Anyone have one of these Pet Hair Screens on their Harman Room blower?

[Don2222]

Hello

Harmans use a Dayton squirrel cage room blower.
Just got a bunch of these in today to evaluate. I have to drill 3 news holes in the screen and in the blower itself but looks like it will fit good and work fine!

Anyone else have one?

See pics below
click pic to Enlarge:

 

[KaptJaq]

My insert came with a FASCO blower that looks very similar to the unit you have there. It came with the "Pet Hair Screens" installed. I have two cats that are always in front of the stove. The screens clogged up with cat hair very quickly. Within a week the air flow was reduced and fan turned at a much higher(noisier) RPM with the same power setting. I had to open the bottom of the unit almost weekly to clean off the screens. After a month I took them off.

With the screens off most of the dust & dander blows through the duct. Some gets caught on the fan blades but at the end of a month I did not notice any difference in air flow. Now I open the bottom once a month and use a vacuum to clean the blades.

I do not know the complexity of the ducts on the Harman. Does the dust and dander get caught in the duct causing a fire hazard? Is there easy access to the screens to clean them frequently?

KaptJaq

(my first post in the pellet mill...)

 

[mralias]

Air flow restriction gonna be a problem?

 

[Don2222]

My insert came with a FASCO blower that looks very similar to the unit you have there. It came with the "Pet Hair Screens" installed. I have two cats that are always in front of the stove. The screens clogged up with cat hair very quickly. Within a week the air flow was reduced and fan turned at a much higher(noisier) RPM with the same power setting. I had to open the bottom of the unit almost weekly to clean off the screens. After a month I took them off.

With the screens off most of the dust & dander blows through the duct. Some gets caught on the fan blades but at the end of a month I did not notice any difference in air flow. Now I open the bottom once a month and use a vacuum to clean the blades.

I do not know the complexity of the ducts on the Harman. Does the dust and dander get caught in the duct causing a fire hazard? Is there easy access to the screens to clean them frequently?

KaptJaq

(my first post in the pellet mill...)

Thanks for the info from your experience! The hair and dander does not get stuck in the ductwork. I suppose there are alot of variables to consider like some pets may shed alot more than others. I have one customer with a 1993 25-PFS pellet stove and a dog. The dog cage was next to the stove. The pellet stove has dual 140 CFM room blowers both with the screens on them. When I cleaned them, I just had to peel off a little dust that was all.

Therefore I guess the screens should be monitored for the 1st month of use in case your type of situation occurs.

Mralias is correct, reduced airflow is not good.

The screen on the Harman room blower is very easy to get to. Just loosen 3 screws to slide one of the botton panels off.

 

[KaptJaq]

The screen on the Harman room blower is very easy to get to. Just loosen 3 screws to slide one of the botton panels off

If the screen and/or fan need to be cleaned regularly there should probably be some easy to open (read "no tools") access door. Many customers see the need for tools (a screwdriver!) and call for a tech.

In my case removing the screens made life easier. It probably depends on the type of dust, fur, &/or hair that is sucked in to determine if the screen will help or hinder.

The real question is will the screens improve the customer's experience or will they see it as an excuse for another monthly service call? Possibly as part of the service to install them you could come back in a month to evaluate if they are doing any good and remove them if necessary...

KaptJaq

 

[Don2222]

If the screen and/or fan need to be cleaned regularly there should probably be some easy to open (read "no tools") access door. Many customers see the need for tools (a screwdriver!) and call for a tech.

In my case removing the screens made life easier. It probably depends on the type of dust, fur, &/or hair that is sucked in to determine if the screen will help or hinder.

The real question is will the screens improve the customer's experience or will they see it as an excuse for another monthly service call? Possibly as part of the service to install them you could come back in a month to evaluate if they are doing any good and remove them if necessary...

KaptJaq

Thanks, that is what I am doing. I already have one case where a screen was installed because it came on the new room blower. The new blower and screen was installed the end of last December. The stove was cleaned in the middle of June. Yes there are dogs. The dogs are not allowed in the room with the stove when there are new visitors. Anyway, the screen just had a little dust not pet hair.

I do have a question for you Kapt Jaq. Were your screens clogging up with pet hair when dogs shed the most during late spring and early summer?
What time of year did you see this trouble?

 

[KaptJaq]

do have a question for you Kapt Jaq. Were your screens clogging up with pet hair when dogs shed the most during late spring and early summer? What time of year did you see this trouble?

Mine were cats. They shed their summer fur in the fall, and their winter fur in the spring. Then they just shed fur the rest of the time. I originally installed the stove in January and pulled the screens out by mid February. Not sure if time of year has anything to do with it.

KaptJaq

 

[Don2222]

Mine were cats. They shed their summer fur in the fall, and their winter fur in the spring. Then they just shed fur the rest of the time. I originally installed the stove in January and pulled the screens out by mid February. Not sure if time of year has anything to do with it.

KaptJaq

What kind of cats are they?

