How to Make a Better DIY Air Purifier
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- Опубліковано 6 чер 2024
- Greetings folks! This is a build video in which I show you STEP-BY-STEP how to build my DIY air purifier. It is quieter and more powerful than a Corsi-Rosenthal box (aka Comparetto Cube). It cost me less than a high quality commercially sold air purifier, so it's an effective budget option. Most importantly, it improves my home's air quality a lot!
Intro: 0:00
Intro to my design: 0:10
Why my design is superior to others: 1:03
HOW TO BUILD IT (please see my pinned comment for a couple notes): 3:41
Airflow (cfm) and loudness tests: 16:55
Tools and materials (should cost $200-300 total, depending on what you already have on hand):
Below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. This helps support the channel at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
- 4 mm coroplast sheet (2 pack, one for sealing top, and another for sealing the bottom): amzn.to/4aAGmC5
- Straight edge: amzn.to/3Vg1MA3
- Synthetic clothesline: amzn.to/3UZmToG
- Utility knife: amzn.to/3UOsaPO
- Drawing compass: amzn.to/3WRLqyN
- Hot glue gun (Adtech Pro 75): amzn.to/44UkyQH
- Hot glue sticks: amzn.to/3UUIfUb
- Filters - 4 pack Filtrete MERV-13 (I now recommend getting 16x25): amzn.to/3VcMhc4
- Fan: AC Infinity CLOUDLIFT S12 (not Cloudline): acinfinity.com/hydroponics-gr...
The 3D Handyman's filter testing video:
• HVAC Filters vs Smoke ...
How to tie a square knot:
• The secret to tying yo...
Please like, subscribe, and share! Thanks for watching. - Навчання та стиль
Hi folks! Here’s a minor improvement to one of the steps: it would be easier to find the center of the coroplast square by drawing diagonal lines from corner to corner and marking where they intersect: ☒. You don’t need to buy the T-square if you already have a straight-edge that can measure 2 feet. Thank you to @olsondotcasey for this suggestion.
How about a link to the Coloplast fan please .
have you had to change the filter yet? if so, how long did it last?
This is the only video that mentions an EC fan. The noise reduction is a huge deal, thanks for that.
PSA - Costco has great prices on Filtrete (3M) filters.
Absolutely, I have no idea why other creators tend not to take this into account!
Great tip about Costco - I have one right nearby. I might have to make a trip there hehe. Or buy online.
You can prolong the life of the filters by adding a pre-filter to catch large-particle dust, made of fine mesh window screen or nylon Noseeum netting that can be vacuumed or removed and washed.
Yup! I was actually planning on doing that with aesthetically-pleasing thin fabric. Maybe someday. Although it’s a whole thing learning how to create a fabric sheath that fits over an air purifier.
@@HealthyHomeGuide White noseeum netting worked well. I just tacked on rectangles of it with Scotch magic tape. It holds well enough to suck onto the filter and stay in place when I vacuum it, or peels off easily enough to remove it for washing
Would like to see this demo’ed!
Isnt window screen made with fiberglass?
A note about noise measurements: Because it's a log scale you can't do straight arithmetic for either addition or subtraction. You must first take the antilog of each number, subtract, then take the log. For example: 62 dB minus 29 dB background is still 62 dB, because the difference is so small it doesn't even register. If you had 36 dB and subtracted 29 dB, the net noise of the fan is 35 dB.
Ah, thank you David.
i wish i knew what this meant lmao..
😄 me too no idea what he's talking bout
He's just saying for noise measurements, you can't simply subtract one number from the other by the way the math works.
@@growersplus IIRC 20dB is 10x louder than 10dB. Every 10 is a x10 scale change in volume, not a +10.
Hot glue and different form factor. You’ve really contributed something to the air cleaner discussion on UA-cam. I think your method is what I’ll use going forward.
Nice. I’m still using my air cleaner and it’s proven effective.
@@HealthyHomeGuide I made mine a month ago and it's changed how I feel in the shop. I didn't realize how itchy I was until I started aggressively filtering the air.
@@gte717v that’s awesome to hear that it’s protecting you.
I am so happy i found your page! I didnt want to spend so much money on these air purifiers. My cats are causing my daughter to have extreme allergies and i feel like this BIG air purifier will be such a big help for us! Thank you so much!!!
Glad I could help!
Living on the west coast with all the wildfires right now, this will be incredibly useful!
Absolutely! I was hoping that people would use it for that.
Brilliant! Using a good QUIET fan is a game changer for the bedroom especially.I have to get over the hump of the fan being expensive, but I'm sure one nite with the other cheap box fan, and you'll be kicking yourself for just not spending the extra money for sleep/serenity sake. This has been one of the most life beneficial videos I've ever watched. THUMBS UP!!!
