Wall-Thru Unit & Allergies
Okay, I have those wall-thru heating/cooling fan units in my apartment. One in each room with seperate controls. Total electricity hogs, but that’s another matter. Every time I run the unit in my bedroom, overnight, I wake up sniffly, puffy, sore throat etc. typical allergy symptoms. This doesn’t matter if it’s outputting heat in the…
Okay, I have those wall-thru heating/cooling fan units in my apartment. One in each room with seperate controls. Total electricity hogs, but that’s another matter. Every time I run the unit in my bedroom, overnight, I wake up sniffly, puffy, sore throat etc. typical allergy symptoms. This doesn’t matter if it’s outputting heat in the winter, or AC in the summertime. Same symptoms.
The nights I don’t have to run it, I NEVER wake up with these symptoms. But my bedroom is a corner room facing Southeast so 2 sides are not insulated by other interior spaces. It does get considerably colder / warmer than the rest of the apartment. Unfortunately, this forces me to use the thing more than I really want to.
The filter is removable and cleanable (not disposable), but even regular cleanings has not helped my situation. My only assumption is that the fan is just recirculating airborne dust all night and that’s what’s messing with me. yuck.
So, aside from leaving this apartment, (which I am actually considering and this is one of the cons on the list), does anyone have any ideas on what I could do here to help fix the situation?
Thanks!
BoD
Snappy Name, they produce ozone as a by-product which is really bad for your lungs. Check out consumer reports on the web for the articles. Sharper Image went out of business because of their failed lawsuit over this product. I use the rabbit air purifier for my kid. Works great.
update: i dug a little deeper into the fan unit. the sleeve and fan blades were absolutely covered with caked on dirt/dust. probs 20 years worth! (this building is c.1990) the sleeve itself is in good shape.
i cleaned all the blades and sleeve pretty thoroughly. fingers crossed….thank you!
BklynButler…I didn’t hear about that! In what way were they hazardous?
i got 2 air purifiers for JR a couple of years ago.. were maybe $120/ea. i run them periodically. good for NYC no matter what.
re the A/C unit: i used to have these. you definitely need a service man to come out once a year or every other year and really do a thorough cleaning and inspection. will save you money in electricity and will make the units last longer.
ISNH: Did you see the court settlement that was reached on those air “purifiers”? They’re quite hazardous.
BOD…I know they are out of business now, but check on Ebay or something for one of the Sharper Image air cleaners. I have the worst allergies and asthma. My parents bought me two of them as a gift and they are the best things I’ve ever used. It attracts and sucks up all kinds of yuckies even in large rooms. There is no filter to replace, you simply remove the metal ‘yucky catcher’ and wipe it down with a damp paper towel and put it back in. It’s amazing how much cleaner they get the air. And, I’m living in a carpeted apartment with a cat and I smoke in here sometimes, so that says a lot about the power of these things. The model I recommend is the Ionic Breeze with Germicide Protection.
mod, eww eww eww, but a very valid point.
i will check that too, thank you!
Even if the sleeve is intact there might be a crack or opening near the intake contributing dust and what not. Maybe some caulking would help.
I’m wondering if the sleeve is intact. If there is a hole or rusted through area you might be sucking a 100 years worth of rat dandruff, rat shit, plaster dust, asbestos etc, need I go on?, from between the inner and outer walls.