New Construction HVAC decisions. Geothermal vs. alternatives with upgraded envelope.

[jk96]

LOL you should see the duct work the're installing in Arkansas. It would make you cry.
I visited my son that's doing an residency at a hospital there and he has been renting.

The hospital has offered him a job when his residency is up (this summer), so he took us around to look at new home's he's considering.

All new houses have Large metal box on the end of the AH. Then, large flex running supplying air to duct board boxes. Then the supply to the rooms come off these boxes. Then, more large flex to another duct board box and the same happens all over

I can't believe The state,or the city allows such crap ! I wouldn't install duct work in my dog's house like that.

This was my point in posting about ductwork. Also in our situation our home is all exposed to the rafters, no attic space so all ductwork is in conditioned space. Using lined duct makes for a quieter system. Any minimal loss difference in lined vs wrapped is also into conditioned space and not in unused attic space.

 

[MGH PA]

Only one bid included the duct type now that I checked. They specified fiberglass/sheet metal duct.

 

[Sigarms]

Only one bid included the duct type now that I checked. They specified fiberglass/sheet metal duct.

Ask if they are running any flex duct or if it's all going to be hard pipe. If they are running main sheet metal trunk duct and connecting with flex duct to the supply and returns, I'd expect more from the quoted price. Running hard pipe all the around takes more time and money.

 

[Sigarms]

LOL you should see the duct work the're installing in Arkansas. It would make you cry.

I wouldn't cry, you would be amazed what I have pictures of...



Bad work is know throughout the country. One reason why you NEVER go with the cheapest price, and if you're paying a good penny and expect it done right, never be afraid to ask questions.

 

[MGH PA]

I just got his response. He said:


ductboard plenums with metal take offs and boots and flex between. Returns are sealed up with duct board. Pretty standard for residential

 

[kenmac]

I wouldn't cry, you would be amazed what I have pictures of...

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Bad work is know throughout the country. One reason why you NEVER go with the cheapest price, and if you're paying a good penny and expect it done right, never be afraid to ask questions.

they (most residential customers) have no idea between the cheapest and higher prices. All they want is their unit working, and when it doesn't, they start to scream.
I was up against this all the time

 

[kenmac]

I just got his response. He said:


ductboard plenums with metal take offs and boots and flex between. Returns are sealed up with duct board. Pretty standard for residential

Yeah, cheap residential .. So you are getting a duct board and flex system, which is the cheapest you can get.
Sure hope none of it is in a crawl space or attic. I also hope they are good at putting that duct board together, or it will all fall apart in a few yrs.

Went to a guy's house last week. He called me complaining he doesn't get very good air flow .
Checked out his duct board and flex system and showed him where the duct board trunk line was coming apart at the seams, and air escaping into his basement.. His basement was warm though !

Heck, If you have the room. I would have them go with round metal pipe over duct board and flex. Round should be cheaper than square duct work put together with S locks and drives. And a heck of allot better than duct board and flex

 

[Sigarms]

they (most residential customers) have no idea between the cheapest and higher prices. All they want is their unit working, and when it doesn't, they start to scream.
I was up against this all the time

Just for you. My director of technical services asked me how I edited the photo LOL Do a websearch. It's an original picture I assure you.

 

[Sigarms]

Yeah, cheap residential .. So you are getting a duct board and flex system, which is the cheapest you can get.
Sure hope none of it is in a crawl space or attic. I also hope they are good at putting that duct board together, or it will all fall apart in a few yrs.

It's been 20 years since I've dealt with a good guy doing ductboard up north, but... A good duct board job is just as good as a lined metal duct IMO, however... ductoboard is susceptible to "hits" which can damage the duct more so over a metal duct job, which is one reason why I don't like duct board personally (fiberglass fibers in the air stream woudn't be my first choice). As far as any noise issue using metal wrapped duct, a properly designed metal wrapped duct job won't produce any more air velocity noise over fiberglass lined duct job IMO.

That said, knowing what I know, only sheet metal comes into contact with the airflow from the HAVC system, and the metal duct is wrapped.

That said, all my own ductwork is fiberglass lined, so I have to live with it.

 

[Sigarms]

FYI this is what you call a shitie short term fix that I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole, and neither would Jim Romanaski The question becomes, is it photo shopped or isnt' it? LOL

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