The wicked humidifiers never put out any white dust. Meet Josh Johnson, our Service Manager. I went down to the heater expecting the worst because the cold winter had been making it run so much I thought maybe something was wrong with it. © 2021 Baumann & DeGroot of Holland Michigan. We had a number of furnaces that were overheating and we could not figure out why. Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - White dust, crusty deposits on furnace humidifier - Hello, I have a pad-style, whole-house furnace humidifier. Share on Twitter 1:48. Add To Cart. Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm ESTEmergency calls, 24/7, Share on Facebook Fortunately the winter is almost over here. Share by Email. You may examine your furnace filter and see that it has turned completely black. If you seek help quickly, there’s an excellent chance the expert can make easy repairs or replacements that prevent the entire unit from failing. This lets more dust settle and build up in the return ductwork. Probably something I should have done earlier but you live and learn. If you choose to continue using the ultra sonic humidifiers we strongly recommend changing your furnace filter every 2 weeks while it is in use. From that point on I went through a new filter about every 3 weeks. Under normal conditions, your filter should last at least a month and gradually become clogged with grey-colored dust and debris. I have a Maytag 95% condensing furnace model PGFITE120CVC that is 1year old and … Many times a humidifier will release a white mist, or dust, that can settle on walls and other surfaces. Different types of furnace filters should be cleaned more or less often. Electrostatic filters need to be cleaned every three months. This was very strange and after the second one I started wondering what this was all about. When I changed the furnace humidifier filter recently, it was coated with white dust particles! The way I could tell: IF you took a b-vent off and there was a lot white flakes inside. I looked closer at the filter and it seemed the filter was covered with a thin film of white dust not the normal fiberous gray or yellow dust you normally see. Pick up Within 60.0 miles of: (Select default store) See Availability. And when soot buildup blocks the flue, this also restricts your furnace’s oxygen supply. The calcium deposits really cling on to the surface just like calcium on your faucets becomes almost like cement. White powder clogs a furnace filter. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else. For us it is not normally a problem and I will be looking into alternatives for introducing moisture. Made a big difference. Furnace Repair. Similar to running a furnace without a filter, running your furnace on a dirty filter won’t hurt it for a day or two, but it can have hugely negative effects over the course of time. I am now on my third filter in just 5 months which seems a bit insane. ← How To CableCARD Tuners for your Home and Media Center, How To Setup your Silicondust HDHomeRun To Watch Live TV with the Kodi.tv Add-on →, • How To – Sealing Your Gutter Seams to Cure Leaks, • How To – Buying a Garden Shed and knowing your options, • How To – Leaf Blower Buying and Use Guide. Open the furnace compartment. Keeping a boiling pot on the stove is also a stupid idea unless you run a wood stove that heats your home. Simply accepting a clogged air filter is never a good idea. The filter appears clean as the residue is white. 10 years of experience in the HVAC field. We learned about these appliances and their powdery by-product a few years ago the hard way. Looking clean, we would put the filter back in and struggle through the diagnosis more. Baumann & DeGroot is proud to serve the heating & cooling, ventilation, fireplace, and air quality needs of the following communities in West Michigan: Holland, Grand Rapids, South Haven, Grand Haven, Grandville, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Saugatuck, Allendale, Walker, Wyoming, Hamilton, Fennville, West Olive, and Zeeland. Turns out these ultrasonic humidifiers vaporiz . About 2 weeks later another problem arose I woke up to a cold home the temperature had got down to about 65F and it was 2am in the morning. A clogged filter can cause a variety of problems, including expensive breakdowns and system inefficiencies. It was white soot in 80% furnace due to incomplete combustion. Dirty, clogged furnace filters - the best way to damage your furnace - Duration: 1:48. What appears to be an all-white, clean furnace filter, (see above and held up to the light at left) is actually clogged with calcium and lime particulate matter that leeches into the air when homeowners run a vaporizer without distilled water. Looking clean, we would put the filter back in and struggle through the diagnosis more. The furnace filter actually had the white calcium powder all over it. You aren’t imagining things, this is a common issue that has just started a few years ago. 106 Lansbrook PC 1-30-09 020.jpg 800×600 39.8 KB. It will also be sucked into your return ducts and will block your heater filter. This pesky white powder is a common problem and comes from a very overlooked source. Remember, its best to change your filters at the beginning of heating season and at least every 3 months after. Examine the blower fan and motor for signs of dust as well as the furnace controls. According to the Mayo Clinic, humidifiers can ease the symptoms of colds and the effects of dry indoor air, including cracked lips and dry skin. Here I