to do. In only a week, the filters are showing a lot of dirt. These can be washed and reused. How often should I do this? When I see the outline of dust?

The HVAC (natural gas) works well, so I've not planned to replace it. There's a basement below where the heating system is installed, but there is also open crawlspace with dirt floors. I've just had the ceiling (underside of my upstairs floors) insulated and my contractor will soon install a moisture barrier over the dirt floors.

The heat vents are in the walls, about two feet down from the 8' ceilings in the rooms that I didn't physically renovate. In the rooms I've renovated, I've converted to floor vents.

I realize construction creates a lot of dust, but I also feel like I'm breathing dust! I dust the furniture and vacuum the floors at least three times a week.

If anyone has any suggestions on improving the air quality, please let me know! Also, any advice on the vents and air returns? Do you think this dust is just due to the construction and the air will improve when it's finished?

Thanks.

Featured Answer

Vith

9 years ago

Do you think this dust is just due to the construction and the air will improve when it's finished?

Yes

I also agree with the air cleaner, get one of those. I actually use one when I am doing drywall sanding. You wouldnt believe how much dust comes out of that when I blow it out. I have filters I use for heavy dust construction days (sawdust, drywall dust) and I blow those out and reuse them. I have clean filters for regular use.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

klem1
9 years ago
I'm not certain I 100% understand but you were smarter that most folks by covering intakes with filters. To take more dust out of air,run the hvac fan continuesly. The contractor should be running exhust fans if hvac can be turned off during work. It will not damage the fan and only costs pennies per day. You will need to change filters more often since they are catching more dust.
dovetonsils
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We moved into our house thirty years ago. For the first year, there was so much dust that when you finished dusting, you could start all over again.

We bought a couple of those Honeywell /Sears air cleaners which have been operating 24 x 7 for the past 29 years. We rarely have to dust.
DYH thanked dovetonsils
Related Professionals
Gardena Solar Energy Systems · Irvington Solar Energy Systems · Columbia Home Automation & Home Media · Coral Terrace Home Automation & Home Media · Farmington Home Automation & Home Media · Lakewood Home Automation & Home Media · Minnetonka Home Automation & Home Media · New York City Home Automation & Home Media · Pittsburgh Home Automation & Home Media · Channelview Fireplaces · Evergreen Park Fireplaces · Lancaster Fireplaces · Monroe Fireplaces · Ogden Fireplaces · Ventura Fireplaces
DYH
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I believe the drywall sanding! The crew wore respirator masks and goggles, but they were completely white with dust--hair, clothes and skin.
PRO
Domicile Consulting LLC
9 years ago
Hi DYHgarden.....your post raised some questions in my mind. Are merely extending the ducts for the existing hvac unit in order to heat and cool the new addition? How big is the newly constructed space; how much west and east facing glazing surface does it have; did the contractor doing the work provide plans and permits; did the local code authority review the hvac plan; what are the insulation levels in the walls/floors/ceilings of both the old and new portions of the home; is the furnace located within the 'conditioned envelope' of the home; are the supply ducts on the outside walls or on the interior walls? That's off the top of my head and those are all things that the contractor should take into account when planning and bidding on the addition. Now for IAQ and construction dust. I think it might be helpful to spray, what comm'l hvac contractors call a 'tackifier', on the upstream side of your air filter in order to grab more of that ultra-fine drywall compound dust. Change/clean the air filter daily or as often as you can. Best of luck!
DYH thanked Domicile Consulting LLC
DYH
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
There are new ducts in the 700sf addition, but the existing HVAC unit was over-sized for the original old house, so the installer said I don't need to replace it.

There are replacement ducts for the old kitchen (will be a den), dining room and two upstairs bedrooms where I moved walls. Most of the supply ducts are on the interior walls, but the two old air returns in the floor are under windows.

Everything in my renovation/addition is permitted by the city and inspections have all passed. They also inspect the "old" part as it isn't grandfathered in when doing a renovation of this size. I've replaced any electrical and plumbing that weren't up to today's code.

The furnace is located in the basement that has brick walls and a concrete floor, but there is also 21 foot section that is chest high that is open to the dirt floor crawlspace. 6 mil plastic is being added to cover the dirt.

R-15 insulation was added since I wrote this and it seems to be helping. All window sashes have been replaced with new energy-efficient wood sashes (had to be custom made to fit the old window openings).

Thanks!