Dust in the listening room - does a HEPA purifier actually help with gear?

[ingridkel55]

Dust in the listening room - does a HEPA purifier actually help with gear? My setup lives in a finished basement room, and dust is a real nuisance down there. I am wiping a visible film off the turntable platter and the tops of my tube amps every couple of weeks, and I keep finding fuzz on the driver grilles. I have been reading a bit about air purifiers and came across this write-up on a PuroAir 240 two-pack: PuroAir 240 HEPA Air Purifier 2-Pack Review | RateThePick Before I spend anything I would like to hear from people who actually run one in their listening room. Does a HEPA unit meaningfully cut down dust settling on gear, or does it mostly just move air around and dry the room out? I am also curious whether the fan noise bothers you during quiet passages. Thanks in advance.

 

[trinhsman]

We have central heating and cooling in our home. I only use the highest filtering filters.
Seems to help, but nothing stops everything.
I’m more likely to see a slight film on my turntable cover compared to dust.

 

[sound hound]

Without air blowing it around, most dust usually settles on the floor or other horizontal surfaces. It can help to look for the source of the dust. Sometimes it is the furnace. It can also be a vacuum cleaner that redistributes the dust from the floor to the exhaust of the vacuum. I remember the time I was vacuuming and the bag in the vacuum broke, talk about dust!

 

[RVT1K]

Dust in the listening room - does a HEPA purifier actually help with gear? My setup lives in a finished basement room, and dust is a real nuisance down there. I am wiping a visible film off the turntable platter and the tops of my tube amps every couple of weeks, and I keep finding fuzz on the driver grilles. I have been reading a bit about air purifiers and came across this write-up on a PuroAir 240 two-pack: PuroAir 240 HEPA Air Purifier 2-Pack Review | RateThePick Before I spend anything I would like to hear from people who actually run one in their listening room. Does a HEPA unit meaningfully cut down dust settling on gear, or does it mostly just move air around and dry the room out? I am also curious whether the fan noise bothers you during quiet passages. Thanks in advance.

What kind of heating -if any- is in the basement?? I would address the filtering of any forced-air system first.
If it is unheated or has baseboard heating, than I think a filter may help but I have no experience or advice to offer.

But dusting every couple of weeks doesn't sound bad to me at all.

 

[Indy33]

I built this filter system out of extruded aluminum for the frame, like what's used in 3D printers. I almost never have to dust for several months with 4 - MERV 13 16x25x1 filters. The house HVAC uses MERV 10. It runs 24x7 on a medium speed. When cleaning records I just wheel it into the kitchen an hour or two prior the starting

Filters

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GZ8HF4

I used this Infinity Fan.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNWTQ42

I used Shapr3D to create the 3D model.

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This YouTuber shows how to make the same filter I have, but for far less cost. He hot glues the filters to each other, no frame needed. He also compares the Infinity fan to a box fan for noise.

.

 

[Lucky Pierre]

IMO, @Indy33 is on to something there. HEPA filters are overkill for dust. You need two things: adequate filtration, which can be accomplished with MERV 8 or 11 filters, and air changes per hour. No matter what filter you use, if you are not changing the air through the filters no filter will work well. Those units you posted simply do not move enough air, nor do they do it efficiently. Remember, moving air creates noise, too.

 

[Hajidub]

What type of flooring in that basement? All tile in my basement and dusting is usually every couple months. Laid hardwood upstairs and got rid of carpet, now that dust Caterpillar on the leading edge of the ceiling fans is nonexistent. No matter how clean you think your carpet is, like we did, just wait till you pull it up (a cesspool).

 

[SinglePoint]

I have six similar air filter units spread through my home that are sized to process the air in each room four or five times an hour. Their pre filters capture a lot of crap (dust, lint, hair, etc.). While they do cut down on general dusting, they do not eliminate the need. Mine change fan speed depending on the air quality the sense. In a listening room, noise could be a problem, except while on the lowest setting, which does not do as much filtering...

 

[charles 1973]

One of the display rooms at a local Long and Mcquade store uses a large hepa filter machine in one of the display rooms with dozens of amazing guitars, both electric and Accoustic.

With Accoustic guitars I'd be concerned about dust getting inside the body through the sound hole.

 

[Quadman2]

Good question bout "dust".

Lot of it suspended in the air, due to indoor/outdoor sources, and you, producing more skin cells/dandruff , along with any other life forms in your house.

Over a long period of time, due to accumulation of dust, it might be significant. Trades people share to keeping clean all compressors of appliances, and to a degree, audio gear might be considered as well. A can of compressed air might do the job, but if there's a significant amount of dust, take the unit outside to clean, and/or wear a mask if done indoors!

There are various air cleaners available, and the more efficient ones are not cheap. A constant check on the furnace filters are a must!

My wife uses a Japanese "Nikken" air filter that she swears by, and I've a couple of other cleaners used, but mostly for Winter application.

I vacuum every other day, and with a long-haired dog, it's quite obvious the need to do this chore.

FWIW

Q

 

[curtisw99]

Dust in the listening room - does a HEPA purifier actually help with gear? My setup lives in a finished basement room, and dust is a real nuisance down there. I am wiping a visible film off the turntable platter and the tops of my tube amps every couple of weeks, and I keep finding fuzz on the driver grilles. I have been reading a bit about air purifiers and came across this write-up on a PuroAir 240 two-pack: PuroAir 240 HEPA Air Purifier 2-Pack Review | RateThePick Before I spend anything I would like to hear from people who actually run one in their listening room. Does a HEPA unit meaningfully cut down dust settling on gear, or does it mostly just move air around and dry the room out? I am also curious whether the fan noise bothers you during quiet passages. Thanks in advance.

Get a robot vacuum and a polyester duster.

Most dust is on the floor and gets kicked up when you move around.

Your be shocked at how much dust the robots pick up.

 

[Indy33]

Those units you posted simply do not move enough air, nor do they do it efficiently. Remember, moving air creates noise,

Sorry for the delay, I've been out of town for a week.

This fan can can do the following in a 15 z 15 x 8 ft or 1800 cfm room
Using high speed as an example ...
(1040 x 60) / 1800 = 34.3 times / hour room turnover



I would be interested in a better fan with better air flow and efficiency. Can you suggest another fan?

I thought AC Infinity fan were considered a quality product, but maybe not. I run the fan 24/7 on a Medium speed. Then I just turn if off when listening.When recording or cleaning I run it High.

Did you watch the video, he compared the Infinity fan to a box fan and it was considerably quieter.

CLOUDLIFT S12, Floor Wall Fan 12" with Wireless Controller

Increase room circulation using the Cloudlift S12 floor and wall fan. This powerful 12-inch system features a wireless remote for simple adjustments.

acinfinity.com

 

[Indy33]

Mine change fan speed depending on the air quality the sense

How does that work?

 

[RVT1K]

How does that work?

I don't have any specific info but...

I interviewed at a company that made equipment that measured particulates in air. When I asked a similar question the answer was that the air -or any other gas- was forced through an area where a laser crossed the stream. A detector picked up interruptions in the flow.

 

[SinglePoint]

How does that work?

Yeah, there is a small sensor on the side of the unit that measures air quality (senses particulates). My particular models use infrared sensors, while some do use lasers...