Search
Monday, February 06, 2012 ..:: PAQ » Ductwork in Basement ::.. Register  Login
Geothermal Heat Pumps  
SEER 
Thermostat Heat Anticipator 
Photovoltaic
Plastic Ductwork Systems 
Insufficient Air Flow   
Forced Warm Air  
Moisture Control  
Tips From the Motor Doctor 
Supply Reg. & Return Grilles 
Troubleshoot an IPI System 
Troubleshooting a HSI System
Dehumidifying Heat Pipes 
All-Climate Heat Pump 
Cold Climate Heat Pump 
Reverse Cycle Chillers 
Ductless, Mini-Split HPumps
Blower Door Tests  
Furnace  
Vinyl Siding Modulating 
Windows Insulated 
Heating Interior Storm
Liquid-Based Solar 
Active Solar Heating 
Sprayed Foam Insulation 
Sprayed Fiber Insulation 
Insulation Alternatives 
EnRecovery Vent Systems 
Air Source Heat Pumps 
AC and HPump Maintenance 
Furnace Service & Repairs  
Gas Furnace IntermittentPilot 
Draft Fan Inducer and Vent 
CO2 Health Effects  
CO Poisoning Symptoms  
Solar-Powered Attic Fan  
Window Film  
Insulation  
DIY Home Energy Audits 
Chimneys & Power Ventilators 
Boilers  
Bypass Humidifier  
Add On Wood Furnace  
Zoning 
Window Air Conditioners  
Solar Cooling 
Portable Air Conditioners  
Motorized Dampers  
Wood Furnaces  
Room Air Conditioner  
Oil Furnaces  
Humidifiers  
Hydro-Air  
Circuit Control Board 
Electronic Ignition System 
Types of Gas Furnaces 
Ductless Mini-Split 
Sizing HVAC Systems  
How to Select an HVAC Company
Solar Water Heaters  
Wind Power Generator  
Maintaining Duct Systems 
Designing Duct Systems 
Dehumidification 
Controls  
Condensers 
Air to Air Exchangers  
Air Purifiers  
Air Handlers  
Air Filters  
Electronic Air Cleaners 
Operating Your Heat Pump 
Absorption Heat Pumps 
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Types of Heating & Furnace 
Filter Options
Geothermal Furnace
Tune Up Furnace
Repair or Replace Furnace
Furnace Efficiency
Selecting a Heat Pump
Heat Pump Systems
Install New Thermostat
Electronic Progr. Thermostat
How a Thermostat Work
Energy Efficiency: Ducts
Gas Valve
Humidity levels
Heat Gain/Loss Calculation
Combined Heat&Power Syst.
Install an Inline Duct Fan
Pressure Switch Problem
Flex Duct Installation

Is it ok to run ac duct from top of plenum?
No, this is code violation.

Is there stack duct for 6" wall?
Yes, you can use a regular 6" oval stack.

How do you seal ductwork with silver tape?
If this is old ductwork do not use silver tape, use a duct sealer.

How to install dryer vent through brick video.
C'mon, just look at these pictures on the "Split Level Ranch" page, it's more than enough!

Why am I having microwave vent hood exterior exhaust issues?
The simple answer: because you still trying to save a couple of bucks on my paid page.

What are the causes of sweating air ducts in a crawlspace?
Jus read on this page and find the answer.

Why does furnace bang constantly?
There are a lot of causes for that, just read it on this page.

Does it pay to replace ac ductwork?
If it's very old, rusty and dirty outside and inside, if it's undersized or oversized, then the answer is yes.

Do you cover outside vents for intruders for furnace gas vents?
Yes, there are some metal or plastic screens available at the supply houses.

Is there bathroom residential wall mounted exhaust duct fans?
You can use just the regular one; see pictures of the installation on the "Top of the Line House" page.

What is the best cold air intake basement position?
6 - 8 inches off the floor.

Where I can find furnace free book install?
You already got one - it is your furnace's installation manual!

Could dripping noise in wall be coming from humidifier?
No.