I'm so glad to hear it was so beneficial! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I was unable to find coroplast in my country in anything smaller that an 8 foot sheet, so I cut out a piece of 3mm plywood and gave it a secure backing with the cardboard from the fan box. To make it pretty, I stained the wood and covered the edges of the filters with black contact paper. I also used 6 zip ties - one on each spoke of the fan. I Threaded these through the outside of the fan grate and there is no contact with the blades.
Glad you found it useful! Thanks for sharing your approach, sounds great.
LOVE your design, clean looking, quiet, doesn't take a lot of space, affordable and best of all, it doesn't take various/miscellaneous tools (that most of us don't have anyway!) Thank You 🙂👍
Glad you like it 😊 well said!
Great instructions. This is the least complication and beautiful I've see on you tube.
I should have paid attention in geometry class. Who knew I would need it to make a circle for an air purifier one day.
That makes my day to hear that you found my instructions clear! I totally agree with you, I never thought I’d be using a compass in daily life haha
Excellent how to! Thanks very much!
Wishing you great success on your media adventures.
Great design! I'm glad I was already subscribed to your channel! Thank you for the new better design and your research!
You're very welcome! I'm glad you dig it. Thank you for being subscribed.
This is brilliant! I want to build one now..
I am in the middle of a ferocious dust storm in West Texas. How I wish I already had this built! (Rest assured, I will soon)! Thanks for a very elegant, quiet, long-lasting, and economical filter option.
I appreciate that you understand what I was trying to do here. Good luck!
Very clever. Sometimes the best designs a the most basic ones. I am definitely going to give this a try!
Agreed! Thanks very much.
Totally agree
Amazing design and easy to replicate
Love to hear it :)
Thank goodness I found your channel while researching for air purifiers! I’m making my own now.
Nice :)
Thank you. Building mine as I type.
I love to hear it! Mine are still running to this day.
FANTASTIC!!!!!
I really like that the chloroplast can be changed out to fit available filters. I get mine at habitat stores very cheaply.
Yup, me too!
Many years ago I remember chloroplast being a packaging material at a supermarket here, in the milk section. you could take as much as you could carry.
Hi, I appreciate your approachable method. I've got one of those noisy box fans blowing on my woodstove and am looking for a quieter alternative. The box fan is powered by a thermostatically controlled power cord. This "works" because I leave the box fan turned on speed-1 and the thermostat triggers power once the woodstove is up to temperature. When the stove cools down, the fan shuts off. I love the setup but hate the fan! I'm wondering if the AC Infinity fan will retain its speed setting if the power is cut as I've described. Having to manually turn on or adjust the fan to a desired speed each cycle will not work for me. Thanks again!
LOTS OF LOVE FROM INDIA
I appreciate you!
this dude is amazing
Looks like we in Canada can only get a battery powered version of this Cloudlift fan.
Also, 16 x 30 filters are hard to find. Seems like the most common are 16 x 25.
thank you :)
Keep up the good work, bro
Will do 🙂
I assembled my first air filter based on these plans today. It was my first time playing with a glue gun, cutting coroplast, and tying square knots. Overall it was a good experience and I can see making more in the future. The basic principles make sense so I feel up for experimenting with it. I used the same fan and 16 inch wide filtrete filters, though the tallest 16 inch wide ones Costco had were a third smaller at 16 by 20 and Merv 14. On the bright side I was able to get four Merv 14 filters for $45. On speed 1 I can forget the fan is on.
I've seen some coroplast reviews saying one batch was much flimsier than another, and I may have gotten a flimsier batch as it was bending easily even before I added the fan to it, but resting on the filters and having the clothesline to stabilize it seems to work well enough. I may need to tighten the rope more. Getting the rope/clothesline through the narrow slits on the fan and tying it was the hardest part for me and I ended up using tweezers to pull it through. I might just unscrew the cage so I can get my hands in both sides of the fan cover next time. I'm much more used to zip ties. I might experiment with either a 2nd layer of coroplast or a sheet of 3/8 inch pvc, though I really like the overall simplicity of it as it is.
I’m glad you had a good overall experience! I hadn’t heard of coroplast batches varying in terms of their malleability - that’s useful to be aware of. Let me know how zip ties end up working for you if you try them. I couldn’t get the fan blades to avoid them but maybe you’ll have better luck.
@@HealthyHomeGuide I ended up using a zip tie to cinch the rope tighter around the knot and now the fan no longer sags. drive.google.com/file/d/1L0TQDb7OzZ5TlFNMmHVQZICqbYpkLCaA/view?usp=sharing
Interesting, thank you! Did you try using a zip tie to fix the coroplast to the fan instead of using a rope?
