• Air Purifier in PC dust out ? Practical solution right ?
    14 replies, posted
I am looking for a practical solution to get rid of static cling and dust which is everywhere in my studio apartment. Even after throwing some dust filters on the fans the amount of case cleaning I had to do didn't reduce and there was dust everywhere. So I figured out the only way I could get rid of this fine dust making its way and clinging onto all the electronic equipment was by getting rid of it before it settles down everywhere .Looked online for options and realized air purifiers are a good way to get rid of dust so went ahead and ordered this Clair TD1866 ([url]http://go-clair.com/[/url]). So I guess an air purifier is an unconventional but practical route to take to get rid of the PC dust problem. What do you guys think?
Literally, you can keep that way if your house is really clean. And your case is not on the floor/carpet... Dude, it sounds cool. Why don't I think of that before?
take more showers, remove dead skins cells, profit?? but dust filters should do it.
Get some of these and put them wherever air enters your PC: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Vent-Mate-Register-Dust-Filters/dp/B000UVHD8Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418096545&sr=8-2&keywords=vent+filters[/url] They get rid of TONS of dust, just make sure you wash them out like once a month. You can also get some of those $5 spun fiberglass filters and slap them on the back of a 20" box fan which will get rid of large particulates. You can't use one of those micro fiber corrugated filters on a box fan though because the fans don't have enough static pressure and will overheat.
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;46673002]Get some of these and put them wherever air enters your PC: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Vent-Mate-Register-Dust-Filters/dp/B000UVHD8Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418096545&sr=8-2&keywords=vent+filters[/url] They get rid of TONS of dust, just make sure you wash them out like once a month. You can also get some of those $5 spun fiberglass filters and slap them on the back of a 20" box fan which will get rid of large particulates. You can't use one of those micro fiber corrugated filters on a box fan though because the fans don't have enough static pressure and will overheat.[/QUOTE] Hmm I already use dust filters (magnetic ones which are more expensive and supposedly more efficient) but the problem is fine dust . I reside in Hong Kong where the visibility is less than eight kilometers for 30% of the year due to pollution . Its common practice to use air purifiers for health reasons . I felt it would be a logical solution to capture all that fine dust using an air purifier before it settles comfortably on my PC , Television and all other electronic equipment. [editline]11th December 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=ellaatpaul;46672589]Literally, you can keep that way if your house is really clean. And your case is not on the floor/carpet... Dude, it sounds cool. Why don't I think of that before?[/QUOTE] Maybe you come from a place where they don't require too many air purifiers that's the reason you probably didn't think about it .
If you have heavy amounts of fine particulate pollution then you need something like an electrostatic precipitator with a high volume of airflow. Something like this: [url]https://www.filtersfast.com/P-Crane-EE-8072-Germ-Defense-Electrostatic-Purifier.asp[/url] Or if you want to go crazy: [url]http://comfortfirst.com/p-146385-sunpentown-heavy-duty-air-cleaner-w-hepa-carbon-voc-tio2.aspx[/url] Small low volume passive filters aren't going to remove enough pollution out of the air to offset new contaminated air coming from doors, windows or air leaks between seals on either or cracks in walls. I have several passive filters around the house and two electrostatic precipitators (allergens in central Texas are horrible all year round) and I don't think I'd be able to live without them. They're all worth their weight in gold. I can see how nasty the filters get each month, which is stuff that I don't have to breathe in.
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;46695412]If you have heavy amounts of fine particulate pollution then you need something like an electrostatic precipitator with a high volume of airflow. Something like this: [url]https://www.filtersfast.com/P-Crane-EE-8072-Germ-Defense-Electrostatic-Purifier.asp[/url] Or if you want to go crazy: [url]http://comfortfirst.com/p-146385-sunpentown-heavy-duty-air-cleaner-w-hepa-carbon-voc-tio2.aspx[/url] Small low volume passive filters aren't going to remove enough pollution out of the air to offset new contaminated air coming from doors, windows or air leaks between seals on either or cracks in walls. I have several passive filters around the house and two electrostatic precipitators (allergens in central Texas are horrible all year round) and I don't think I'd be able to live without them. They're all worth their weight in gold. I can see how nasty the filters get each month, which is stuff that I don't have to breathe in.[/QUOTE] How do you clean the filters and how often do you replace them? btw electrostatic precipitators are ionisers right ? I heard they release ozone and irritate the lungs and don't do much to actually get rid of the dust. Found an old article pertaining to this [URL="http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-skeptic21apr21-story.html"]http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-skeptic21apr21-story.html[/URL] The place where I reside is not that fogged up due to pollution but like I mentioned its the fine dust which is a nuisance .I end up cleaning my pc dust filters once every 2 to 3 weeks. I am sick and tired of the routine of dismantling it and blowing compressed air until I see that no more dust come out of the air filter and once I reinstall my filter it is just good for probably another 2 weeks. I just wanted something to save me all this hassle and that's the reason I thought of exploring this option of using a room air purifier instead because I read these filters don't require replacement for a year and I can just use vacuum cleaner to clean them .
Electrostatic precipitators do have the potential to create Ozone and NOx, but this is almost always a result of improper maintenance (not cleaning the unit properly or often enough) or if the unit is in some failure mode where arcing starts to happen. HEPA filters probably work better, but the filters are expensive. Some HEPA units require multiple filters that can run hundreds of dollars for replacements that usually must be replaced every 3-6 months. Electrostatic precipitator collection plates can be washed and reused over and over. Some units do have pre-filters to remove larger contaminants but these are far cheaper and can also usually be washed for reuse. HEPA units also have the problem where the filters can become breeding grounds for mold and other nasty things if they get enough organic material or get slightly damp. As for how often I clean my units, usually once or twice a month. They could go for longer but I don't want to lose efficiency due to clogged filters.
