Heating and air conditioning - Restricted return ducts

Author

Restricted return ducts

scbody

2005-10-18, 6:21 pm

Hi all

I'm replacing an electrostatic air cleaner in the return line of a
forced hot air/AC system. With the cleaner out the air flow is vastly
improved at the outlet registers, presumably because there was
previously some restriction to return. And yes, the return registers
are open.

Is there value to adding a register just prior to the air flow cleaner,
thus sucking air from the basement as well via the return ducts.

Any thing else I can do.

There is no opportunity to add returns or change the duct size
unfortunately.

Thank you very much

Noon-Air

2005-10-18, 8:21 pm

"scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1129667479.252523.67310@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all
>
> I'm replacing an electrostatic air cleaner in the return line of a
> forced hot air/AC system. With the cleaner out the air flow is vastly
> improved at the outlet registers, presumably because there was
> previously some restriction to return. And yes, the return registers
> are open.
>
> Is there value to adding a register just prior to the air flow cleaner,
> thus sucking air from the basement as well via the return ducts.
>
> Any thing else I can do.

Throw the electrostatic filter in the trash and run a 40%eff (MERV 8 or 9)
pleated disposable filter

> There is no opportunity to add returns or change the duct size
> unfortunately.

With enough money, anything is possible.

> Thank you very much
>

TURTLE

2005-10-18, 9:21 pm

"scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1129667479.252523.67310@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all
>
> I'm replacing an electrostatic air cleaner in the return line of a
> forced hot air/AC system. With the cleaner out the air flow is vastly
> improved at the outlet registers, presumably because there was
> previously some restriction to return. And yes, the return registers
> are open.
>
> Is there value to adding a register just prior to the air flow cleaner,
> thus sucking air from the basement as well via the return ducts.
>
> Any thing else I can do.
>
> There is no opportunity to add returns or change the duct size
> unfortunately.
>
> Thank you very much
>

This is trurtle.

Without being there to try to get a look at what more that could be done, i'm
affraud you are hooked into what you have or call a hvac fellow to see it to
advise.

TURTLE

scbody

2005-10-18, 9:21 pm

Gentlemen ... and for the first responder I use that term VERY loosely
!!

Thank you very much for the advice. While it true that with money
anything is possible, I haven't bought my Powerball tickets. $$ are
limited because I just spent $400 buying the damn electrostatic filter
thingo, after all, they were the best filters in Consumer Reports.

Is there any downside to installing a register in the basement to
increase flow (upside - I presume).

Getting an HVAC guy is in the plan.

All my best
Simon

Steve Scott

2005-10-18, 11:21 pm

Which brand/model is the filter you bought?

On 18 Oct 2005 17:06:46 -0700, "scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote:

>$$ are
>limited because I just spent $400 buying the damn electrostatic filter
>thingo, after all, they were the best filters in Consumer Reports.

--
Politicians and diapers need changing
often for similar reasons.

Cooltemp Industries

2005-10-18, 11:21 pm

"TURTLE" <turtle4aire@bellsouth.net> wrote

> Without being there to try to get a look at what more that could be
> done, i'm affraud

Yes you are! A fraud!

scbody

2005-10-19, 1:21 am

I bought an Aprilaire 5000. Easy installation. $400 on Yahoo.
Regards

TURTLE

2005-10-19, 1:21 am

"Cooltemp Industries >" <gbroderick@sunlife.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96F3E0649123gbrodericksunlifecom@216.196.97.142...
> "TURTLE" <turtle4aire@bellsouth.net> wrote
>
>
> Yes you are! A fraud!

This is Turtle.

You are a Idiot , but that does not stop you from posting here !

TURTLE

Steve Scott

2005-10-19, 2:21 am

That's not an electrostatic filter. It's a combination electronic and
media filter. It's fairly low resistance when it's new.
0.14"@1200CFM. Of course if you're moving 2000CFM you really need two
of them. How much air are you moving?

On 18 Oct 2005 20:53:50 -0700, "scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote:

>I bought an Aprilaire 5000. Easy installation. $400 on Yahoo.
>Regards

--
Politicians and diapers need changing
often for similar reasons.

geoman jr

2005-10-19, 9:21 am

"scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1129694030.698317.175450@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I bought an Aprilaire 5000. Easy installation. $400 on Yahoo.
> Regards
>

scbody- if you have a gas furnace and you put a return air grill prior to
your aprilaire there is a possibility you could create a negative pressure
in your basement and you could die of co poisoning- thus its a no no

Carolina Breeze HVAC

2005-10-19, 11:21 am

Noon-Air

2005-10-19, 11:21 am

"Carolina Breeze HVAC" <steve@carolinabreezehvac.com> wrote in message
news:uNr5f.4$EP6.396@eagle.america.net...
>
> "scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:1129694030.698317.175450@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Gads..somebody saw you coming.

Question is......did he get kissed afterwords?? or at least a courtesy
reach-around??

Power's Mechanical

2005-10-19, 5:21 pm

I'm replacing an electrostatic air cleaner in the return line of a
forced hot air/AC system. With the cleaner out the air flow is vastly
improved at the outlet registers, presumably because there was
previously some restriction to return. And yes, the return registers
are open.

