Question about grow equipment Cleaning after A bout With Powdery Mildew

SickboyDilligaf

Well-Known Member
Good day Y’all. I know I have to clean like everything. As far as my exhaust fan which I can’t take apart / my carbon filter / and most important my Dehumidifier/. Can I reuse my exhaust equipment with a good cleaning and How in the world do you sterilize a dehumidifier. Do I need to worry about it being inside that beast?? I so don’t want to have to buy a new dehumidifier
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
On a serious note, for mildew in the dehumidifier, make sure it is completely dry. Then leave it in an enclosed space for a day in the presence of sulfur dioxide from a sulfur candle. Be very careful not to breathe any. Some people are mortally allergic to it.

The fan and filter can probably be baked at 120 C to decontaminate them. Don’t bake anything plastic; you won’t like the results.
 

SickboyDilligaf

Well-Known Member
On a serious note, for mildew in the dehumidifier, make sure it is completely dry. Then leave it in an enclosed space for a day in the presence of sulfur dioxide from a sulfur candle. Be very careful not to breathe any. Some people are mortally allergic to it.

The fan and filter can probably be baked at 120 C to decontaminate them. Don’t bake anything plastic; you won’t like the results.
fan is plastic. No baking anything. I’m not sure if dehumidifier has it, I’m asking is it most likely in the dehumidifier??? Can I run the fan in same room as dehumidifier and How is the sulfur going to get inside the dehumidifier
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
fan is plastic. No baking anything. I’m not sure if dehumidifier has it, I’m asking is it most likely in the dehumidifier??? Can I run the fan in same room as dehumidifier and How is the sulfur going to get inside the dehumidifier
You open it up as far as you can and make sure all is dry. The fan can be in the same room but not the carbon filter. That will need heat, otherwise the carbon gets loaded with SO2.
I’m saying a day because that lets the gas penetrate everywhere.
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
fan is plastic. No baking anything. I’m not sure if dehumidifier has it, I’m asking is it most likely in the dehumidifier??? Can I run the fan in same room as dehumidifier and How is the sulfur going to get inside the dehumidifier
I found an article that said powdery mildew does not like heat beyond 38 C or 101 F.

That suggests to me that putting the filter in a space heated to 50 C for a few hours should score a kill. I’ll wager your dehumidifier could stand that temp. But you need several hours (I suggest 8 or more) of uninterrupted high temperature. If your oven does not operate that low, an electric space heater in a closet with a running fan ( be fire safe!) might work. Rig a remote thermometer and switch for the heater so you can watch and control temp without dumping you hot air.
 

SickboyDilligaf

Well-Known Member
You open it up as far as you can and make sure all is dry. The fan can be in the same room but not the carbon filter. That will need heat, otherwise the carbon gets loaded with SO2.
I’m saying a day because that lets the gas penetrate everywhere.
Do I really need to worry about the filter ??
 

SickboyDilligaf

Well-Known Member
Adsorption is a distinct process where organic compounds in the air or water react chemically with the activated carbon, which causes them to stick to the filter. The more porous the activated carbon is, the more contaminants it will capture. These filters are most notably used to remove hazardous compounds in home air purification systems.
How Would I Benefit From an Activated Carbon Filter?
There are many benefits associated with using activated carbon filters. These purifiers can be used to rid your air of unwanted or harmful contaminants that can pose a hazard to your health.
Carbon Filter for AllerAir I-6500 AH 80 Air Purifier
Carbon Filter for AllerAir I-6500 AH 80 Air Purifier
In air purification systems, activated carbon filters can be used in conjunction with HEPA filters to trap known allergens and impurities like:
Dust
Lint
Mold spores
Smoke
Pet hair
Common household chemicals
Benzene and other VOCs
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
Adsorption is a distinct process where organic compounds in the air or water react chemically with the activated carbon, which causes them to stick to the filter. The more porous the activated carbon is, the more contaminants it will capture. These filters are most notably used to remove hazardous compounds in home air purification systems.
How Would I Benefit From an Activated Carbon Filter?
There are many benefits associated with using activated carbon filters. These purifiers can be used to rid your air of unwanted or harmful contaminants that can pose a hazard to your health.
Carbon Filter for AllerAir I-6500 AH 80 Air Purifier
Carbon Filter for AllerAir I-6500 AH 80 Air Purifier
In air purification systems, activated carbon filters can be used in conjunction with HEPA filters to trap known allergens and impurities like:
Dust
Lint
Mold spores
Smoke
Pet hair
Common household chemicals
Benzene and other VOCs
This refers to the adsorbent charge. You have the housing, mounting hardware and dust sock to consider. So the above doesn’t figure in here.

You’re fighting an evolved biological threat here. The current pandemic should make you respectful of this.
 

SickboyDilligaf

Well-Known Member
Do you really want to take the chance of leaving a source of reinfection? That could undo the entire project.

Also wash EVERY surface in the grow room, not just the tent, with dilute chlorine bleach.
I’m moving so Plus 1 for me. Fresh start.
Just gotta worry about the equipment. Thanks for your help cannabinner
 

Locke42

Member
Man, powdery mildew sucks, I get it...one of my first plants came with it, so I've been battling it since the beginning...it spread to my other plant, so both plants had it the first generation, and just when I thought it was gone, it exploded, and set me back a bit...but by the end of that grow, I found green cure works really well as a foliar spray that isn't some harsh chemical. If you don't overuse the stuff, you can drench the plants, even late in flower, and the powdery mildew is gone, and the buds are fine. I had to spray about every week that first generation, but it was coming back less strong every time.

Second generation, I only ever really noticed it on a couple of plants, and even then, it was never very bad...only had to spray 2-3 times during the entire grow...so far, haven't noticed on any third generation plants....

I guess what I'm trying to say is...maybe at a certain point you're going to reach diminishing returns on your invested effort...I mean, you could incinerate your entire house, what's to stop the powdery mildew from returning someday?
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
Man, powdery mildew sucks, I get it...one of my first plants came with it, so I've been battling it since the beginning...it spread to my other plant, so both plants had it the first generation, and just when I thought it was gone, it exploded, and set me back a bit...but by the end of that grow, I found green cure works really well as a foliar spray that isn't some harsh chemical. If you don't overuse the stuff, you can drench the plants, even late in flower, and the powdery mildew is gone, and the buds are fine. I had to spray about every week that first generation, but it was coming back less strong every time.

Second generation, I only ever really noticed it on a couple of plants, and even then, it was never very bad...only had to spray 2-3 times during the entire grow...so far, haven't noticed on any third generation plants....

I guess what I'm trying to say is...maybe at a certain point you're going to reach diminishing returns on your invested effort...I mean, you could incinerate your entire house, what's to stop the powdery mildew from returning someday?
For plants with mildew, look into Regalia by Marrone Bio. I’ve heard good reports.
 
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