said by SandShark :

No, it doesn't make noise like an electronic air cleaner does. You won't hear that "bug zapper" noise. Plus, your unit is located in the garage, so you should not hear much of anything, not even blower noise. As for ozone, the unit produces less than 5 PPB (parts per billion).

If I were you, I'd call back the company that installed the system to find out where all that dust is coming from. You've either got air infiltrating the duct work or your home is under negative pressure, which is pulling in dust through leaky doors, windows, light fixtures, wall sockets/switches, etc.

Edit - Before they come out, tell them you'd like an external static pressure (ESP) reading taken.

said by clevere1 :

Is that gonna cost me money?

said by SandShark :

I guess that depends. I get the impression the dust issue is something that started since the installation of your new heat pump and air cleaner. If that is the case, you need to let them know that. I'm still not convinced you're not pulling in garage air from around your air cleaner.

said by SandShark :

The question is - Are you experiencing more dust since your heat pump and air cleaner were installed?

said by SandShark :

That is one dirty pre-filter, especially considering how little, relatively speaking, the system has been in operation. I would have to say either you're a slob or you're pulling in air from somewhere inside your return air duct/chase. Another thing, too, is the fact that you're now running A/C, where before you were only using heat. So, you're running the blower twice as much, if not more, than you were before the heat pump was installed.

You need to look inside the return air from where the air is drawn in inside the house and look for any places that aren't sealed. I say that because I can see some dust that has collected on the inside of the flex (black) duct. My guess is somewhere, including where the duct is terminated in that contraption of a plywood box, you're pulling in unconditioned and unfiltered air.

said by clevere1 :

That's not a plywood box, that's a joisted box You lost me on this one. I do see the cobweb, and some dust on the end of that hose. But that part of the system wasn't touched during the installation. How would you seal off the end of the hose where it meets the wood? The metal duct tape won't work for that.... I'm confused.

Also, where does the other end of that black duct start from? There has to be a grill or grills somewhere inside your home where the return air enters. If there is a grill, you need to pull it so you can look inside and see if there are places that aren't sealed.

said by SandShark :

That's a good weekend project! At least you'll be indoors.

You could use silicone caulk, canned foam insulation for the bigger gaps, or aluminum tape for the metal to metal connections. Take a good look inside the "box" area for any other gaps, too. The photo doesn't show all the possible places that might need sealed.

said by clevere1 :

Yup, the camera and lens, flash, and battery pack are a little to big to fit completely inside the box. Before I noticed your post, I saw this, and answered my own question about sealing from the inside:

»www.southface.org/web/resources&···lark.htm

said by clevere1 :

Ahhh! Hey, I'm curious. Is there a metal hood I could put into there without much trouble to get rid of "the box"?

So if I just break out my metal tape, and seal up those metal joints, that's ok, safe, and standard practice? (I worry about putting something into the air that is bad for my kids.) Again, thanks for all your help! If you ever in the Vancouver, WA area, I'll buy you a big ass dinner.

said by clevere1 :

Question for ya, since you mentioned pressure. Let's say the AC/Heat is on and running. If my bedroom door is shut, and I try to open it, it takes a little force to open it (like a pressure difference in the room), is that normal? (It's been like that since we bought the place)