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mbrady
Feb 2, 2008, 10:09 PM
I notice that during this cold winter at Edmonton that my gas furnace filters contain a larger amount of a whitish colored ash on the cold air return side of the filter. I would like to know where this ash is coming from. The air quality in the house seems fine so I cannot see how the ash is coming from the cold air returns. Could the ash indicate a leak in the heat exchanger?

My gas furnaces are mid efficiency ICG Ultimate II (17 years old)

Regards,

Michael Brady

hvac1000
Feb 3, 2008, 09:10 AM
What you call ask could be anything. Is your dryer in the same room as the furnace?

mbrady
Feb 4, 2008, 09:09 AM
No, the dryer is in a separate room. I think I might know what it is. It may be accumulated calcium carbonate blowing off the screen of the flow-through humidifier when it is dry. The humidifier is attached and blows into the cold air return. Does this make sense?

hvac1000
Feb 4, 2008, 02:00 PM
I would send a sample to a testing company if you really want to know what it is.