Furnace Filter Update

I am sure you have all been dying to hear about our furnace filter adventures...

Here's our furnace filter before:

Notice how it was definitely not sealing anything. I'm also not convinced anymore that it is actually a hammock filter furnace, despite the sticker on the exterior... but I can't figure out what else would work.

I removed the old filter, vacuumed out the excessive dust accumulated in the blower compartment, and then rigged up this:

Thanks to Muskego Jeff and Robj98168 for their advice!

I'll still probably have an HVAC person come out and take a look when we next have $50, but it will certainly work better than the previous filter. Here's to a (more) dust-free winter.

SPECIAL BONUS FURNACE:
It's time now for your special bonus furnace question! My sister has a Chrysler Airtemp 4208-04BD furnace that she has been struggling to fit a filter into. Last year she used a 16x20 that she jammed into the front bracket and held in place with a brick. There was still a good sized gap. According to her, there is some sort of bracket at the front and a not quite matching one that you can kind of see in the photo at the back.


Now THAT'S an old furnace. My initial reaction is that it is a smaller than 1 inch slab filter. Find a 1/2 or 3/4 inch filter to the exact size of the opening between the brackets, and slide it in. Hard to tell from pictures, though. Anyone have this furnace or have thoughts?

Stop the Leaks! Update

What have you all been doing to increase your home's efficiency this week? I'd love to hear about everything you've been doing!

We have been struggling with our furnace air filter situation. I'll update as soon as we get it figured out. I'm planning on moving onto windows this week; storm windows, heavy lined curtains, and more!

Wordles on Furnace Filters and Such

A little Friday/Saturday fun! Fred at One Project Closer asked us to provide a wordle of our ongoing projects...

I can't figure out how to get a great screen shot of it, so you'll have to click on the wordle to see it in all its glory. Notice how prominently our new challenge, "Stop the Leaks" is featured!

Look What I Found!

It's taking all of my self control to avoid ripping the floors up right now.
Here's a picture of our cold air return (minus the grate):



Those are tongue and groove floor boards UNDER a layer of nasty carpet and a layer of plywood. They are damp in the picture, since I had just wiped the drywall dust off of them; in real life, they appear to be pine.

Thanks to a tip from a poster on the Old House Web Forums, I ripped off our cold air returns to see if I could simply place furnace filters behind these grates. Unfortunately, these returns are just drywall and studs. I'm pleased to see that my efforts weren't entirely in vain, however!

Missing Parts and Lots of Dust

I went to change the furnace filter today. We have an early 80's Lennox furnace that uses a hammock style filter. This type of filter is basically a fiberglass sheet clamped onto a wire basket or frame that is inserted by the cold air intake.

Here are the instructions:



There is supposed to be a frame holding the hammock filter in place.

Here is what is actually IN my furnace:



It's just a 2'x3' sheet of fiberglass filter material shoved up there! It is free floating, and not attached or clamped to anything. No WONDER there is dust all over our house.

I called a few heating supply places in town; they don't sell to the general public, and don't even know if they can get the part needed.

Any ideas?

Changing Your Furnace Filter

Changing (or cleaning) your furnace filter every 60 days will increase the efficiency of your home. A clean filter maximizes your furnace's efficiency and longevity and minimizes your energy bills. It also decreases allergens and morning sniffles due to dust build up.

Most of us (ourselves included) have never touched our furnace; NOW is the time to dig in there and figure out your furnace filter.

How to Replace Your Furnace Filter:
First, locate the air filter. Depending on the furnace design, it can either be located in the blower door unit itself or located between the blower and the return air duct. You may need a screwdriver to help pry open the access panel or blower door.

Steps to Changing a STANDARD Furnace Filter:
1) TURN OFF YOUR FURNACE! (Throw the breaker or pull the fuse to it, also).
2) Locate your furnace filter and determine the type. If you are lucky, there will be a diagram label on your furnace showing where. If not, it can either be located in the blower door unit itself or located between the blower and the return air duct. (There may be screws holding the panel on; use a screwdriver to remove them).
3) Remove the old filter.
4) Wash reusable filters; go out and buy a new filter for single use filters. If you are replacing a disposable furnace filter; think about putting a cleanable filter in instead. Make sure to purchase one that is electrostatic. This will reduce your overall landfill waste, and these filters are better than the standard cheap panel filters.
5) Install new furnace filter. Close furnace back up, turn power and furnace back on.
6) Every 30 to 60 days, clean or replace the new filter.

Everyone, go and change your furnace filter and start your winter out right!

Notice these are the steps for a modern furnace. Our furnace at Tiny Old House is not so modern, and uses a hammock type filter. I'll discuss this later, as I figure it out!

Again, if you would like to join us...

Stop the Leaks! Who's With Me?

With the rising costs of heating fuel (natural gas in our case) AND concerns about dependence on fossil fuels (both domestic and foreign), we need to do do something this year. Here at Tiny Old House, we plan on spending the next month "stopping the leaks" in our house to save both money and help the environment. Get ready winter, because here we come!

On this blog, I'll focus on a few projects each week that will help improve energy efficiency and keep the chill away; some will be old and some brand new. With our house exterior and windows newly exposed to the elements, we have a LOT of work to do, too. Windows to caulk and seal, storms to replace, doors and windows to weatherstrip, and more!

I'm challenging each one of you to join me; projects are always more fun as a group. We learn so much from each other, too. I'll post links to the "challengees" in my sidebar under the challenge button so you can find others who are working towards the same goals; also, I'll post weekly "round ups" on Sundays for successes and failures, new ideas and finished projects. Come join us... it'll be fun!

To join, leave a comment below! If you'd like the nifty little challenge button I created, copy this code into your blog:

<a href="http://tinyoldhouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/stop-leaks-whos-with-me.html"></a><a href="http://tinyoldhouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/stop-leaks-whos-with-me.html"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j211/jennifermollyandkirby/P3220136-1.jpg" /></a>