[dianejoe86]

My mom's new electric Rheem heater/a/c unit is blowing out white particles... its been checked twice by furnace installer/maintenance who says furnace fine. She lives in a high rise condo building... the furnace is installed in a closet outside her indoor front door. It is a RHLL W361106060 furnace; installed Oct. 12, 2011... this winter is the first time she's having white particles blow out all over her condo... again and again... and they're particles... not dust... the building manager is now involved, as he unit is in the same hallway as his office, and he's seeing the dust around his door, as well... the building maintenance man pulled out the front of the furnace, and saw that the insulation surrounding the unit is the same stuff that's all over her place...

We're greatly concerned about her health in having breathed/eaten this in for 3 weeks plus, and for the safety of other people who use that hallway. Who do we contact? She lives in Florida; I've called the fire dept. and they're going to send the fire prevention officer to investigate... but after that, who do we next go to?

I don't want anyone to remove or replace that insulation until the substance itself has been tested, to ensure its not dangerous to her... also, removing it without precautions may prove to be dangerous... anyone have any info on who we contact? Thanks so much... diane

[Grady White]

Rheem & nearly all other manufacturers use foil covered fiberglass insulation. If the foil isn't torn & the glue holding the insulation has not come loose, it is highly unlikely the problem is insulation. Fiberglass is very easily identified under a microscope. Take some to your local health department. They should be able to tell you if it is fiberglass or not.