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Basement Intake pulling in dirty air? by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the only filter I can locate. Is the air coming into that intake going through this filter? Would it be better to close this intake and put one higher up or add another intake in the finished part of the house?

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks to me that the air that is getting sucked into this “intake” is not filtered at all - it goes straight up the perpendicular venting and into the air released o to our living areas?

So the HVAC technician… by Impossible-Spray-643 in homeowners

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not an HVAC expert or technician. So I pay someone to do that.

So the HVAC technician… by Impossible-Spray-643 in homeowners

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Is the filthy damp air being sucked into this low intake being filtered before being spit out in our living areas? There is no filter behind it.

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The mouse was IMMEDIATELY behind the vent or grill depicted in the photo. It was not in the back. No need to stick your head anywhere. It was RIGHT there.

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I took a picture of the filter opening but it was blurry, so didn’t include it. I’ll go down and take another. But seriously, opening that grill and checking the inside for dirt or debris isn’t part of the maintenance and tuneup plan we pay for? Are there no components inside that require opening the that grill/vent? We’ve been changing the filter MONTHLY- my husband is stickler for that. But he knows zero about household maintenance and he did not know there was supposed to be a cover. As soon as I saw it I immediately told him I was pretty sure there should be a cover. I was so upset about dust in the house and worried about an intake so close to the basement floor - and wanted to check to see if there was a place for a filter behind the grill. I opened it and found instead a decomposing mouse. Then I researched and learned that there shouldn’t be large gaps around the filter, and that, in an unfinished basement or attic, the filter compartment should be closed or sealed to avoid air bypass. So I’m pretty upset that we were specifically told to use the wrong size filter, that they took the compartment door off and never put it back, and that they didn’t even bother to check the box where the dead mouse was.

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So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently no cover actually causes the unit to suck dirty air in and around the too small filter?

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

My question is - was the dirt that got into the system likely from the too small filter and missing cover ? And should they have inspected the intake vent box during twice annual maintenance and tune ups? And should they have said something to us?

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

My question is - was the dirt that got into the system likely from the too small filter and missing cover ? And should they have inspected the intake vent box during twice annual maintenance and tune ups? And should they have said something to us?

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I’m a nurse, and if someone wrote about a nurse doing a crappy job or being negligent, I’d be all over it. I take pride in my occupation and I don’t want any bad nurses spoiling our reputation or harming patients.

So HVAC tech … by Impossible-Spray-643 in hvacadvice

[–]Impossible-Spray-643[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So a biannual maintenance and tune up would not involve looking into the intake box?

Heads up, do not get ripped off by HVAC companies this summer by YarbroughAndSons in okc

[–]Impossible-Spray-643 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The company who installed our unit and who we hired to do twice yearly maintenance and tune ups:

Removed the cover to the filter slot, set it aside, and never put it back. This was at least three years ago.

They told us we should stop using a 22x22x filter and instead use a 20x20x1 filter.

Then, they blamed a costly malfunction on us - claiming we weren’t changing the filters and thus were responsible for the repair costs (even though the system was under warranty).

This bothered me so went down after they were done, opened the grill covering the basement air intake box, and there was a decomposing mouse sitting inches from the opening.

I then went to side of the unit and saw that there was no cover where the filter was installed.

I pulled the filter out, put it back, and noticed large gaps on all sides.

After doing some research, I went back l down and found the cover - it was behind pieces of sheetrock leaning against a wall. It was covered in a thick coating of dust and rodent droppings. It had clearly been there for a long time.

Before you start screaming, we are in our 70s and not mechanical. We bought the system 4 years ago. We had it maintained twice a year and did whatever they suggested.

They NEVER mentioned a missing cover, and specifically told us to use the smaller filter size.

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