Originally Posted by gathermewool
Uncle Dave,
Thanks for the reply, sir. Any issues with burning out the motors on the box fans, long-term? I'm sure they're probably designed not to die, even if flow is dead-headed (fan falls over), but how long have you been doing this and have you had any deleterious effects (e.g., more motor noise?)
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I've got a VERY expensive 5-stage HEPA filter, as well that is completely washable (not sure how that works, but it's been doing a great job). The problem is that the motor is making a ton of noise, especially at low speeds. New, it was whisper quiet. Now, I can hear all the way across a second large room from where it's running.
The kicker: I was able to disassemble and actually remove the motor pretty easily, but replacements are not offered, according to the company!!!
I still run the filter, because it does do a great job (based on how quickly it becomes dirty), but I've got to imagine that the motor is causing additional electrical draw (it ran too hot to hold in my hand, with the motor out of the housing - I'm sure it's much cooler with the fan providing cooling, of course!); extra noise and heat = more power being used.
Oh, it does look pretty
No problems with fan motors 2 years in run mostly at low speed 24/7.
Dad built a grip of these for his wood shop that takes up most of a 5 car garage, he built a box with multiple staged filters that just slide in -and he hasn't lost one at 3 years yet.
......at 20 bones a throw I'm not worried about it either.
My blueair has three speeds - 1 ineffective,2 barely effective, and 3 roaring but effective.
Whereas a box fan on 1 or 2 seems to move as much if not more air much more quietly.
A Nordic pure with activated carbon did a pretty good job of killing the odor of hot mopping a shower floor.
UD