This is my second Onyx. I had installed an Onyx in my former home and noticed that the central blower option blew dust and ash all over the house. Since the blower draws cool air in through the grilles, it was not possible to safely add any kind of filter on the cold return side. I dodn't want to put a filter on the hot side for obvious reasons.
When I built my current home, I vowed that I would do it different. Rather than have the blower suck room air into the grilles, I reversed the blower to blow air up through the hole in the bottom. That way, I could put a standard furnace filter on the blower's intake since it draws room air.
To reduce the amount of cool air blowing out the lower grille, I partially blocked the airflow with rigid fibreglass insulation. It does not affect the natural convection when the fan is off as it still draws cool air up across the fan.
When I built my current home, I vowed that I would do it different. Rather than have the blower suck room air into the grilles, I reversed the blower to blow air up through the hole in the bottom. That way, I could put a standard furnace filter on the blower's intake since it draws room air.
To reduce the amount of cool air blowing out the lower grille, I partially blocked the airflow with rigid fibreglass insulation. It does not affect the natural convection when the fan is off as it still draws cool air up across the fan.