was thinking that I was going to save money by not having to replace humidifier wicks, and I ended up spending $80 for an HVAC Tech to tell me that my $5 furnace filter was clogged. We see many heating repairs caused by clogged filters. “Do I need a new furnace filter, do I need to upgrade my filter?” you ask yourself. The effects of a clogged air filter in your HVAC system can end up causing damage to the air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace so make sure you keep the air filter clean and free of debris. Overheating: More heat will be trapped inside the furnace because of the clogged filter, and this will cause the limit switch to shut off the furnace early to prevent overheating. Potential Problems Caused by a Dirty Furnace Filter. The furnace filter performs integral duties in your furnace system, and when it’s clogged with air contaminants, dust, and other debris, it prevents air from circulating properly. Furnace air filters should be replaced every 1 to 3 months, regardless of any heating or airflow issues. You will literally be … Re: White Powder From Vents Maytag Furnace Originally Posted by Al Hendry. Regularly check and change your air filter- A clogged air filter can cause a buildup of soot inside the flue (the tunnel where combustion gases exit outdoors). This also leads to a furnace that short-cycles, which puts more stress on the system. Pull out the air filter. Not the kind that is part of your duct system, but an appliance style humidifier similar to the ones pictured? Well I called one of the HVAC companies in the area and asked them if they had any idea. Scott Patterson. BuildingHomes.ca - Building your community! I am even considering buying the washable type but I decided that the type of dust in the filter probably wouldn’t be removed easily with washing or vacuuming. I looked through the manual and found that it could be a number of things but it ended up being a clogged filter. We changed to a evaporation type humidifier with a filter that filters the air that comes into our room. My home is 2.5 years old and only started noticing it this past winter. 190 Series 30X16 Stamped Steel Return Air Filter Grille with Fixed Hinge, White Powder Coat Finish. If a clogged filter damaged any internal components, replace the filter and contact a professional immediately. Look at the air conditioning coil. Pick Up in Store. • How To – How Often Should You Clean Your Fireplace. My original installer is scheduled to install the Radio Noise Shield Kit to stop the excessive interference the inducer motor produces as well. You can’t keep your stove running 24/7 for 5 months. The only one I can see is moving to a place where you never need a heater. The filter quickly fills up and can no longer allow air through. This furnace filter has an FPR rating of 10 (or a MERV of 13), meaning it can capture particles as small as .3 microns, and it even has an electrostatic charge that helps attract microscopic particles. Typically a furnace will overheat if the air filter is plugged and the furnace can’t pull enough air through it to cool the heat exchanger down. Of course I am buying the really cheap paper ones not the $10 ones or the cheapo Fiberglass ones that are of no use. This is sometimes the result of a clogged oil filter causing oil to flow into your exhaust system where it burns up. If white particles show up on the filters, the furnace is the source of the problem. Share on Linked In Your furnace’s fan is … White Powder Substance in Furnace & Humidifier Filter Ottawa. This white powder gets sucked into the ductwork and collects on the filter, often clogging it up and causing the furnace to trip out on high heat limit due to poor air flow. This furnace popping noise can also be the result of a clogged ignitor or clogged gas valve, both of which can indicate major problems. Electronic filters should be cleaned weekly. 2. View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Visit Homepage Member Join Date Mar 2007 Location Spring Hill (Nashville), TN Posts 5,851. We recommend getting rid of these ultrasonic humidifiers and installing a whole home humidifier. I found that there are at least a handful of other people that are complaining about the same problem. Your furnace’s flame sensor could also be sensing a problem in your system, shutting off the gas at startup for safety reasons. And, it did it in only 3 weeks. One other big mistake that will have the same effect of closed-off supply vents. From that point on I went through a new filter about every 3 weeks. Francine Viola 9,523 views. A new filter will return your system to operating use and if you don’t have one on hand you can probably suck the dust off the face of the filter and replace it long enough to go out and buy some more. You could also install a whole home water softener or use only distilled water in your humidifier but thats a bit of overkill. Calcium and lime was released into this homeowner’s air because of vaporizer use. Check your filter's label to see what type it is and clean it accordingly. Tune-up . Having replaced the filter 2 months before I was wondering how it got clogged so fast. I was able to reduce my water intake and stop using eye drops to cure a problem the heater was causing. Well if the dust buildup is not caught before the filter is completely blocked or blocked so much that it is restricting air flow enough to set off one of your sensor then yes it will shut down your system. Clean the white powder from indoor surfaces with a soft cloth or feather duster.