A few pics of my dirty HVAC ducts...

[Nick1994]

ZZman, is it possible to change the air return grille to one that has a filter, so the return ducts stay clean?

 

[ZZman]

ZZman, is it possible to change the air return grille to one that has a filter, so the return ducts stay clean?

Well I am sure anything is possible. But I am hoping that a cleaning and then use of a Aprilaire 1410 filter cabinet and thicker filter will help reduce it.
Honestly I thought the ducts would look worse after all those years, pets. Will be interested in seeing heat return ducts.

 

[ZZman]

My house was built in 2005, but it was a second home and legit looked new when I moved in, in 2017. I wonder how much I would actually benefit.

I suppose it depends on many factors:
Do you live in a dusty area?
Do you notice excessive dust in your house?
Do you have pets?
Do you have health, breathing issues, allergies etc?
Do you use good furnace filters or filter system?

 

[Ws6]

I suppose it depends on many factors:
Do you live in a dusty area?
Do you notice excessive dust in your house?
Do you have pets?
Do you have health, breathing issues, allergies etc?
Do you use good furnace filters or filter system?

MERV 8 or higher, 1 Maine Coon, no real dust here, no breathing issues.

 

[ZZman]

MERV 8 or higher, 1 Maine Coon, no real dust here, no breathing issues.

We always had a lot of dust buildup on the furniture, top Blades of the ceiling fans, and on that cold air return registers

 

[Racer4]

ZZman do yo have pictures after your cleaNing of your ducts?

 

[ZZman]

Still waiting to get them from the company. I saw them on his phone.

 

[Blinker]

Just to clarify for some people, but these are pics of the return vents, correct?

 

[ZZman]

Those are the cold air returns.

 

[ZZman]

ZZman do yo have pictures after your cleaNing of your ducts?

Here are some after cleaning. Don't ask me what the crap that stick out is.

 

[ZZman]

Here is a couple more pics

 

[Blinker]

Looks good!

 

[Racer4]

The pictures do show much improvement now how can you keep it cleaner in the future.

 

[UncleDave]

Can you replace the return cover with one large enough to put a filter in?

Return filters are sometimes the only place a filter lies in some HVAC systems.

This way you can keep your returns clean as well as add life to the filter at the furnace.

Washable electrostatics covering returns is also a good way to go, reasonable pre filtration, very little resistance, good longevity.

 

[Fitter30]

Dirt wouldn't collect in the duct if the air velocity high enough to carry it to the filter. Unless things are growing in it i 'm not concerned.

 

[Egg_Head]

Slightly off topic, I recently purchased 3" deep pleated filters that fit in an existing 1" filter space. I'm no HVAC engineer but read this design lowers the drag a high MERV 1" filter can put on a system plus these are supposed to last longer. I have not installed mine yet, come in various sizes:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Honeywell-FC40R1011-20-x-25-Return-Grill-Media-Air-Filter

 

[ZZman]

Slightly off topic, I recently purchased 3" deep pleated filters that fit in an existing 1" filter space. I'm no HVAC engineer but read this design lowers the drag a high MERV 1" filter can put on a system plus these are supposed to last longer. I have not installed mine yet, come in various sizes:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Honeywell-FC40R1011-20-x-25-Return-Grill-Media-Air-Filter

I am confused. How could those fit in a 1 inch space? Those are return are grill filters not your typical hvac furnace filters.

 

[Egg_Head]

I am confused. How could those fit in a 1 inch space? Those are return are grill filters not your typical hvac furnace filters.

 

[henni]

This topic was one of the reasons we installed ductless Mitsubishi heatpumps in all our homes. They are SEER 26 rated and totally silent which was an added bonus.