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;46723653]Electrostatic precipitators do have the potential to create Ozone and NOx, but this is almost always a result of improper maintenance (not cleaning the unit properly or often enough) or if the unit is in some failure mode where arcing starts to happen. HEPA filters probably work better, but the filters are expensive. Some HEPA units require multiple filters that can run hundreds of dollars for replacements that usually must be replaced every 3-6 months. Electrostatic precipitator collection plates can be washed and reused over and over. Some units do have pre-filters to remove larger contaminants but these are far cheaper and can also usually be washed for reuse. HEPA units also have the problem where the filters can become breeding grounds for mold and other nasty things if they get enough organic material or get slightly damp. As for how often I clean my units, usually once or twice a month. They could go for longer but I don't want to lose efficiency due to clogged filters.[/QUOTE] Hmm yes HEPA filters can be slightly expensive especially the big ones . I remember a friend who owned one of those and told me how much more expensive it became once she factored in the filter replacement cost and what a hassle it was to clean them and also how noisy it eventually became . That's the reason I thought I'll try out this relatively small air purifier . It just cost me $200 and looks like I need to replace the filters just once in 18 months . I'm planning to use this along with magnetic dust filters for my casing . I hope it works well.
Tons of HEPA units and regular filter fan units of all types end up in second hand stores for that reason. Many of them are suitable for making your own filters out of rolls of furnace filter and carbon pre-filters. They don't work for smoke and tiny particles, but they'll still get rid of larger particulates that would otherwise float around for cheap.
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;46740302]Tons of HEPA units and regular filter fan units of all types end up in second hand stores for that reason. Many of them are suitable for making your own filters out of rolls of furnace filter and carbon pre-filters. They don't work for smoke and tiny particles, but they'll still get rid of larger particulates that would otherwise float around for cheap.[/QUOTE] From what I read online it all depends on the filter fibers .For instance when I checked the Clair website it says it can capture particles smaller than 0.1 micron. That is very small right ? There is an under $25 DIY air purifier video on you tube. That's a good option as well but since I don't have that much space and it would look out of space in my small apartment I felt small HEPA room air purifier is a better option.
When making DIY filters, you have to take into account the power of the fan/blower in the unit when making filters. You can't just slap any filter into any device and expect it to work. If you put a filter that's too restrictive in, the fan/blower won't move any air and potentially overheat and fail. Those tiny particulate filters are very restrictive and require somewhat powerful fans/blowers to move any volume of air through. One way to get around this is to make a bypass to allow more air into the device that doesn't go through the fine filter. I experimented with making a housing on the back of a box fan out of cardboard that would work with a 20x20 filter and then cut additional holes into the side of the housing and put some much less restrictive furnace filter as a bypass. The end result was more air went through the furnace filter than the microfiber filter, but the microfiber filter still got enough airflow to be effective.
[QUOTE=olive;46740357]There is an under $25 DIY air purifier video on you tube. That's a good option as well but since I don't have that much space and it would look out of space in my small apartment I felt small HEPA room air purifier is a better option.[/QUOTE] I think I know what you are talking about . I have seen the DIY video on You tube . If you have space constraint then its not a good option . It is way too big . I think the Clair air purifier you are considering is not bad and the price looks reasonable . The fans seem a little weak to me but I think the e2f filter doesn't need a high rating fan . It should serve the purpose . Just make sure you don't place the PC casing on the floor . A good casing and this air purifier together should suffice .
[QUOTE=udo;46767228]I think I know what you are talking about . I have seen the DIY video on You tube . If you have space constraint then its not a good option . It is way too big . I think the Clair air purifier you are considering is not bad and the price looks reasonable . The fans seem a little weak to me but I think the e2f filter doesn't need a high rating fan . It should serve the purpose . Just make sure you don't place the PC casing on the floor . A good casing and this air purifier together should suffice .[/QUOTE] I gave up on the DIY idea. Its been over two weeks since I have been using that Clair air purifier and I am not saying I see a sea change of difference but I feel there is less dust on everywhere especially on my PC . For the past few weeks I just had to vacuum once a week and my sneezing fits and red eyes which I'd somehow gotten used to over a period have surprisingly stopped.So I am not complaining :) [editline]14th January 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;46740392]When making DIY filters, you have to take into account the power of the fan/blower in the unit when making filters. You can't just slap any filter into any device and expect it to work. If you put a filter that's too restrictive in, the fan/blower won't move any air and potentially overheat and fail. Those tiny particulate filters are very restrictive and require somewhat powerful fans/blowers to move any volume of air through. One way to get around this is to make a bypass to allow more air into the device that doesn't go through the fine filter. I experimented with making a housing on the back of a box fan out of cardboard that would work with a 20x20 filter and then cut additional holes into the side of the housing and put some much less restrictive furnace filter as a bypass. The end result was more air went through the furnace filter than the microfiber filter, but the microfiber filter still got enough airflow to be effective.[/QUOTE] I just lost patience for the DIY idea and went ahead with those room air purifiers. I feel its not bad because I see less dust around my home but I also make sure I clean my PC and electronics one a week with an anti static cloth. I keep the air purifier switched on 24/7 because it barely consumes any power. At present I can say my dust haven looks and feels a lot more liveable.
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