@@HealthyHomeGuide Not so far. I'm waiting for another fan to arrive. The current one worked well once I tightened the rope using the zip tie which I then trimmed to get out of the way. Had I tightened the rope better to begin with it may not have been needed. I think the rope looks better than a zip tie would, and with the way I have it now the zip tie is only visible when taking the fan out of the filter box.
@@NurseAcrobat That makes sense, thanks!
Thank you.
Happy to help!
@healthyhomeguide do you have a part number for those filters?
thanks man
Happy to help
I like how approachable this design is. I could see using it in my attic and crawlspace as I clear out old insulation and try to minimize dust, along with inside the rest of the house when renovating. Your videos make me want to start playing with glue guns and coroplast, which I'd never considered before.
I got my first home air filter in 2020 as a covid ICU nurse, The Bedroom Machine by Austin Air. It's pricey at $1000 now, but the $500+ filters which are a bit fancier than HEPA are rated to last 5 years in residential use. It's quiet and the low hum on medium speed serves as white noise while we sleep. One problem is that it's too pricey for me to get multiple of them and it would feel like a waste to put one in a dusty attic. I eventually got a $200 coway airmega for our guest bedroom and another for our living room since they were well reviewed.
Lately I've noticed a bigger difference in air quality from bringing in fresh air so I'm working on doing more of that now, while continuing to filter what I can. I finally ordered a Broan AI ERV along with larger inline filters and am looking forward to getting it installed over the next month or two.
Your comments are always great! So glad to hear that you feel this design is approachable - it should be PERFECT for insulation/dust capture given its high airflow and the particle sizes in question.
I love Austin Air. I had a Healthmate a while back - they’re cheaper at $715 USD right now.
Nice, yeah! I feel that ventilating with humidity controlled/filtered fresh air is the most impactful way to improve IAQ (that plus dehumidifying in warmer months of course). My air purifiers that are close to my ERV supply barely get dirty, it’s crazy. So cool to hear that you ordered the Broan AI!
IQ Air MultiGas with Hyper HEPA purchased in 2006 to neutralize paint, varnish, wood stain and varnish VOC's of a new home build along with toxic reclaimed water mist from choosing a lot on the 18th Fairway of a Golf Course downstream of a leaching dioxin (2, 4-5 DT aka Agent Orange) Superfund Site that was never completely remediated.
Great video and design! Is there any reasons in particular you used 16x30x1 filters instead of 16x30x2?
Thanks! I couldn’t find 3M filtrete filters in the 16x30x2 size.
Ingenious
u r the best!
☺️
thank you!!!!
You’re so welcome!
I live in Brazil and finding appropriate air filters to build this has been difficult
Nice attachment method! Note the AC Infinity Cloudlift S12 is expensive. It's better because of the EC motor and fine control, but that comes at a cost. For less cost an array of PC case fans is less expensive, uses even less power, and can be built with an even smaller footprint depending on configuration.
Airflow is difficult to accurately measure without the proper tools. The only way I've been able to do this is with a flow capture hood on the outlet with anti-swirl grid, not any type of anemometer. An anemometer is good for velocity/throw at a distance, as it includes entrained air. In an extreme example, consider how you would measure the flow of the Dyson purifiers. They rely on entrainment to create a jet of air, yet have low particle removal (despite high filtration). The best performance test is an aerosol drawdown measurement of CADR. Takes a bit of time but can be done accurately enough even with a $40 meter if you are willing to take a video of it and transcribe the readings.
Thanks David! When it comes to fans, the phrase "you get what you pay for" is even more true than usual. The AC Infinity Cloudlift S12 delivers enough airflow (it's rated at 1807 cfm) to properly purify the air, and because it's robustly constructed, it does so quietly. Of course, yes, that comes at a $159 price tag, unfortunately. There are certainly cheaper DIY air purifiers than mine, but my point in the video is that they're too loud, among other issues.
PC fans are definitely intriguing to me - I suppose you'd need multiple PC fans in a single air purifier in order to move enough air.
I appreciate your point about the nuances of airflow measurement. Your CADR method sounds really intriguing! For the purposes of my experiment in this video, I think my method (anemometer, measuring average airflow across the entire fan surface across multiple trials) is sufficient for comparing the box fan and the AC infinity fan.
@@HealthyHomeGuide Personal cooling fans are tested using a method that captures velocity at a distance and converted to a flow. That's fine for an application where total air movement is needed, but it doesn't reflect the air moving through only the fan housing, so it overstates the value. The only manufacturer that seems to measure the flow through the fan housing itself is Honeywell's turbo floor fans. If you want to "calibrate" your test method using velocity, use the HF-910 floor fan which has a flow through the housing of 1050 CFM. I've confirmed that with a flow capture hood mounted to it. It's also a whole 2-3 db quieter than box fans and ends up moving more air through a CR box. Bit of a pain to construct. Most people remove the stand/legs and mount the round fan in a round opening.
