Thanks for the suggestions, Peter. I have tried balancing the system using the vents, but not the returns. Won't that cause issues if the pressure differential between the supply & return is too high?
I have a manometer and am familiar with using it, so one thing I had considered was measuring the difference between the supply and return at the air handler. The biggest problem is that the rooms farthest from the air handler are the hottest, no matter what. My youngest son's bedroom is upstairs and the longest run from the air handler, and it's hotter than heck no matter what I do. I plan on checking the attic space on a cloudy/cool when when permitting to see that there is plenty of insulation. My only other concern is that outside of the main manifold in the basement for the supply and return, much of the "ductwork" in this place is that damned flexible stuff. Dan --- On Sun, 7/12/09, Peter Frederick <psf...@earthlink.net> wrote: > From: Peter Frederick <psf...@earthlink.net> > Subject: Re: [MBZ] Speaking of hot.... > To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009, 11:16 PM > Common problem in large spaces where > a proper engineer wasn't consulted. You should also > check to make SURE the insulation in the attic is installed > properly, with cardboard or plastic vents at the ends of the > runs installed to keep the insulation blanket properly > located and to vent the attic space. It is VERY common > to find the fiberglass bats crooked or not extending to the > end of the ceiling, and stupid things like interior walls > vented to the attic space. > > I would suggest "balancing" the vents. You will have > to do this several times a year, as the air movement > requirements are different summer and winter. > > For summer, close the lower level vents completely or so > that just a very small amount of air comes out. Open the > upper level vents all the way. This will force the > cooled air out the upper vents, where it will come pouring > down the stairs and cool the lower level. Reverse for > winter, were you want the lower level heated and the heated > air will rise. > > Naturally, you will have to juggle the vents to get the > desired heating and cooling in the correct places, and it > may not be really obvious, but so long as you have adequate > air handling capacity, this should work. > > Also, if you have both and upper and lower level air > return, you should partially or completely block the "wrong" > one -- that is, close off the lower return in the summer > when the AC is on and force the system to draw air from the > upper level, where it's hot, and in the winter do the > reverse. > > Sadly, HVAC is just tossed into homes these days with very > little consideration for proper circulation, and the > probability that the insulation in the attic is actually > installed properly is close to zero. A well designed > system should work qutie well, they are the exception. > > Peter > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
