"My AC stinks!" Topic

Well, the ducts do, really. We're having them cleaned and coated while we put in a new central air system. The house smells of wet paint, and it'll be a couple of hours before the guys can put in the new set up.

Have 9 of the 10 cats safely in the green room/playroom side of the house, but couldn't catch the 10th. I hope she's hiding somewhere, since the one guy can't seem to wrap his mind around the idea of keeping the doors closed. With luck she's in the guest bedroom, where she's not allowed but loves to be, and hasn't drifted outside.

I have made an enormous pain of myself asking to see the MSDS on the fungicidal coating they're spraying in the ducts. This is apparently unusual; they're having to dispatch some guy to bring it to me, since they've not yet updated the duct-cleaner/painter's binder with the data.

Outside it's in the mid-70s (24C) and so the house hasn't been too nasty. Good thing we decided to do it this week, as when summer comes we'll be more than prepared and I won't have to sit here in 100+ degree weather while they abuse the system.

Ugh. I think I'll go sit outside with the dogs for a while…

Hope all turns out well – nothing worse than stinky air constantly recirculated around your house! Hope your cat stays hidden from the evil "can't keep a door closed" repair/installation tech!

MSDS?

Good luck on the cat. I have to lock up a few tomorrow as we have a new washer and dryer coming (the wife broke the last washer). We have only 9 cats but only 3-4 at the most need locked up.

Material
Safety
Data
Sheet

They describe the characteristics and concerns related to hazardous and potentially hazardous chemicals.

I for get what MSDS stand for but it's the government required sheet that tells you whats all the dangerous stuff in the spray they are using. All chemicals/solutions/powders in the US are required in the workplace to have them accessible for workers and people to peruse.

Sounds likes fun.
We had to have all of our ductwork re-done last year, because the initial job was done with some sort of fiberglass system that was only used for about a year until they realized how nasty it was….

AC what's that? In Michigan for the three months of "hot weather" I love it. I only use it in my car surrounded by glass and sitting in traffic, AC is needed.

When you're bitching about three feet of snow this winter, ttw, I'll smirk a bit and go back to reveling in my 70 degree winter days. When it drops that low, anyway…

Oh, there should be a smiley on my last post. :)

Why did you get the ducts cleaned?

Yes, Atlantic City DOES stink.

Why did you get the ducts cleaned?

Exactly the question I asked Michael when they finally started everything!

They were nasty. It hadn't been done in at least 12 years, possibly longer. The old owners kept receipts for everything, and I've not run into one for duct cleaning yet.

It's supposed to help with the allergy situation, and the coating is to help reduce the amount of crap that builds up in the future. Since we replaced the indoor unit anyway, we decided to get it all done at one go.

I still haven't seen the one cat since about 10 this morning. But I haven't seen two of the cats I know are in this side of the house since then, either, so I'm only mildly fussed yet.

Did get a few more figures sorted and cataloged. It's not all bad…

THey seem to be finishing up now.

Ellie has turned up. All cats accounted for.

I am in the AC buisness and I don't usually recommend duct cleaning. It is usually more trouble than it's worth. But it is system dependant and, of course, home owner dependant. Now, clean filters are a must and should be changed frequently. Oh, and keep the coils clean…..

Yes, well we got the new system so they could clean it. We'd done as suggested and kept the old one so long they couldn't clean the dingus inside anymore, it was so rusted out.

I don't know that the ducts had been cleaned since the house was built in the '70s. It was time. They were nasty, and now they look pretty inside and (more importantly) there are no fuzzy chunky bits blowing out of the more or less sparkling vents.

Blame the cats. I just ignored the asbestos wrap on my pipes until cats moved in with my ex. Cats are hell on asbestos.

Sounds like you made a good investment. The new units are soooo much more efficient today. And that means $ in savings for you. I agree with the OFM about the cats. We have 5 ourselves and they cause all sorts of trouble.

Duct cleaing is a good idea. I had it done in a home that I lived in. The previous owner had several pets and the clumps of pet hair that were clogging the cold air returns and improved the AC greatly.

I talked to the guys doing the work and they had lots of stories of finding porn stashes, money and drugs.