Original message
| rheemed
 |  "downflow/upflow, Aprilaire UV questions, etc."
, posted Fri 18 Jan 19:59  
I'm definitely an amateur when it comes to HVAC, so I appreciate your patience to read my posts and to guide me.
In a prior post, I asked about changing "downflow" filters in my Rheem Criterion II furnace. I have yet to get to that task, but the filters are certainly there and they are dirty. There are 2 and they are rested in a v-shape in the duct work above the furnace (approx. 16x20x1). But, my furnace also has an "upflow" filter compartment on the floor bottom right of the furnace (approx. 4" thick). How can the furnace have both up & down flow filter? Shouldn't it either be one or the other? I have 2 furnaces, one in the basement and one on the 2nd floor and they are set up the same way.
There's also a duct pipe near the furnace that has a switch that reads "open for summer, close for winter" (or vice versa, I can't recall). How does this relate to the furnace and upflow/downflow filters?
Attached to the duct work above the furnace is an AprilAire 550 UV air system with a box containing a switch for the UV light. This switch has been off ever since I moved in 3-4 years ago. Should this lamp always be on (summer & winter)? What does it do?
Back to the filters. The 4" thick upflow filter appears to be pretty clean after replacing it 1 year ago. Shouldn't it be dirty? Does this mean that filter is serving no purpose?
Hope all this makes sense. It doesn't to me!! Thanks.
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Replies:
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| northernfitter
| "Re(1):downflow/upflow, Aprilaire UV questions" , posted Fri 18 Jan 20:07
No idea why you would have filters in both spots it makes no sense from here. The duct pipe open for winter closed for summer could be to your humidifier and if it is then its open for winter to get the humidity into your home. The UV light is designed to kill bacteria in the coil of an A/C or at least thats what most of them say. It should be on all the time. As far as your filters go it makes no sense to me why you would have opposing filters like that.
12years as a service tech in Ottawa and the valley. Just left Direct Energy to start my own company. Go to www.reliableheating.ca or email me at adrian@reliableheating.ca
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| | rheemed
| "Re(2):downflow/upflow, Aprilaire UV questions" , posted Sun 20 Jan 11:40
Well, I learned that my furnace comes standard with the downflow filters, so they are not necessary considering that I have the upflow/sideflow filters. Nevertheless, I cannot remove the downflow filters without ripping apart the ductwork because they are encased. There is no place to reach up to get them.
As for my humidifier, thanks about info on the duct switch/valve. What is strange is that my upstairs furnace that also has a humidifier does not have this switch/valve on the duct. I assume the duct is always open then.
The humidifier dial was on 'off'. Since my wife complains about dry air, I turned the dial to 25% or something like that. It says on the dial that if it's 0 degrees outside, turn it to 25%. If it's 20 degrees outside, put it at 35%. So, after a few hours the furnace shut down. When I went to the closet, the floor was puddled with water and the inside of the furnace had heavy condensation. The burners would not light. And when they did, the furnace did not recognize them being on. Only after a thourough clean-up and using a hairdryer to dry all the wiring/clips did I get it working again.
Why did this happen? This was the first time the humidifier was turned on since I lived in the house. And it was about 15 degrees outside when I set the dial at 20-25% humidity.
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| | northernfitter
| "Re(3):downflow/upflow, Aprilaire UV questions" , posted Sun 20 Jan 16:01
What type of humidifier is it? If its an old drum type they may have removed everything and just left it off.
14years as a service tech in Ottawa and the valley. www.reliableheating.ca. For furnace manufacturer ratings go to
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/gas-furnaces/furnaces-repair-history-205/overview/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=furnace
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| | rheemed
| "Re(4):downflow/upflow, Aprilaire UV questions" , posted Tue 22 Jan 23:35
The humidifier is an Aprilaire 550.
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