Drywall dust is fine enough to get past most filters. Why renovations and ductwork don't mix, and how to protect your system.
Renovations are exciting, but they create a lot of very fine dust. Sanding drywall, cutting wood and removing old flooring all release particles small enough to travel anywhere air goes, including straight into your return vents.
Why renovation dust is a problem
Drywall dust is extremely fine. It can pass through ordinary furnace filters and settle in the ductwork and on the blower. Once it's there, your furnace blows it back into every room each time it runs, long after the renovation is finished.
Protect the system during the work
- Turn the system off during the dustiest work, such as sanding, if the weather allows.
- Cover the vents in the work area, both supply and return, with plastic and tape.
- Check the filter often. It will clog much faster than usual. Replace it as needed.
- Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting where you can.
Clean the ducts after the work is done
Even with careful protection, some dust gets into the system. The right time to clean the ducts is after the last of the dusty work is finished, so you aren't cleaning twice. Have the furnace cleaned at the same time, since the blower collects a lot of the fine dust.
Put in a new filter
Once the cleaning is done, put in a fresh filter and check it again after a couple of weeks.
Finished a renovation? Call 403-651-5895 to book a post-renovation duct cleaning.
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