How To Protect Vents From Remodeling Dust
Keeping Constructions Dust Out Of Heating and Cooling Vents
Construction or remodeling dust can be an issue on the jobsite and can wreak havok on HVAC duct system and furnace. This article will discuss simple and effective ways on how to protect vents from remodeling dust.
Keeping dust out of heating or cooling vents is easy if all you have to do is tape over them but what if you need the keep the heat or air conditioning on?
Leaving vents open, especially floor vents, during construction will result in excessive dust and debris collecting on the air handler coils as well as a costly cleaning after the project is over.
Leaving The Heat or Cool Air On During Construction:
Building in the cooler climates often necessitates using the heat to warm the space, and help with the dry out process of building materials, plaster or painting. The same principle applies to cooling and dehumidifying the space when installing plaster in hot climates.
Protect Your Duct And Allow Airflow:
There are a few products, like Pro-Vent, that does an excellent job at protecting HVAC vents during construction but they usually sell for $500 per 100 covers. Pro-vent duct cover fit over rough-in duct work allowing conditioned air to flow in. at the same time it prevents dust, dirt and debris from getting into the duct work. The Pro-Tect covers are reusable and the filter can be cleaned.
Low Cost Alternative:
One low cost, high yield tip that we employ on our jobsites is to purchase furnace filters or fiberglass filter media. This material comes in sheets or rolls and can be easily cut to custom sizes.
Simply cut it to fit over your rough in floor duct and secure it in place with a few screws. The fiberglass filter media material will allow the air to flow out of the vent and trap large dirt particles and debris. You will still need to vacuum your duct at the rough in but not nearly as much if you did nothing.
Protecting Wall Air Returns:
On the air return wall vents you can attach temporary air filters which will capture and prevent airborne dust to enter the duck work
