Home Improvement
Sep. 15th, 2006 02:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellyssianI arranged to discuss some HVAC issues with our plumber - he also does HVAC, although I'm not entirely convinced he won't pass this on to more specialized contractors.
What we need to do:
Deal with the two main issues: moisture and radon.
Moisture exists in four primary places: the two upstairs bathrooms, the cellar, and the HVAC system itself.
Minor issue: tweak the HVAC for a more balanced result; heat does, allegedly, rise - if you tried to prove that experiment in our house you would fail. Well, it works well enough in the warmer months, just not in the cooler months. This may turn out to be a leaky duct - I expect it is, given the behind-the-scenes glimpses I've had of the insulation installation so far.
My thinking, at the moment, is that one solution might solve most of the problems: bring in fresh, filtered air. A low-volume intake would keep things circulating, which can help keep the moisture from hanging around, and can also be used to apply a positive pressure to the house. Currently, radon is being sucked from the ground due to the negative pressure.
For the most part, such systems are installed above the living space. I'm not sure if the same or a separate system would be needed to pull air into the basement. We'll possibly need some outlet fans in the bathrooms. If we do it right, one system can do it all - although getting new ducts from above the living space to the cellar will be difficult. Would have been much easier if the developer and/or the designer and/or the implementer of the HVAC system understood the basic principles behind system design. Much easier to install before walls go up.
I've also discovered that many systems have moisture problems and distribution problems because they are overpowered - too much of a good thing causes the system to reach its goals and shut down quickly, leaving more time for things to stagnate and less time for air to flow through the entire system. Our system does tend to start and stop a lot, so that might be part or all of the problem.
Because a lot of the expected work will need to take place in the already-closed-in "attic," we need to get this done before framing Justin's room. Some insulation will have to be removed, maybe cut out, but once the lower eaves in that room are closed off, the only choice will be to cut through the ceiling, and that won't be pretty.
Once the HVAC gets planned out, it's the electrician's turn. He won't be able to finish the wiring until the framing's done, but he might also need to do some work prior to that point to make sure he has access.
The bad news? My brother-in-law won't be working on the room as I had hoped.
What we need to do:
Deal with the two main issues: moisture and radon.
Moisture exists in four primary places: the two upstairs bathrooms, the cellar, and the HVAC system itself.
Minor issue: tweak the HVAC for a more balanced result; heat does, allegedly, rise - if you tried to prove that experiment in our house you would fail. Well, it works well enough in the warmer months, just not in the cooler months. This may turn out to be a leaky duct - I expect it is, given the behind-the-scenes glimpses I've had of the insulation installation so far.
My thinking, at the moment, is that one solution might solve most of the problems: bring in fresh, filtered air. A low-volume intake would keep things circulating, which can help keep the moisture from hanging around, and can also be used to apply a positive pressure to the house. Currently, radon is being sucked from the ground due to the negative pressure.
For the most part, such systems are installed above the living space. I'm not sure if the same or a separate system would be needed to pull air into the basement. We'll possibly need some outlet fans in the bathrooms. If we do it right, one system can do it all - although getting new ducts from above the living space to the cellar will be difficult. Would have been much easier if the developer and/or the designer and/or the implementer of the HVAC system understood the basic principles behind system design. Much easier to install before walls go up.
I've also discovered that many systems have moisture problems and distribution problems because they are overpowered - too much of a good thing causes the system to reach its goals and shut down quickly, leaving more time for things to stagnate and less time for air to flow through the entire system. Our system does tend to start and stop a lot, so that might be part or all of the problem.
Because a lot of the expected work will need to take place in the already-closed-in "attic," we need to get this done before framing Justin's room. Some insulation will have to be removed, maybe cut out, but once the lower eaves in that room are closed off, the only choice will be to cut through the ceiling, and that won't be pretty.
Once the HVAC gets planned out, it's the electrician's turn. He won't be able to finish the wiring until the framing's done, but he might also need to do some work prior to that point to make sure he has access.
The bad news? My brother-in-law won't be working on the room as I had hoped.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-16 05:31 am (UTC)Over-powered systems aren't bad if you configure them correctly. Overpower is better than not enough, eh? One thing you can do to combat the moisture is to over-chill the air and then heat it back to desired temps before sending it into the ductwork. Dries the air out nicely that.;)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-16 12:23 pm (UTC)