@Elfstrom Fascinating! Thanks for the measurement tip.
As for the Honeywell fan, that could work for some, for sure. Personally, I was aiming for more noise reduction compared to box fans than 2-3 dB, and more robust construction/higher static pressure motor. I also just don’t feel right about using a cheap fan made of soft plastic in an application like this, but I acknowledge it could certainly work.
@@David.Elfstrom Got any data on efficiency (highest cfm/watt) in the ranges demonstrated in this video? Also, isn't 3db increase a doubling of sound? I would choose low operation cost and quiet over saving a few dollars. Agreed?
@@DK-vx5co With general ventilation filters & a box fan the CADR/W is going to run about 5 Smoke CADR/W which is definitely into ENERGY STAR territory. Using a PC case fan array boosts it WAY up to 28 Smoke CADR/W, extremely efficient and quiet. PM2.5 CADR can be measured with low-cost optical particle counters, and the PM2.5 CADR/W will be ~ 30% higher than for smoke CADR/W in both types.
I haven't tested using the more efficient fan shown in the video, but I expect it to be in-between box fan and PC case fan array efficiency (it's a wide gap to fill!)
Yes, a 3 dB increase is a doubling, though our brain/ears don't perceive it as a doubling.
I've been thinking of making one of these with a dessicant inside to act as a filtered dehumidifier.
Actually, you don't need to measure to find the center of a square, you just need to trace the diagonals, it will be more accurate!😃
Nice build instructions. One question though. Would it not be better to turn the filters around an have the airflow through the filter from the inside out, this way capturing all particles inside the box? Maybe you need to close the box at the bottom as well then using a piece of coroplast.
Thank you! For air purifiers the fan should be blowing upwards, for two reasons:
1.) If you blow air downward into the box, there's a lot of turbulence that reduces the air flow rate.
2.) By pulling air through the filters before it hits the fan, the fan will stay cleaner.
Hi, first, thank you very much. Like others wrote, very nice effective design. But the big plus is this very quit fan. On y list meanwhile will take my big noisy black one until I buy this one you have. Again thank you very much.
I’m glad you appreciate the design ☺️ good luck!
nice project!! Have you thought up any ideas for your next version? Maybe a rubber or foam seal around the top where the fan and box meet, I know it's probably not a big issue but would seal any gaps nicely with the weight of the fan or maybe a carbon filter to neutralise odours?
Just some ideas, either way thank you for the video and all the research you've done on this! Keep up the great work
Thank you, and good question! I have a few ideas. Stay tuned ;)
We're using the Winix Zero 4 Stage Air Purifier - AUS-1050AZBU in my bedroom in Melbourne Australia. I like it shows air quality indicators like blue for good, orange for okay and red for bad. And auto night mode.
Thank you! Looks really cool. It’s always interesting to me to hear what countries other than my own are using as far as healthy home tech.
@@HealthyHomeGuide I'll go a diy version this summer like yours because we have lots of wildfires and planned burnoffs in Australia each year. So wildfire smoke is a big issue for us here. I'm sounding like a prepper now but I work from home so I want to be some from poor air quality all year round.
@MatthewBayard hahah I’ve been sounding like a prepper too. We’re just informed about the very real environmental health hazards in 2023, right!? In Vermont USA we’ve definitely had wildfire smoke as well. I work from home too.
It's also significantly better than this DIY model at purifying the air. You made a good choice. But for larger particles the DIY option is good, but it's going to miss most/all the smaller particulates.
@@santiagodracoThey just need to add a charcoal filter for that. It will trap smaller particles that. There is also good panels that are 3 in 1
Is there an alternative to the AC infinity fan? It appears to be out of stock at the moment.
Suggestion on adding charcoal filters to this? It’s easy to buy replacement charcoal filters like Winix ones. Looking for ideas
My thoughts on activated carbon filters can be summarized by this quote from an article by HVAC engineer Joey Fox:
"Carbon filters can potentially be effective if sized properly. However, air cleaners rarely provide equivalent outdoor air delivery rates for the carbon filters. They also become saturated over time and would then become ineffective. Unfortunately, many portable air cleaners do not provide clear information on the longevity and effectiveness of their carbon filters.
While carbon filters are a harmless feature, they may not necessarily deliver the desired results. Additionally, carbon filters do not remove particulate matter which includes airborne diseases. Therefore, they have no impact on addressing health concerns related to viruses or other particulate matter.
In general, when dealing with VOCs and odors, the most effective approach is through ventilation by supplying fresh outdoor air to the space."
