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HVAC problem in new home
Question:
We have too leave our bedroom door ajar to prevent the ductwork from whislting when the furnance or AC is running. I had wanted our bedroom to be zoned but the HVAC contractor talked me into letting him install two vents instead. If we run the vent fan in the master bedroom, we have to leave the door half open. There are no return ducts in the basement. Is this proper? I have closed all the ducts in the basement and it has helped some, but now I have to run a dehumidifier. The contractor has been in business for as long as I can remember but he doesn’t seem to want to deal with this problem. He said he could reduce the fan speed and put a return vent in the basement and see if that might help. Any helpful advice would be appreaciated. Steve
Response:
Your bedroom is being pressurized by the two feed ducts and the air has to go somewhere. Sounds like it is whistling around a door. Most homes have one main return, in a hall for example, and count on air leaking under or around closed doors, if a return is planned at all. Ideally, you need the same area for returns as feeds and that would mean a pretty big slice cut off the bottom of the door. Instead, I’ve cut returns near the bottom of bedroom doors, mounting grates on each side. Doable but a hassle as most doors are hollow and the grates need support between. The most novel air return I’ve run into was one installed at the bottom of a wall fronting a hall. In the hall another grate was installed above the other at the top of the wall, the space between the studs and drywall acted as a return duct, and presumabably added more privacy.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have too leave our bedroom door ajar to prevent the ductwork from whislting > when the furnance or AC is running. I had wanted our bedroom to be zoned but > the HVAC contractor talked me into letting him install two vents instead. If we > run the vent fan in the master bedroom, we have to leave the door half open. > There are no return ducts in the basement. Is this proper? I have closed all > the ducts in the basement and it has helped some, but now I have to run a > dehumidifier. The contractor has been in business for as long as I can remember > but he doesn’t seem to want to deal with this problem. He said he could reduce > the fan speed and put a return vent in the basement and see if that might help. > Any helpful advice would be appreaciated. > Steve
Response:
What did the specs call for on the plans for returns? If you allowed him to change them, then it may be up to you to get it fixed, it would seem. Is the MBR large, and include a bath, dressing area and closets? You may need a return there, if so. How much of an opening do you have between the door and the floor? — Broussard Paint Contractors, friend of Bill’s http://www.broussardpaint.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have too leave our bedroom door ajar to prevent the ductwork from whislting > when the furnance or AC is running. I had wanted our bedroom to be zoned but > the HVAC contractor talked me into letting him install two vents instead. If we > run the vent fan in the master bedroom, we have to leave the door half open. > There are no return ducts in the basement. Is this proper? I have closed all > the ducts in the basement and it has helped some, but now I have to run a > dehumidifier. The contractor has been in business for as long as I can remember > but he doesn’t seem to want to deal with this problem. He said he could reduce > the fan speed and put a return vent in the basement and see if that might help. > Any helpful advice would be appreaciated. > Steve