Muttling
Posts: 1612
Joined: 9/30/2007
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I'm actually a CIE (Certified Indoor Environmentalist) so this is a topic I know a good bit about.
In response to the OP, do you have oil heat? and do you have a carbon monoxide detector?
If you heat with oil, that is No. 2 Fuel Oil which is just another name for diesel. If this is the case, definitely get the unit checked out.
No matter what the case is, you really need a CO detector if you're smelling diesel fumes. (In truth, everyone needs one but your case is even more important as you're smelling vehicle exhaust.) They're very cheap and you can buy one at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. They look and install just like a smoke alarm. One on the sleeping level of the house is what is typically recommended.
On the subject of air filters, there are two places where they would be installed. The older style units have them installed at the furnace. The majority of modern ones are installed in the air intake register. This will be a large vent installed in one of your walls and should be easy to find. It will be a vent the size of a large picture frame (e.g. 24inches x 24 inches or something along that size). Some homes have more than one intake. There will be screws or clips holding the grate cover on. Remove them to pull off the cover and you will most likely find your filter.
In response to everyone including the OP
There are a few different kinds of filters so please bear with me and I will explain them to you. I will also tell you what to look for when buying, how often to change, and the place to order on line with great prices on them.
There are basically two types of filter, activated carbon and particulate. Carbon removes organic vapors such as diesel fumes, formaldehydes (they're in everything from carpet to glue and are what cause that wonderful new house smell), etc. Carbon is very unusual to see on a home filtration system and the only reason I mention it is because the OP is dealing with an organic vapor problem. Unfortunately, the best particulate filters in the world won't do much for the smells he is describing. If you do some research, you should be able to come up with a combined filter that has carbon or charcoal in it and will fit in your air intake. Let me know if you want me to discuss the issue at greater length and I will happy to give you all the pro's n con's I can about your various options.
Particulate filters is what everyone has been discussing to above. Just as it sounds, they remove particulates from the air. High efficeincy particulate air (HEPA) filters are the most effective with electrostatic units running second. A step down from that is paper filter. All three of these types of filters are specialty units that are installed at the furnace. They are typically 4 to 10 inchest wide and are mounted on the air intake of the furnace. If you think you have one but aren't sure, send me a picture of your furnace and I'll tell you. (The electro static is the kind that has to be washed regularly.) If anyone is insterested in knowing the pro's n con's of each, please let me know.
The more common particulate filters are the 1 inch thick square or rectangular filters you buy at the store. This is what will be installed in your air intake but can also be installed at the furnace. There is a WIDE variety of these things on the market. The 50 cent fiberglass ones are practicly worthless and only do enough to protect the blower on the furnace from particulates that could damage it. It does nothing worth mentioning for breathing air and household dust.
There are a number of ways that filters are rated and evaluated. The ONLY rating system that makes sense for household air filtration is the MERV system. Ignore all the other crap they put on the label and look for the MERV number. A fiberglass filter is a MERV 1 while a HEPA filter is a MERV 14. Most researchers on the subject recommend a MERV 8 or higher.
I order Accumulair Platinums from www.filters-now.com and pay $11 each for MERV 11 filters. Home Depot sells similar filters for more than $20. I have been ordering these filters for about 10 years and have been extremely pleased.
On the subject of electrostatic filters, it is impossible to assign a MERV rating to them because they function opposite of a regular filter As a regular filter loads up, it's removal efficeincy improves but it's air flow capacity drops dramatically. As an electrostatic loads up, the air flow remains the same but the removal efficeincy drops dramatically. They are very good units but they MUST be washed regularly or will allow air to pass with no removal what so ever.
On the subject of how frequent to change your filters, it really depends on the cleanliness of your home and the climate in which you live. Filters are more effective in humid climates and will remove more particulates in air that is 50% or greater humidity. This also means they will become loaded and require changing more frequently in humid air. If you open your windows a lot, have pets, or have a fire place that doesn't draft well, your filter life span will be dramatically reduced. In short, check your filters mothly and change them when they look dirty or start to become concave from getting sucked in.
Hope this helps.
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advice on home air filter pls - 
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RE: advice on home air filter pls - 
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