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Heating & Air Conditioning

What do you think of this furnace installation?

17 years ago

My heat and air people just finished installing this furnace for the bonus room over my garage. I am curious to know what people think of the way the ducts are setup. Personally, I don't like the immediate turn that the 10" cold air return duct makes into the furnace. Otherwise, it seems like a tidy job. Am I being too picky about the immediate turn in the duct work? Thanks.

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Comments (22)

mr_havac
17 years ago
I wouldn't sign my name to an installation like that. Hasn't this company heard of rigid metal duct? This job has DIY written all over it.
peeler
Original Author
17 years ago
It's not DIY. I am paying good money for this installation. Thank you for the input.
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mr_havac
17 years ago
I know, but it looks DIY. Thats what a conscientous pro would probably think if he were to see this job. Maybe the crew working for the contractor has minimum experience installing. Keep an eye on that flex duct, its going to pull away from the fittings eventually.
Kevin Garabedian
17 years ago
It would have been nice if they used a couple of metal 90 degree elbows instead of bending the flex duct around, but it does not appear kinked - so it will function ok. Otherwise, it looks like a neat & tidy job.
I can't see in the pic, but there should be a light fixture and a recepticle nearby also.
bob_brown
17 years ago
It looks typical for N. Texas. I would probably route the duct to the back side, but he was probably short of duct. As long as the duct is not collapsed, it will work. I don't see any mastic on the connection. This is common in Texas by better installers.
jtinsc
17 years ago
Sad!!! Flex is not supposed to bend ,it is meant to lay flat and straight. They really skimped on materials, not a quality install. In response to bob brown, I would hate to see what the hackers do if this looks like better installers work.
saltcedar
17 years ago
Anybody know why HVAC wasn't installed 180
degrees around in the first place?

Thx
saltcedar
17 years ago
Or just 90 degrees would have been an improvement
No?
ckmb5150
17 years ago
return duct is 12"..

what size unit is it?

1. no return air plenum

2. no supply plenum (i assume so since i cant see it in pic)

3. drain looks like it loops back around back side of unit and runs uphill

4. copper lineset looks sloppy

5. sharp 180 degree bend in return air flex duct (looks stretched out)
ckmb5150
17 years ago
6. return air flex laying on condensate drain line

7. refrigeration lines running up and over unit could pose oil return issues.

8. notice what looks like a float switch in the secondary drain pan but dont see a secondary drain.

refer lines will probably be ok but i wouldve run them down low along the ceiling joists to be sure oil will get back to the compressor.
At the very least i would make them fix the primary drain to make sure it has a slope for proper drainage, get them to install a return air plenum with a start collar on top for them to tie the flex into and make them hang the flex duct with nylon flex hanger strap and saddles.

we dont do work like this in central tx
daft_punk
17 years ago
Peeler says this is a furnace install. So why doeas it look like AC? Is it a heat pump? I've not seen one before.

Either way...dissimilar metals on the line and strap could be an issue. My 20 year-old plumbing has silver-coloured (zinc-plated?) hangers holding my copper pipes. They are quite corroded.

Peace.

Marco
daft_punk
17 years ago
One more thing...my DIY furnace install does not look like that.
Luis Ruiz
17 years ago
I have a two story 9500 sq. feet home with cathedral ceilings built in 1999. Considering the avg. summer temperatures in West Texas of 95 degrees would it be wiser to install a split system where the cooler air will have to be forced to the second story or would a rooftop unit would work better by blowing colder air from the top to the bottom floors? Considering the laws of gravity where cooler air is heavier therefore flows from top to bottom which system would cool more efficiently? I have been told that a 5 ton unit would be sufficient to cool the entire home regardless of it's location. Ideas, comments, suggestions?
Thanks for your advise,
Sapperone
aircooled
17 years ago
I would have to see what was proposed in the contract to give an opinion on installation.

You get what you pay for and it is always easy for home owner to question his install after it's finished and he thinks they owe him something that he didn't agree to pay for.

As for the installation.

1) No secondary drain out of air handler
2) No return air plenum
3) no supply air plenum
4) no secondary drain line to outside
5) No vent to "P" trap drain
6) No mastic/ductseal on any ductwork
7) No fused disconnect to air handler
8) No sign of access to filter compartment
mr_havac
17 years ago
I think almost everyone who has ever been involved in an install looks back after a job is done and see's something he might have done a little different. This installer should go back to installing frozen burgers on a hot grill and flipping them.
brickeyee
17 years ago
"Hasn't this company heard of rigid metal duct?"

Rigid metal duct in unconditioned space is worse than flex or duct board.
The mass of the metal can hold a significant amount of heat.
The lower mass of flex or duct board reduces the held heat and the load on the system.
Even with equal insulation value, the metal is worse.
mr_havac
17 years ago
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one brickeye. Flexible ductwork was never ever designed and manufactured for this kind of installation.
brickeyee
17 years ago
It may have been misused here, but putting sheet metal in unconditioned space is poor design.
mr_havac
17 years ago
There are literally miles of it installed that way all over. Thats why insulating properly is so important. In commercial applications the insulation is on the inside but for residential thats usually cost prohibitive.
shawnt
17 years ago
Damn
jbac
17 years ago
oil return will be o.k. would be a good idea to hook up that emercency drain pan and run it outside.
mr_havac
17 years ago
peeler, in that second pic it shows a 1.5 inch PVC pipe that looks like its part of your plumbing vent system and it doesn't look like there's any plug or cap in that tee fitting. Also just curious too as to what part of the country you live in. I don't see any insulation between those joists at all

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