Need some kind of filter for my intake/exhaust to keep out mites. +rep for help

I'm about to either buy or make a cool tube and I'll be venting the hot air outside. I need something I can use to keep the mites from following the heat into my grow room, and I can't use stockings like I did on the intake because the heat will melt them.

I heard about something called a "thrip screen" but I'm not sure if that would stop mites. And mites are a big problem around here.

Can anyone suggest something I can use on my exhaust to keep those little sap suckers out? (and maybe suggest where I can find it)

Thanks. +rep for help

Wait. You are talking about screening your exhaust to prevent mites? Holy cow, man. Try to relax. That is totally unnecessary.

doogleef said:

Wait. You are talking about screening your exhaust to prevent mites? Holy cow, man. Try to relax. That is totally unnecessary.

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You don't know the mites in this area. A little over a month ago 2 different types of mites and fungus gnats made it into my flower room through either my intake or my exhaust through a portable A/C. The real kick in the ass...... There was over a ft of snow on the ground at the time.

I put a stocking over my intake and I disconnected the exhaust from the outside world. I'm now exhausting into my living room.

When I set up my veg room with the new cool tube it would be better if I exhaust to the outside world. I can intake instead, and on cold days it would be ok. But on warmer days the temp is bound t be too hi.

If I can'f find some kind of filter to keep out the mites that can handle the heat from the exhaust, then I can't exhaust to the outside world.

The intake can be screened with a stocking, but then I have to open my chimeny for a passive exhaust, which is also a bad idea. I don't know where I would find a stocking big enough to cover my fireplace and I have no access to the roof to put one on the chimeny stack/pipe.

So what can I use to protect my exhaust, a hepa filter maybe? A thrip screen? What do I use & where can I find it?

Also, it's cold outside and there will be heat coming from my exhaust. I beleive that mites may follow the heat to it's source which makes my exhaust a target.

There is one other way. I now have the exhaust running into a bucket with a water/ONA solution for odor control. The air blows on the water from above and I can run the duct into the water, but I need a very strong fan of some kind. The A/C compressor + a cheap in line fan are not strong enough to blow the air through water. If someone can suggest a fan, possible a centrifugal in line fan that's strong enough to help the air through 6ft of 6" duct and through water, that would solve the problem. The water would be the filter.

So if anyone can help, I'd really, really appreciate it. And as always, +rep for the help.

Did you actually melt a stocking? That's a lot of heat. How about a 150 micron printing screen? They're usually synthetic but should take more heat than a stocking.
Google silk screen, lotsof places to buy it.

Your Mums panty hose !, leave a leg infront to catch the bugs

Im a bit confused but how are you expecting the mites to pass through the water? If I were you I would set up your bucket of water/ona gel inline with your outside exhaust and put the ducts in a way that would make it impossible to pass through without going through the water. Then I would add some bleach or something to the water to kill off whatever gets into it. You could also just go by the most expensive filter at HD or menards and then cut it up and put it on your exhaust, that should do the trick

you could also try those filters for the stove vent/fan. They will stand up to the heat and are made to remove smoke from the air. They should keep them little bastards out.

herbose said:

Did you actually melt a stocking? That's a lot of heat. How about a 150 micron printing screen? They're usually synthetic but should take more heat than a stocking.
Google silk screen, lotsof places to buy it.

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Thanks for the help. +rep

Yeah, the portable A/C vents the rooms heat plus the heat from it's coils, so it's pretty hot. I'd guess 100 to 120 degrees.

Do you think that will hold up to the heat?

Someone else suggested a 3M Allergy filter.

I'd prefer metal, especially since the heat from the cool tube is going to make it even hotter. But anything that will hold up to the heat will work.

P.S. I never actually melting a stocking. Logic told me not to try it when I felt how hot the exhaust was.

eza82 said:

Your Mums panty hose !, leave a leg infront to catch the bugs

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Way too hot for panty hose.

burnonedown21 said:

Im a bit confused but how are you expecting the mites to pass through the water? If I were you I would set up your bucket of water/ona gel inline with your outside exhaust and put the ducts in a way that would make it impossible to pass through without going through the water. Then I would add some bleach or something to the water to kill off whatever gets into it. You could also just go by the most expensive filter at HD or menards and then cut it up and put it on your exhaust, that should do the trick

Click to expand...

