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Trying to get some specific basics so that I can ask the right questions.

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Trying to get some specific basics so that I can ask the right questions. hurple 08-14-2007
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Posted by on August 14, 2007, 11:19 am
Hi,

I'm in the process of converting a brake shop into our home (don't
worry, all the environmentals came up clean) (http://
1923mills.blogspot.com for pictures). I'm about to hire an HVAC
contractor to install some ducts for A/C (it's a slab on grade with
cathedral ceilings, so heat will be provided using radiant tubes).
It's a loft style building so there is a huge open area (about 1200
sqft with a cathedral ceiling 22ft up to the center) and a few smaller
rooms with 9 ft ceilings (under the loft). For the big area what I
would like to see is commercial style exposed spiral ducting which
would work nicely aesthetically for the space. The other rooms would
have traditional resi ductwork. I have a few questions.

1) I don't know anything about flex duct other than it sounds like
it's often used inappropriately. If the contractor wants to use flex
duct for the smaller rooms what should I watch for?

2) The size of the large area is obviously relatively huge compared
to the small rooms. Does that matter? It seems like there would need
to be some sort of balancing. Is that true? What should I hear from
the contractor on that front?

3) Anything else I should know so that I can be a reasonably informed
customer? I seem to be bumping into some specialisation issues as far
as commercial people not wanting to do resi and resi people not
comfortable with spiral.


Thank you all so much.


Posted by jamesgangnc on August 14, 2007, 12:44 pm
On Aug 14, 11:19 am, hur...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm in the process of converting a brake shop into our home (don't
> worry, all the environmentals came up clean) (http://
> 1923mills.blogspot.com for pictures). I'm about to hire an HVAC
> contractor to install some ducts for A/C (it's a slab on grade with
> cathedral ceilings, so heat will be provided using radiant tubes).
> It's a loft style building so there is a huge open area (about 1200
> sqft with a cathedral ceiling 22ft up to the center) and a few smaller
> rooms with 9 ft ceilings (under the loft). For the big area what I
> would like to see is commercial style exposed spiral ducting which
> would work nicely aesthetically for the space. The other rooms would
> have traditional resi ductwork. I have a few questions.
>
> 1) I don't know anything about flex duct other than it sounds like
> it's often used inappropriately. If the contractor wants to use flex
> duct for the smaller rooms what should I watch for?
>
> 2) The size of the large area is obviously relatively huge compared
> to the small rooms. Does that matter? It seems like there would need
> to be some sort of balancing. Is that true? What should I hear from
> the contractor on that front?
>
> 3) Anything else I should know so that I can be a reasonably informed
> customer? I seem to be bumping into some specialisation issues as far
> as commercial people not wanting to do resi and resi people not
> comfortable with spiral.
>
> Thank you all so much.

Nothing wrong with flex if it is sized and installed properly.

A single system should be able to be installed and adjusted to work
properly but I agree you should worry about the balance. One way to
avoid that entirely would be to use two smaller independent systems.


Posted by Bubba on August 14, 2007, 6:24 pm
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:44:39 -0700, jamesgangnc

>On Aug 14, 11:19 am, hur...@gmail.com wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm in the process of converting a brake shop into our home (don't
>> worry, all the environmentals came up clean) (http://
>> 1923mills.blogspot.com for pictures). I'm about to hire an HVAC
>> contractor to install some ducts for A/C (it's a slab on grade with
>> cathedral ceilings, so heat will be provided using radiant tubes).
>> It's a loft style building so there is a huge open area (about 1200
>> sqft with a cathedral ceiling 22ft up to the center) and a few smaller
>> rooms with 9 ft ceilings (under the loft). For the big area what I
>> would like to see is commercial style exposed spiral ducting which
>> would work nicely aesthetically for the space. The other rooms would
>> have traditional resi ductwork. I have a few questions.
>>
>> 1) I don't know anything about flex duct other than it sounds like
>> it's often used inappropriately. If the contractor wants to use flex
>> duct for the smaller rooms what should I watch for?
>>
>> 2) The size of the large area is obviously relatively huge compared
>> to the small rooms. Does that matter? It seems like there would need
>> to be some sort of balancing. Is that true? What should I hear from
>> the contractor on that front?
>>
>> 3) Anything else I should know so that I can be a reasonably informed
>> customer? I seem to be bumping into some specialisation issues as far
>> as commercial people not wanting to do resi and resi people not
>> comfortable with spiral.
>>
>> Thank you all so much.
>
>Nothing wrong with flex if it is sized and installed properly.
>
>A single system should be able to be installed and adjusted to work
>properly but I agree you should worry about the balance. One way to
>avoid that entirely would be to use two smaller independent systems.

A smaller system, unless it only has one supply run, STILL needs to be
balanced.
Bubba

Posted by HVAC fella on August 16, 2007, 7:09 pm
Put in adjustable balancing dampers in each supply duct, then you can
regulate how much air you want to go where. Dont close them any more
than 50% otherwise not enough air will move over the Cooling Coil of the
a/c system and youll have problems with the equipment in time. Have
the supply and return ducts lined with DuctLiner which is half inch
insulation -- it will make for a much quieter system plus prevent
condensation on the outside of the supply ducts.


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