@@HealthyHomeGuide pretty much I agree with you. However when the outdoor air is polluted with forest fire smoke, charcoal filters help absorb gas pollutants. It’s not as effective as filters that are designed for a specific family of toxins but helps. Especially since houses are not air tight and smoke seeps inside. Charcoal filters are not like mechanical filters, gas absorption is random , which means running air over and over will gradually reduce the toxins. At least while the charcoal is still effective. For those people sensitive to the gaseous toxins, every little bit helps, especially if you’re trapped inside a house or restricted to a couple rooms within a house. We don’t mind changing out charcoal filters as needed.
Just looking for ideas
Awesome
Many thanks
Just built mine with a few modifications. Used a sheet of clear acrylic for the top. Cut the opening so that the fan sits on top of lid. I used foil tape to keep the filters connected. Added a line of foam tape to the top of the filters. Love the fan and remote. I think that’s the key.
Nice, that sounds like it could work! Although since the fan is resting on TOP of the clear acrylic, just make sure the fan isn’t pulling air from above the acrylic (unfiltered).
Just bought the fan but was also thinking about resting the fan on the lid. Did you test to see if it’s pulling air in from above the acrylic? Thank you!
Great design, I see for any Costco members that now through Feb 25th you can get the 4 pack of 3M MPR 2500 MERV 14 filters 16x25x1”for $50. About 5 inches shorter than the design here, but a higher filtration level.
Was wondering what brought you to use the AC Infinity fan? I am wondering if the Dreo 11” air circulator would also work with this design (if it can be removed from its pedestal). Could save some cost there without sacrificing on noise control.
Awesome tip with the Costco MERV-14 filter deal!
Fantastic question. I actually have two Dreo fans and they’re the best circulation fans I’ve ever owned by a long shot. Unfortunately, the power for Dreo fans plugs into the stand itself, so even if one was able to remove the fan from the stand, it couldn’t be powered. The power for AC infinity fans comes right out of the fan motor itself.
That was one reason I used AC infinity. The main reason was that AC infinity fans are the quietest and most powerful I’ve tried. Also, AC infinity seems to have the best reputation among fan companies if you read hundreds of reviews across different sites. They’re expensive, and they’re robust.
Honestly, I like Dreo fans even better. I wish Dreo could be more feasibly used in this application.
I can't find 3M MERV 13 filter like that anywhere here. There are equivalent ones, EN779 Class F7, but they're aluminium and like $80 each. I was thinking of using replacement H13 HEPA filters meant for commercially sold air purifiers. Would that work?
Could draw lines from opposing corner to corner in an x shape to find center. Where lines meet will be center
Yes indeed. I made a pinned comment mentioning that.
I've been using the BlueAir Pure 411 (for 161 sq.-ft rooms) and Pure 211+ (550 sq.-ft) for the past 3 or 4 years. The design is excellent, and the filters are reasonably priced compared to most other brands ($22 and $64, respectively, with the subscription plans). If you want a purchased solution, I recommend these. However, it looks like they've discontinued selling these models, as they have new, next-gen ones out. The comparable ones, which seem to be the Pure 511(?) and the 313i+ have similarly priced filters (~$20 and $42).
They do seem to have a common enough issue of the fan "dying", which is unfortunate for an otherwise great product. But the one that died on me, I opened it up and replaced it with a computer fan, and it works fine.
I've been trying to noodle on making my own kind of DIY solution, but it's difficult to get specs on decent fans that aren't box fans and aren't over-built or over-designed for the purpose. But I do like what you've done here.
I was thinking having all four sides wouldn't be necessary for most rooms. And then you could have the other sides be more "attractive". Or even put the fan sideways instead of upward, and use the top surface as a little shelf or table. The struggle seems to be finding the right fan(s). Something like the Lasko 10" BeezeMachine (claims 390 CFM, 35 dB) is fairly reasonably-priced, and circular, but it's a little large at ~12" dia. overall (for what I'm planning). It has only 2 speeds, but I think that's all I really need.
Cheers!
... The Vornado "160 Compact Air Circulator" might be a good fan, as well-- 227 CFM @ 33dB, and only about 7.5" dia.-- as long as it can make enough pressure to pull air thru the filter.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. The benefit of having all four sides of the air purifier be made of filters is that it increases the surface area of the filtration surface, which makes it easier for a fan to pull air through, increasing airflow and efficiency.
My experience with fans is that you get what you pay for. Generally, cheaper plastic fans aren't made to pull air through filters because they aren't designed for the increased static pressures, and don't generate as much airflow. They also tend to be annoyingly loud. I'm personally not comfortable running a cheap fan 24/7 in an air purifier. But that's just me - others may find success. I understand budget constraints as well. Experiment :)
Can i use any type small fan or does the fan have to be the infinity fan.
It can be any fan, but how well it cleans the air and how quiet it runs will depend on the quality/type of fan.
Very interesting video thanks for sharing with us !
The 3M plate merv13 is expensive an difficult to find in europe ... price skyrocket ... does somebody who live in europe find a supplier with normal price, an alternative to replace with an other brand or a less expensive suplier (aliexpress, ebay ...) ? thanks !!!
