Simple Air Filter

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Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
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I have one of those Ionic type filters/purifiers, which is nice and all, with the exception of it moving too little air, and making a clicking sound after 8 months of continuous usage. It has a 5 year warranty on it, which requires me to ship it to the company at my cost, with a $15 check/mo enclosed for return shipping. So that's like $30 to get this thing fixed "under warranty", it only cost me $70 to begin with?

So I took a cue from a guy on Hardforums who had friends with allergies and whatnot who had simply taped a 20-25" AC filter to the intake side of a 20" box fan, taped around the edges to make sure it was decently air-tight, and then simply turned it on. In just a few hours of usage so far it's picked up a fair amount of dust, and when I tested it with smoke from a candle and some light dust blown towards it, none of it got through to the other side. I'm sure it's only going to last a few weeks at most before it's all gummed up, but the filter was like a buck at the local hardware store, so what do I care?

:thumbsup:
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
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I think it's just a straight furnace type filter. All blue, cardboard around the edge, cost like nothing for it. Pretty thin but it's basically made of very fine threading woven close together like a web, catches almost everything I worry about.
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
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Well it's working well so far :)...and it's actually given my apartment a pretty pleasant smell, very much like a piece of fabric softner cloth you throw in the dryer.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,254
18,113
136
Originally posted by: Sphexi
Well it's working well so far :)...and it's actually given my apartment a pretty pleasant smell, very much like a piece of fabric softner cloth you throw in the dryer.
Click to expand...

There's another idea :p
Stick a sheet of fabric softener in there too.
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
This might last you a while:
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN...neID=ccciaddeilddmlhcgelceffdfgidgnk.0

30"x30 footx1" thick roll of filter material.

20"x20"x2", box of 12 for $22
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN...neID=ccciaddeilddmlhcgelceffdfgidgnk.0

Edit #2:
These must be what you have:
20"x25"x1", box of 12 for $15
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN...neID=ccciaddeilddmlhcgelceffdfgidgnk.0
Click to expand...


http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN...addeildefdjcgelceffdfgidgnl.0&MID=9876

That's actually what I have, 20x20x1 Fiberglass filter, about a buck/buck-fifty.
 
JasonSix78

JasonSix78

Platinum Member
Mar 5, 2005
2,020
1
0
Originally posted by: Sphexi
I have one of those Ionic type filters/purifiers, which is nice and all, with the exception of it moving too little air, and making a clicking sound after 8 months of continuous usage. It has a 5 year warranty on it, which requires me to ship it to the company at my cost, with a $15 check/mo enclosed for return shipping. So that's like $30 to get this thing fixed "under warranty", it only cost me $70 to begin with?

So I took a cue from a guy on Hardforums who had friends with allergies and whatnot who had simply taped a 20-25" AC filter to the intake side of a 20" box fan, taped around the edges to make sure it was decently air-tight, and then simply turned it on. In just a few hours of usage so far it's picked up a fair amount of dust, and when I tested it with smoke from a candle and some light dust blown towards it, none of it got through to the other side. I'm sure it's only going to last a few weeks at most before it's all gummed up, but the filter was like a buck at the local hardware store, so what do I care?

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's a great idea. I'll have to swing by the hardware store and grab a box.

-Jason
 
R

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
I did that (filter and fan) trick when I was remodeling my house. it would pick up mad amounts of dust. I clogged it when I sanded the sheetrock.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
The Ionic things create harmful ozone and hardly filter anything. Didn't you get the memo?
Click to expand...

Not all of them, no. And ozone is only harmful to certain people with respitory problems, of which I have none. So no, it's not harmful, and it does pick up quite a bit of crap, it's just in need of service and for the same price ($15 less actually) I just fixed my problem.
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
I've always wanted to put a fair sized blower on the side of my PC case, with a filter on the inlet side, to accomplish the same thing. Blowers are inherently quieter than fans, so it would quietly cool the PC while filtering the room air. Never got around to it, but I still might.

I think you can use hair spray, spray vegetable oil, or something like that on the filter to help it grab microscopic particles.
 
R

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
Ornery...check the surplus stores is you're serious about doing it. You can get much cheaper blowers there
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Originally posted by: redly1
Ornery...check the surplus stores is you're serious about doing it. You can get much cheaper blowers there
Click to expand...
I'm "serious" about doing it, but I've been waiting for a blower to fall into my lap. First and foremost, it's got to be quiet. I'm spoiled by the utra quiet HP Pavilions here. I'll NEVER own another noisy PC, and I'm not about to change that with a blower that's too loud. I'll put a Fan Speed Control on it if I have to.

Edit You could basically replace the side of your case with one of these.
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
I've always wanted to put a fair sized blower on the side of my PC case, with a filter on the inlet side, to accomplish the same thing. Blowers are inherently quieter than fans, so it would quietly cool the PC while filtering the room air. Never got around to it, but I still might.

I think you can use hair spray, spray vegetable oil, or something like that on the filter to help it grab microscopic particles.
Click to expand...

lol that thing is a beast...you wanna hook that up to your case? I suppose it'd work, just make sure your case is nice and sturdy, and has a wide base/feet on it so it don't fall over ;)
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Not that particular unit, but one like it. I think the squirrel cage blowers used in large copy machines would be about right.
 
C

cavemanmoron

Lifer
Mar 13, 2001
13,664
28
91
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: Sphexi
Well it's working well so far :)...and it's actually given my apartment a pretty pleasant smell, very much like a piece of fabric softner cloth you throw in the dryer.
Click to expand...

There's another idea :p
Stick a sheet of fabric softener in there too.
Click to expand...

Ugh i hate those "smelly" dryer sheets,
I use odor free detergent,and Odor free dryer sheets.

I have asthma,and may find stuff more anoying than others tho.

Great simple idea to O/P tho!! :)
 
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