here's my xmas present to you all- a simple home improvement tip to improve the air you breathe
Last edited Mon Dec 24, 2012, 02:34 PM - Edit history (1)
buy a 20 inch box fan (lasko is good)
buy a 20 x 20 furnace filter
it says on the label what pollutants the filter removes
this is the cool part-
duct/duck tape the filter to the intake side of the fan.
DON'T spend 15 minutes doing that and then realize that you put the arrows on the filter backwards 
arrows on filter--->towards fan. filter taped to side of fan where air comes in. air goes thru filter FIRST.
NO windows involved- air in room sucked thru filter by fan, blown out into same room (sorry for the sexual imagery)
the sides are easy, just make sure the corners are airtight.
turn it on and smile cause you just saved $800 on a fancy air scrubber
it really works!
put an on/off timer maybe (mine just runs 24/7), 15 min on/ 15 off if your electric bill is a problem
your lungs will thank you! there's a video out there somewhere with a guy in a lab coat explaining it.
happy xmas, and merry breathing!
MERV 1-4 Air Filters: These inexpensive fiberglass mesh filters only remove particles over 10 microns in size and do very little to improve the indoor air quality in your home.
MERV 5-8 Air Filters: Medium quality pleated air filters that can remove particles down to 3.0 microns in size.
MERV 9-12 Air Filters: High quality air filters that can remove particles down to 1.0 microns in size.
MERV 13-16 Air Filters: Highest quality in standard filters. Removes particles down to 0.3 microns.
MERV 17-20 Air Filters: Also known as HEPA air filters (High Energy Particulate Air). These filters surpass the standard MERV rating by removing 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micron and larger. While often used in hospitals, they cause too much air resistance to be installed in a standard HVAC system without making modifications first.
*******
Minute, invisible particles in the air in our homes and businesses are a primary threat to health. They evade the body's filtering mechanisms and penetrate deep into lung tissue, carrying toxic substances, which are absorbed in the body.
This category includes copier toner, mold, fine powders and dust, bacteria, and viruses.
Particle Sizes
The size of particles affects their potential to cause health problems. Particulate matter is measured in microns—one micron is one millionth of a meter; there are 25,400 microns in one inch.
Particles larger than 10 microns do not usually reach the lungs, but can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Small particles with diameters smaller than 5 microns can travel deep into our breathing passages. Particles the size of 2.5 ('PM2.5' measured by air quality monitoring agencies) and smaller is considered 'fine particulate' and is of serious health concern. Smaller than 1 micron in size can be inhaled right into the aveoli, or air exchange sacs at the end of our bronchial tubes in our lungs.
Examples of approximate ranges of particle diameter sizes:
• pet dander is 5 to 10 microns (PM5 to PM10)
• pollen is 10 microns or more
• room dust is 10 to 300 microns
• human hair is about 100 microns (range of 60 to 300)
• mold spores are 10 to 30 microns
• lead dust is 2 microns
• anthrax is 1 to 5 microns
• paint pigments are 0.1 to 5 microns
• wood smoke particles are 0.2 to 3 microns
• tobacco smoke particles are 0.01 to 4 microns
• humidifier particles are 0.9 to 3 microns
• copier toner is 0.5 to 15 microns
• some bacteria are 0.3 to 10 microns
• pesticides and herbicides are 0.001 microns
= new reply since forum marked as read
air---> filter(arrows on filter also >>>
, pulled thru fan
or
put the filter on the side of the fan where the air comes in, with the arrows pointing towards the fan,
air is PULLED thru filter by blades and out.
the first one turned nasty brown in 2 weeks, and now they last much longer, so it works!
no windows involved- the air in the room is just pulled thru the fan and back out into same room
It is either the title or first line of a bit of prose by Valery Satterwhite that I stumbled upon. I'll mail you the entire piece if you want, as it can be individually shared, but it's copyrighted. Here are the best paragraphs, as we'e limited:
Don't Believe Everything You Think:
Right now, in this moment, you have everything you think you deserve. You are living the life you believe you are worthy of...
Know this: The mere fact that you are here on this Earth indicates that you are worthy whether you believe it or not. Each and every person is blessed with a unique talent, a passionate purpose, and the wisdom to express their full potential. This is your birthright.
Wherever you are disconnected with who you are at your deepest core is where you will struggle. Wherever you are out of alignment with your truth and what your heart calls forth for you to become is where you will find dissatisfaction, frustration, and desperation.
So there you go. Thanks for the information and have a Happy Christmas.
how is your screen name related to the grinch?
live on decongestants all year round.
I probably shouldn't have a dog, but I would rather have sinus probs than live without a dog. I am allergic to dust, and live in Az (which is bad for my mental health - not because of the dust).
I am definitely going to do this in my bedroom.
Thank you thank you thank you!!
here's another one-
google-
medical marijuana
the reason you are on decongestants
vaporizer
strain
arizona
dog
dust
and go for it- it doesn't take much on the MJ side, and it works!
I live in Az (which is bad for my mental health - not because of the dust).
I am definitely going to do this in my bedroom.
nice joke, and you don't have to tell us what you do in your bedroom. unless you want to!
thanks for the bouncy green dude!
i got you the same thing!
DUH me has a HEPA filter, one I boght ages ago, and I keep forgetting to use the darn thing.
I also have 3 standard box fans which are a necessity down here
and have TWO furnace filter outlets for which we buy filters.
Now, thanks to you, I know what type of filter is best for the heat pump inlets
and how to make better use of our box fans ( which should take the 20x20 filters, I think)
and hopefully remember to use the HEPA more often.
I shedding dog and 2 cats plus the air down here is loaded with spores and dust from a zillion sources.
What was scary was to turn the flashlight on outside at night and see all the crap floating in the beam.
REC, with a BIG thank you!
Thanks for posting!