Glad you liked the video! I’ll let you know if I find a good European filter source.
Curious how would the result show with a particle tester.
Great question. My particulate monitor shows excellent air quality coming through this filter. Virtually no larger particles, very few medium, and a small amount of fine - these filters are less efficient at removing fine particles, but this air purifier moves a lot of air, which gives the filters multiple chances at capturing particles that might have been missed.
I also had a professional mold inspector test my air quality with an expensive monitor and he said it was the best count he’s ever seen. My particle count definitely wasn’t 0 though. I think I could get it lower with a HEPA air purifier (or higher MERV). Workin on some DIY ones 😊
First, thank you so much. Great video and wonderful explanations. I have two questions.
First, I note that you changed from 16x30x1 to 16x25x1 filters. What were your thoughts on this change? And
Second, any advantage if I were to use 2” filters rather than 1” filters?
Thank you so much again for the video.
Thanks! I switched to 16x25 because I felt like the 16x30 were a bit cumbersome when it came time to change them. I also think that four 16x25 have a sufficient surface area already, the 5 extra inches isn't necessary.
Energy draw. How many kWh does this use in 24 hours, or a month? Did you run across data re: cfm/watt? Good work. Interesting chart. it would be good to include actual watt draw with a Kill-a-Watt device. Also, include actual (vs nominal) cfm air movement in the final configuration. Then we know the cost to scrub/filter a whole room volume of air. Lots of filter = low static = good. Quiet is ultra-important because people will NOT use it if it's noisy (like noisy bathroom fans or kitchen hoods). Silent is best. Does removing the wire grill reduce noise?
Are the CFM-decibel measurement the airflow w/ filters, or without? Still helpful either way.
also tho thank you for sharing your “method” 🙏 for assembly!!! it was not too repetitive at all it was perf for careless people like myself.
Good question! I tested both of the fans with the filters attached.
I’m so glad you appreciate my super detailed build video. I wanted to help my viewers avoid frustration/confusion.
Hi thank you for your video... but I have 1 question. If the air coming thru the side, the filtered particle will remain exposed to the outside (its surrounding). Without any outer cover, the particles might escape back to its surrounding.. Even if the Fan are running non-stop, there will be a steady gradual drop in the pressure as the particle build-up, slowly clogging the filter, and will come to a point where air might still pass thru but some particle wont stick to the filter (due to low pressure).. and if I plan to run the filter maybe like 6 hours or 12 hours a day, when its OFF, is it possible the particle escape the filter?
You’re welcome. I’m not exactly sure on the answer to your question, but vacuuming off the filters every so often should help prevent that. And changing them when they’re too saturated with dust.
You can test airflow through them with a paper towel square as I demonstrated. Also note that many factory made air purifiers have the pre-filter exposed, so it’s a common thing.
Hi- I wouldn't worry about this as it's a theoretical possibility but not likely a real problem. What you are describing is exactly how filters are designed to work. Filters perform better and better as they slowly clog up, that is until they eventually clog and stop working altogether. The filters should be replaced long before you reach the point of substantial pressure drop and you should be able to see dirt buildup long before the filter is clogged. As HHG suggests, you can periodically vacuum the outside of the filters once you notice a buildup of dirt, pet hair, etc. - this will remove larger particles and prolong filter life.
Do you also use merve 13 filters in your ac?
I’ve never lived in a building with central AC.
Is there a reason for using 1” filters vs 3-5” filters? Thanks
Good question. In this particular filter (3M filtrete) 1” filters seem to perform very well in terms of pressure drop/CADR, so thicker ones aren’t needed.
What about a frame so you can slide out the filters when its time to change it?
Thats a good idea! It’s more complex to build it so it’s airtight, but could be worth it if you have the skills.
Yeah, I been researching and sketching some plans. 😊
It would be great to have links to the components!
Great suggestion! I just added links in the description for some of the more specialized components (fan, filters, glue gun, etc).
It looks like the AdTech Pro 80 is dicontinued. Do you think the AdTech Pro 75 can be used instead?
Update: I emailed them and the answer is yes (and it's half the price)!
Nice! Thanks for verifying. I checked as well and updated the description.
How big a room does this filter clean? Is this model only for one room?
It depends on a bunch of factors, but in general, one of these covers one room.
Will these filter size work with the AC Infinity CLOUDLIFT S14?
Nope, unfortunately.
Thanks for your reply. Do you know if the S12 will work with 16x30x2” filter with the (Actual Size: 15.75 x 29.75 x 1.75 Inches)? Thanks again.
Is there a reason you used clothes line instead of zip ties?
I feel like tip ties would be easier and actually more secure? Just a thought.
Zip ties got in the way of the fan blades for me. If you have better luck, please let me know.