Thanks for your help. +rep

The odor controller was originally supposed to push the air through the water, but I found out through trial & error that it takes a lot of air pressure to do it. More than the A/C compressor & in line fan have together.

So I have the incoming vent pointed down at the water and the exiting vent coming from the top. That in itself would offer some protection. But mites can crawl along the top of the bucket, down the side, along the duct, then into the duct without touching the water.

If I had a strong enough fan to push the air through the water, that would solve the problem. But I don't know how strong it would have to be and I can't find the info anywhere.

Someone else suggested a 3M allergy filter which will work if it don't melt. I'd prefer a metal screen of some kind, or something non-meltable. I'll have to try experimenting with various filters if I can't find a better way.

crackerboy said:

you could also try those filters for the stove vent/fan. They will stand up to the heat and are made to remove smoke from the air. They should keep them little bastards out.

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Thanks for the help. +rep

I never thought of that, great idea.

Does anyone know to what micron I'd need the filter to be to keep the mites out?

If someone can tell me I can go looking for the stove vent filter tommorow.

my thoughts...

the mites arent getting on your plants from the outside... escpecially if its cold out.

they are on you and your clothes and your shoes.

i have a sealed room

i have mites.

get BUHACK powder, and some spray like AZA, and have at it.



second thoughts are...

no mite is going to make it in your exhaust line if there is air blowing against it trying to get in.

your intake side to your room... why would it be hot? and if it is, put a secton of insulating pipe between the light and the actuall intake pipe to your room...

put up a furnace filter/ panty hose, doesnt matter, anything to guard the intake side which is cool air coming in, unless you pump hot air into your room

i dont see the drama in this dilema

what about a k&n cone air filter they make them in a million different sizes and there made of gauze and metal mesh and have to hold up to the heat under your hood from the engine, an engine compartment can reach temps higher than 300degrees parked and running with the hood down, and air flow is excellent

sherriberry said:

my thoughts...

the mites arent getting on your plants from the outside... escpecially if its cold out.

they are on you and your clothes and your shoes.

i have a sealed room

i have mites.

get BUHACK powder, and some spray like AZA, and have at it.



second thoughts are...

no mite is going to make it in your exhaust line if there is air blowing against it trying to get in.

your intake side to your room... why would it be hot? and if it is, put a secton of insulating pipe between the light and the actuall intake pipe to your room...

put up a furnace filter/ panty hose, doesnt matter, anything to guard the intake side which is cool air coming in, unless you pump hot air into your room

i dont see the drama in this dilema

Click to expand...

you have obviously never seen a velvet mite(not much bigger but there red) cling to a car window while your driving on the highway, or any bug really those fuckers can hold on, and if they sense green food and warmth you better bet they wil try to reach it and are capable of doing so, you have a good point with them coming in on your clothes and shoes though.

the petroleum product you use to condition the filter would probably also deter then im sure you could also spray it with a repellent also

sherriberry said:

my thoughts...

the mites arent getting on your plants from the outside... escpecially if its cold out.

they are on you and your clothes and your shoes.

i have a sealed room

i have mites.

get BUHACK powder, and some spray like AZA, and have at it.



second thoughts are...

no mite is going to make it in your exhaust line if there is air blowing against it trying to get in.

your intake side to your room... why would it be hot? and if it is, put a secton of insulating pipe between the light and the actuall intake pipe to your room...

put up a furnace filter/ panty hose, doesnt matter, anything to guard the intake side which is cool air coming in, unless you pump hot air into your room

i dont see the drama in this dilema

Click to expand...

I agree 100%. I still think you are creating issues where there are none.

get a spark plug, install it towards the end of your vent and exhaust some natural gas out your exhaust vent.

lets see the bugs hold on then.. in hell

on a more serious note... get a HOTSHOT pest killing strip, and tie it in your exhaust vent. ta da

or

get a sprayer, and put it on a timer with a tiny high psi pump, and have a little mini rez with some hardcore pestaside in it, and have it inject in your vent. ta da

or

put a screen in the vent close to the light, but not too close. And put some lady bugs in the exhaust side of it, the lady bugs will try to get back to the light, wont be able to bc the screen, and will eat your mites in the meantime. ta da

or

put fly strip sticky shit, around the perimeter of the inside of your vent, in a loop, so that they have to crawl over it. ta da

or

get panty hose and quit being a pussy, your air isnt that hot and panty hose arent that lame.

ROFLMAO