Is there value to adding a register just prior to the air flow cleaner,

thus sucking air from the basement as well via the return ducts.

Any thing else I can do.

There is no opportunity to add returns or change the duct size
unfortunately.

Thank you very much

xxxx

What is the static pressure drop across the new filter? It may be in
the info that came with it or call the manufacture.

Putting a return air register is not something I reccommend. The
reason is if for some reason the basment gets in a negitive air
situation the furnace can backdraft CO into the home. This can happen
for a few resons. For instance, if your duct are not sealed properly
negitive and positive presures can occur in various parts of the home.

An on site evaluation by a pro is in odrer here.

Good luck.

scbody

2005-10-19, 5:21 pm

Scott

I *think* the air movement is 1400cfm.

No gas furnace gents, and no I didn't get a kiss. If one of you is
volunteering, I decline.

At least the unit works, which is better than the unit it replaced !!

Many thanks for the comedy and the advice.

Power's Mechanical

2005-10-19, 5:21 pm

scbody- if you have a gas furnace and you put a return air grill prior
to
your aprilaire there is a possibility you could create a negative
pressure
in your basement and you could die of co poisoning- thus its a no no

xxxx

LOL if i had seen your reply first i would have kept quiet. Good job
on being the ONLY one to value potentially life saving advice over
flameing. Good job.

..p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com

2005-10-19, 5:21 pm

On 19 Oct 2005 12:43:49 -0700, "scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote:

>Scott
>
>I *think* the air movement is 1400cfm.
>
>No gas furnace gents, and no I didn't get a kiss. If one of you is
>volunteering, I decline.

Let's Stormy out ......

>
>At least the unit works, which is better than the unit it replaced !!
>
>Many thanks for the comedy and the advice.

Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

R. Pierce Butler

2005-10-23, 10:21 am

"scbody" <scbody@comcast.net> wrote in news:1129667479.252523.67310
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

> Hi all
>
> I'm replacing an electrostatic air cleaner in the return line of a
> forced hot air/AC system. With the cleaner out the air flow is vastly
> improved at the outlet registers, presumably because there was
> previously some restriction to return. And yes, the return registers
> are open.
>
> Is there value to adding a register just prior to the air flow cleaner,
> thus sucking air from the basement as well via the return ducts.
>
> Any thing else I can do.
>
> There is no opportunity to add returns or change the duct size
> unfortunately.
>
> Thank you very much
>

Speaking of air filters, here is an article about the "Living Air Classic",
etc. filters.

http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/...ArticleID=11084

-----------------------------------------
Hi Bob: I think this may interest you. I repair electronics and had a guy
bring me a TV/VCR. A month later he came back, and the belt I replaced was
broken. It was one of those take-everythingapartto-get-to-the-belt kinds.
This time, the belt looked like it was 20 years old—nothing but little,
hard chunks of rubber.

Yes, it was the same unit. He did not try to sneak in his friend's for
repair. I started asking him what he could have in his house that could do
this. It turned out it was the electronic air cleaner. Soon after that, a
lady brought in a six-month-old VCR and the pinch roller looked 20 years
old. "You have an electronic air cleaner," I told her. She looked a little
shocked and asked, "How do you know?" After some thought she said, "Now I
know why the rubber on my patio doors is gone."

Then there was another customer who turned white when I told him about air
cleaners. He stated, "I have to replace all my windows at a cost of
$4000." He went on to tell me about how he had just replaced his carpet as
the rubber backing had turned to dust.

* Jonn van Laar (via e-mail)
* Pease: Hi, John. Wow, I'm impressed. Good sleuthing. Thanks for the
info. We're publishing your warning. Please tell me more about the
"electronic air cleaners." Is this one of those types that emits negative
ions? Please find out from your customers the name of the maker and the
model number. How is it described? Note: when the rubber on the patio doors
is replaced (and the rubber mat under the rug), there may be some synthetic
material, such as neoprene, that will resist the ions a lot better than
rubber. I'm not much of a chemist, but your customers might want to contact
one!!

Jonn van Laar responds: Hi, Bob. I found the "Living Alpine Fresh Air
Purifier Model 3500HL," also known as "Healthy Living HL-2," on eBay. It
seems similar to the one that was allegedly causing the trouble. (Yes, that
"electronic air cleaner" is the type that costs several hundred dollars,
and it emits negative ions and "activated oxygen"—ozone. I guess that is
the main problem!! /rap)

We had a guy selling them for as much as $600. I remember smelling the air
and it was just like what you got in the old days when you held a
screwdriver close to the plate cap of the horizontal output tube on a TV.
So my guess is that it is ozone. What got me was that it could do this to a
belt inside a TV/VCR that is not open to the air—and in less than a month!
(Hey, that activated oxygen really does get in everywhere! /rap) I do not
know what kind of rubber it was. I am sure different kinds would react in
different ways.

The unit uses some kind of RF signal because I remember looking on a scope.
Just holding the probe close showed all kinds of junk. I feel sorry for
anybody that has one in their garage.

* Pease: Oh, man!!! Think of all the rubber hoses you'd have to
replace!! Not to mention rubber tires and rubber toys!

-----------------------------------------------

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