How about a link to the Cloroplast fan pleae .
Links are in the description
@@HealthyHomeGuide Thanks, I found it after my post !
Cool design Olson! BTW I got a bunch of PC coolers laying around, do you think I could use them in a sort of grid config instead of the regular fan for this? or the airflow wont be strong enought?
Thanks! I don’t feel that PC coolers move enough air to be effective in an air purifier.
@@HealthyHomeGuide I think you might regret that comment after your recent video lol
@@MemeScreen Yup haha. When you asked this question, I was ignorant of the wonders of PC fans.
awesome idea but 2 issues... the 16x 30 filter i can only find in lowes. not even in amazon. and the fan is hard to find. out of stock on their web site . amazon has it with louvers. for 169. very expensive
You can use 16x25 or 16x20 filters as well.
@@HealthyHomeGuide would it make much difference to go with 3M Filtrete 2800 MPR Ultrafine Particle Reduction Filters orare the 1900 merv13 good enough. I have 7 tiny dogs and my house is a dust bowl. piles of dust everywhere
subscribed
You might want to burn the ends of the clothes line with a lighter so the ends don't unrove (an old sailor trick).
You might be able to slightly improve the efficiency by moving the chloroplast in line with the fan blades. It should theoretically reduce unwanted vortexes. I don’t know how much efficiency you get, but I know it’s a technique PC fans use.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ve heard of this technique and am trying to think of a feasible way to employ it with this fan.
@@HealthyHomeGuide I don't know if the fan blades line up with the outer ring holding the fan together. If that was the case I would just cut the chloroplast so that the fan can sit on top of it on the outer ring. No string but the fan is poking out the top more. I don't know if it is structurally strong enough to hold the fan on the outer lip, but it would have the advantage of being easily removable.
Could make thing easier to adapt to different filter sizes by making different sized chloroplast squares with the same cutout.
You can also do as I said putting the fan so it can sit on top of the chloroplast but also make a shroud for the fan extending to the tips of the blades. You can see this in computer fans and some traditional fans like the Masterforce 14” DC Shroud Fan. I learned quite a bit about fans from the Major Hardware channel. Good stuff there with experimenting with different 3D printed PC fans. The same principals apply to larger fans.
How about using 9 PC fans instead? I have a lot lying around haha. Have you tested the DB difference and air flow difference with PC fans?
Great question. My most recent video actually discusses how awesome PC fans are for this application. I definitely recommend using PC fans if possible! The build might be a little more challenging though because you need more fans.
I think another alternative to using clothesline you can use shoe laces, wouldn't need the screwdriver to push the cord through.
Nice suggestion! That could work. You’d need to pull them very tight of course.
Any reason you chose the clothesline over something like a ziptie? @@HealthyHomeGuide
Is this setup good for removing carpet dust? And can it be hung from a ceiling?
It wouldn’t necessarily remove dust from the carpet itself, but it would lower the concentration of carpet dust in the air, as people walk on the carpet and kick it up. I do also have a video on how to properly remove dust from carpets if you’re interested 🙂
And yes, you can hang this from a ceiling. You’d just need to seal the bottom with a square of coroplast.
@@HealthyHomeGuide
Thank you for replying, I have been looking for a design to deal with carpet dust and dust in general for my bedroom from getting all over my things and shelves. 🤔😄
@@e7yu Sounds good! I’d recommend using HEPA vacuum with a suction impelled brush roll on your carpet.
@@HealthyHomeGuide Good to know. Thanks 🤔👍
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Hi, do you know if filtrete publish air flow - pressure loss graphs for their products? Couldn't find it so far :/
Or any other manufacturer that is available for common home owners?
I find this site interesting. An independent party tested a bunch of filter brands. Hope you find it useful!
filterstudy.com/filterstudy-reviews/
@@HealthyHomeGuide that site looks great, thank you!
You’re very welcome!
Each Filtrete filter has a table of flow and pressure drop at five different flows, printed on the frame, along with filtration efficiency in the E1, E2, and E3 particle sizes. You can fit a polynomial curve to the data and get a great prediction at any other flow. Big names like Camfil and AA Flanders publish curves for their filters as well.
@@David.Elfstrom oh, good to know, but couldn't find that table online. :/
WOOOOW thats so cool!
IM going to make my own with K&N home filters, so I can just wash and reuse them.
Do I need a philips or robertson head for poking the clothesline through the hole? /s
bahaha
Sorry if I missed it in the comments, how often should the filters be replaced?
Every 6 months or so
Sorry I didn’t watch the end of the video! You definitely earned my subscription!
@@imaniworship no problem at all, it’s a long video. Thanks 😊
What about VOCs? Can this be designed with carbon filters?