 

[heat seeker]

I'd rather clean the screens once a week or so than have the hair and dander picked up and blown around the room for us to breathe and get on our counters and food. I'd consider it something of an inefficient air purifier. We do love our animals, BTW.

 

[KaptJaq]

What kind of cats are they?

One is a domestic short hair, the other is a stray that adopted us. Our vet thinks he is part Maine Coon and part something else. By his size and speed the other half is probably cheetah or mountain lion...

I'd rather clean the screens once a week or so than have the hair and dander picked up and blown around the room for us to breathe and get on our counters and food. I'd consider it something of an inefficient air purifier. We do love our animals, BTW.

We use two air filters, one at each end of the house(kitchen/DR area & Bedroom area). The problem is the cats come in from outside and sit on the hearth to warm up and groom themselves. As the fur falls off you can see it slowly sucked into the fans. The inlets are at the bottom of the unit right at hearth level. I wish the manufacturers would make an easily accessible slide out filter/screen in front of the fans to resolve this problem... It should be large enough to filter a month's worth of heavy dust/animal fur without deteriorating airflow.

The only way to get the cats to back off a little is to make a really hot fire. Then they lie on the rug in front of the hearth.

KaptJaq

 

[Don2222]

I'd rather clean the screens once a week or so than have the hair and dander picked up and blown around the room for us to breathe and get on our counters and food. I'd consider it something of an inefficient air purifier. We do love our animals, BTW.

I agree with that philosophy. I have seen room blowers so clogged up that you cannot see between the blades in the squirrel cage! That is when the bearings go and the motor burns out!

It also seems easier to me to just wipe the screen clean, then to remove the 4 bolts of the blower and unplug the wires and get into the blades with a brush and vacuum to clean it! Even if you have to wipe the screen clean more often it is quite a bit easier!

 

[KaptJaq]

The screen on the Harman room blower is very easy to get to. Just loosen 3 screws to slide one of the botton panels off.

It also seems easier to me to just wipe the screen clean, then to remove the 4 bolts of the blower and unplug the wires and get into the blades

But you are a professional with technical skills. I do my own maintenance and am not afraid to break anything down to all of its components and then rebuild it. I know burners (pellet & cord wood) that are afraid to go near their multi-thousand dollar investment with any tools. Some others will only do tasks that are specifically detailed (step-by-step) in the manual.

That is when the bearings go and the motor burns out!

Clogged fans are a recurring problem and should probably be addressed by the manufacturers.

KaptJaq

 

[Don2222]

But you are a professional with technical skills. I do my own maintenance and am not afraid to break anything down to all of its components and then rebuild it. I know burners (pellet & cord wood) that are afraid to go near their multi-thousand dollar investment with any tools. Some will only do tasks that are specifically detailed (step-by-step) in the manual.

I agree, if those screens are not for you then you do not need them. That is why most stoves do not come with them anymore. The screens do not work in every situation.

 

[Don2222]

This is the choice we have? Right?
This room blower is in an Englander 25-PDVC and takes the smaller of the two screens.

 

[Don2222]

Hello

The good part about the Englander 25-PDV and 25-PDVC stoves is that nice slot on the right side where you can stick your hand in and clean the dust screen on the room blower without removing anything!

See yellow arrow in pic below.
Click to Enlarge:

 

[Wooden Head]

What I have done is cut a pieces from a furnace filter and placed it over the openings to the fans. I hold them in place with small magnets . Every couple of weeks I remove them and either wash and replace or replace with new. I use the blue mesh furnace filters. They are inexpensive and durable.

 

[Don2222]

What I have done is cut a pieces from a furnace filter and placed it over the openings to the fans. I hold them in place with small magnets . Every couple of weeks I remove them and either wash and replace or replace with new. I use the blue mesh furnace filters. They are inexpensive and durable.

That is a good idea. What make and model stove do you have?

 

[smoke show]

I tried the furnace filter thing on my stove, I felt it reduced the air flow too much. Also the surface area was so small it was constant maintenance.

 

[Don2222]

I tried the furnace filter thing on my stove, I felt it reduced the air flow too much. Also the surface area was so small it was constant maintenance.

What about this screen on your PDVC?

 

[Eatonpcat]

Buy Smoke Buy!!

 

[Wooden Head]

That is a good idea. What make and model stove do you have?

Quad Castile

 

[Don2222]

Quad Castile

Oh, yes that has a tangential blower. You may be able to put wire screen mesh inside the blower housing.

 

[Lousyweather]

all's good, but if you're going to do that, just make sure to check the screens fairly often, ensuring they don't pack off......mo' dust means less airflow, which means less heat, which promulgates a call to the service tech, which will cost you some ching, which you can avoid by doing regular service............

 

[Don2222]

I Agee, Some of my customers take good care of their stoves. They want them and I always instruct how to take care of them. Without the covers the blades fill with dust and restrict air flow too. So far I cleaned a stove with a cover this summer and it is a lot faster and easier!

 

[imacman]

I tried the furnace filter thing on my stove, I felt it reduced the air flow too much. Also the surface area was so small it was constant maintenance.

Ditto when I tried them.