Clean Air For Studio

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Jwl9brla

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Hi, I happen to have a studio that was built in the 70,s in my back yard but the problem is in the air ducts and above the wavy ceiling there is exposed insulation that hasn't been a problem until recently. I went into the attic to see if there was dead animal above the studio and stirred up the insulation under it in the studio. Now I can feel it on my face and when I'm breathing a little. I'm thinking about getting a silent air purifier to make the air cleaner. Does anybody have any recomendatioms for a silent air purifier that I can keep turned on during recording?
 
Jwl9brla said:
Hi, I happen to have a studio that was built in the 70,s in my back yard but the problem is in the air ducts and above the wavy ceiling there is exposed insulation that hasn't been a problem until recently. I went into the attic to see if there was dead animal above the studio and stirred up the insulation under it in the studio. Now I can feel it on my face and when I'm breathing a little. I'm thinking about getting a silent air purifier to make the air cleaner. Does anybody have any recomendatioms for a silent air purifier that I can keep turned on during recording?
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Wow. If those particles are big enough that you can feel them on your face and when you're breathing, I wouldn't be hanging out in there very much. Fix the issue if you can. Don't simply mask it with an air purifier that's not meant to address that specific issue. This borders on a safety issue.
 
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It hasn't always been a problem. My theory is that a small animal got in the attic or ventilation system and stirred up the insulation. Granted it seems like a design flaw but it's fine if left alone. The building was built by a sound engineer from a local news company back in the 70's for about 70,000 dollars and it came with the house that i'm in for a fraction of that. So I would like to prolong it's use just a little bit longer if possible untill I feel that I can move on.
 
Jwl9brla said:
It hasn't always been a problem. My theory is that a small animal got in the attic or ventilation system and stirred up the insulation. Granted it seems like a design flaw but it's fine if left alone. The building was built by a sound engineer from a local news company back in the 70's for about 70,000 dollars and it came with the house that i'm in for a fraction of that. So I would like to prolong it's use just a little bit longer if possible untill I feel that I can move on.
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He didn't say get rid of the whole thing, just fix the insulation problem, shouldn't be too expensive or too much of a demanding job.
 
tomanderson1991 said:
He didn't say get rid of the whole thing, just fix the insulation problem, shouldn't be too expensive or too much of a demanding job.
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Correct. And it will probably be around the same or cheaper than a decent air cleaner, which would likely do little to nothing for the insulation floating around in the air.
 
I certainly can't claim to be a pro and give you a good solution to this problem. My only suggestion is either A) Re-do the insulation and/or B) cover the exposed insulation with plywood.

I could see how some insulation could get into your ducts and then into your recording area but the way you describe it, it seems excessive. I'd also look and see why stirred up insulation got into your ducts in the first place. Try and find the point of entry. The ducts should be sealed, should they not? The only place I could think of that the insulation got in is at your main unit...which I think should have a filter on it to keep that kind of stuff out of the air supply.
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
I certainly can't claim to be a pro and give you a good solution to this problem. My only suggestion is either A) Re-do the insulation and/or B) cover the exposed insulation with plywood.

I could see how some insulation could get into your ducts and then into your recording area but the way you describe it, it seems excessive. I'd also look and see why stirred up insulation got into your ducts in the first place. Try and find the point of entry. The ducts should be sealed, should they not? The only place I could think of that the insulation got in is at your main unit...which I think should have a filter on it to keep that kind of stuff out of the air supply.
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The air ducts themselves are insulated on the inside. Where the air passes is insulated. If something hits the outside of the duct the insulation inside the duct could be stirred up. I remember when I was told that that I wasn't 100% comfortable with it. But I'd have to start from scratch to get the insulation out which is not worth it or redo the entire ventilation system. My thoughts if I did start from scratch with a new studio and had the money I would line the inside of the air ducts with some sort of sound proof foam. Maybe the outside too.
 
Well, it's your call. Just trying to watch out for you...but ultimately, it's your lungs. I'd talk to an HVAC guy and see what he suggests. Advice would be free, likely. I wouldn't hang out in there after what you've said.
 
Get at least one air purifier and blast it when you are not actively recording/monitoring. Anything blowing air around is a recipie for disaster in a room with live mics.
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
Well, it's your call. Just trying to watch out for you...but ultimately, it's your lungs. I'd talk to an HVAC guy and see what he suggests. Advice would be free, likely. I wouldn't hang out in there after what you've said.
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I called an environmental air company. I'll see what they say before making any drastic changes.
 
Ok, so numerous sources said the insulation shouldn't be a problem but there doesn't seem to be an air filter anywhere in the studio. Everything should be good though. :)
 
Jwl9brla said:
I called an environmental air company. I'll see what they say before making any drastic changes.
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Do you have any info or city records from when it was built? Believe it or not but in the 70's they still used Asbestos in(Yes inside) heating ducts and to insulate buildings... You can have your city come in an determine if it is Asbestos. Be fair warned if it is Asbestos it may cost you some money to have removed. Get it checked out for sure by a professional, for yours and others safety.

Jwl9brla said:
My thoughts if I did start from scratch with a new studio and had the money I would line the inside of the air ducts with some sort of sound proof foam
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Never use foam inside of a duct, It will catch fire much faster than you think and being in a duct it will not only offer it a raceway to travel through the building but the fumes from the burning foam will knock you out or even kill you before you have a chance to get away from it.
They make a fire proof fiberglass industrial duct liner material that is coated in black. Use it in and out if you want to insulate ducts.

In case your wondering I work in the home and commercial HVAC business.
 
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