See HVAC engineer Joey Fox's article "How to Pick an Air Cleaner" for my thoughts on air purifiers, VOCs, carbon filters. Thanks!
We have a real need of this in my country but, sadly the import cost of these filters won't make it worth it. As the filters available here are much cheaper in normal air purifiers. And we have some huge ones too. There's a brand coway and their product looks solid. It looks like a box filter the way it's made.
Can it filter aqi from 70 to 20 ??
It depends on a bunch of factors, so I don't want to say yes or no, however, it's worth a try and it's certainly possible.
if u run it on lowest settings and have huge filters then doesn't this create problem that particles will fly to the filters too slowly and hence not be absorbed optimally? I suppose there is an optimal speed of fly to maximize absorption
Interestingly, there are research studies showing that capture efficiency of filters improves as face velocity decreases, especially for ultrafine particles. So basically filters tend to perform better the slower air travels through them. I discuss that study and others in my latest video.
That being said, there is likely a speed that’s too slow. I’m not sure what that is, but I don’t think air moves that slowly through this air purifier.
If you’re still concerned about it, you can use smaller filters, which decreases the surface area and increases the air velocity. Try 16x20x1.
@@HealthyHomeGuide thx, so lets say I use smaller filters and keep this on speed 1 - will I still get 250CFM? I suppose using too small filters could create problem that fan creates too big airflow which destroys/degrades filters slowly? because this could exceed filter max airflow specification
@@johngreen2468 I think you’ll be okay with 16x20. Air moves slowly through these filters because there’s 4 of them in this design, as opposed to 1.
What would happen if you flipped the direction of the fan? That way the dust is contained.
I believe you could use it for that, yes. That’s more for workshop applications. Or to help with activities that generate a lot of dust, in general.
But for air purifiers the fan should be blowing upwards, for two reasons:
1.) If you blow air downward into the box, there's a lot of turbulence that reduces the air flow rate.
2.) By pulling air through the filters before it hits the fan, the fan will stay cleaner.
Can it suck dusts?
Yes, it’s great at capturing dust.
14:28
Go pro got him looking
Ahahahahah you know it
I cant find this fan anywhere.
Amazon
A faster way to change filters,without rebuilding the whole apparatus,ty.
Also the white filter material darkens with use.Probably just vacuum it off ?
Vacuuming them helps for sure. For optimal performance, these filters should probably be replaced every 6 months.
If I owned an air purifier, would I really be watching this video?😂
Fair point 🤣
For the price of the HEPA finters and pre-filter for my expensive air cleaner every three months I could make one of these and then sell my air cleaner to make another one or two.
Isn’t the fan supposed to be pointing downwards?
Nope. With downward facing fans, the idea is that the fan is before the filters, which creates a vortex that can catch large amounts of dust at once. These are used in woodshops, for instance. But for air purifiers, you want the fan to be after the filters.
@@HealthyHomeGuide Isn't that better? Like what 3D Handyman has done.
Nice build but somsider zipties for the top mount part next time.
What if the fan was blowing into the box instead of out
For air purifiers the fan should be blowing upwards, for two reasons:
1.) If you blow air downward into the box, there's a lot of turbulence that reduces the air flow rate.
2.) By pulling air through the filters before it hits the fan, the fan will stay cleaner.
Ahhh I see
Do you sell these?
I don't. Maybe I should haha.
Hello engineering masterminds! I have a challenge and wonder if you can help me. I was wondering if I can use something similar for venting dust and hair out a window or into some containment system that could be emptied. We have a bunny room for our pet rabbits and they shed ALOT. I vacuum twice a day and still get little hair tumbleweeds blowing into the rest of the house. Trying to come up with something floor level that will continuously pull in air to get hair and dust out of the house or in a container. HELP! Thanks!
I think that
Excellent....but too expensive might as well just buy one air purifier off the shelf at Costco.
Thanks! My DIY air purifier has far greater filtration surface area than virtually all factory made units that I know of (especially the cheaper/smaller ones). That makes it so you don’t have to replace the filters nearly as often. My design also produces much more airflow than a typical air purifier, and thus cleans air with greater efficacy.
Fun fact: because of USD to CAD exchange rate, delivery and taxes this beauty costs $400 for us in Canada... Even so, it's still worth it for the sheer volume of air it can move relative to the volume!
For those in Canada, another decent PC fan CR box company without exorbitant shipping is North Box Systems.
Thanks for the info!
Wait for the hot glue to *dry* :o
Sorry, just couldn't resist 😂
Hahaha
Good job on acquiring yourself a girlfriend. Those apparently don't exist anymore. 😅
Very helpful, practical content. I subscribed.
Do you have any advice on the quietest fan options?
Edit: Nevermind the last question. I wasn't paying attention on my first watch. You already discussed the fan issue. 👍🏻
Hehe. Glad it was helpful!