Does an 80 percent furnace have to have a double walled vent in a crawl space?
Yes.

How often should ductwork in the attic be replaced?

Well, if it deteriorated beyond repair then it should be replaced.
 

Ductwork in Basement

Are there advantages and/or disadvantages of building on slab versus on crawl space or basement?


There are many different issues to consider when it comes to the choice of a basement, crawl space, or a slab foundation for your new home. In many parts of the country, full basements will be the norm, while others will have slab foundations and still others will have crawl spaces. This is simply a value / price perception issue since many people feel that having a full basement gives them more room even if it is used only for storage purposes. Moreover, of course, the potential is always there for someone to finish the basement and add extra living space at some time in the future.

Slab
Slabs are very popular in warm climates and also in areas with lots of rock. If there is no basement, the wiring and the plumbing will be in the walls or in the ceilings. Space will also be required for the furnace and the water heater within the house. Water pipes must be insulated especially if they are in the attic.

One major advantage of slab foundations is that there is little chance for water and outside gases to leak in providing a healthier environment. Also slabs are lower to the ground as a rule and they have fewer steps to go up which can be an advantage for older seniors or people who have difficulty in climbing stairs.

There are several potential drawbacks to slab foundations. Any cracks can cause long-term problems and are more difficult to repair. Soil movement, tree roots can lead to cracks in the slab. Slabs homes are also more prone to insect problems.
Slab foundations are made up of a concrete slab that is typically 6 to 8 inches thick. The house then sits on the slab. Gravel is laid out first to facilitate drainage from underneath. Often times piping and utility hookups are set up to run through the slab. Rebar is used in some cases for added support, and expansion joists, or grooves along the surface inserted to handle any sort of cracking that might occur during the curing process, are added to all slabs as they are finished. Slabs are used most often in areas where there is high clay content in the soil. This can cause problems with settling due to inadequate subsurface drainage.

Slabs typically are the cheapest and fastest foundations to build. There is little excavation needed to set the slab, and it is poured simultaneously with the footings. The preparation for pouring the slab should be a day or less including the dry time for the concrete. Slabs are also less expensive then the other foundations because the floor of the home will sit directly on the slab, this eliminates the need for a floor support system to be constructed.

When it comes to the ductwork installation there could be some advantages and disadvantages.
Considering that in some instances building a basement isn't a feasible option that I would recommend for installation of the underground ductwork. Relatively recently instead of spiral metal pipes some companies started to use plastic ones, which have infinitude lifetime and built-in insulation.

Other than that, personally, I consider building a house on a slab as a crime! Why that?
Because in the most cases house on a slab has heating/cooling equipment in the attic and this creates multiple problems. Read more on the "Ductwork in Attic" page.

Crawlspace
Crawl spaces need to be insulated and protected from the elements in the colder climates. Warm climates tend to have semi-open crawl spaces, which are a place for moisture, mould and rodents to collect. There are a number of health issues that can be aggravated by moisture and mold.
A crawlspace foundation is where the home is supported off of the ground level by approximately 2 feet. Stem walls extend from the footings around the perimeter of the foundation to support the home. Often times an alternative is used instead of the stem wall. This is called pier and beam. This is a system piers, which are a formation of rebar that are placed in holes and filled with concrete, that are tied into beams that will form a similar stem wall to support the home above. Crawlspaces are typically used in areas with high moisture, where excessive water can build up. Supporting the home off of the ground keeps it away from moisture that could cause damage.

Crawlspaces can be a fairly inexpensive foundation to build. There is often little excavation needed due to the home is supported off of the ground, and very little concrete is needed since it is only required in the footings and stem wall.

When it comes to the ductwork installation, building a house on a crawl space is a crime, hands down! It is even worse than ductwork installation in attic! Why that?
Because a crawl space, and especially a shallow one, is barely reachable for installation and maintenance purposes.
Installers in the crawl spaces would never able to do the job properly because of the working conditions they must work in. Mechanical inspector who in the most cases is a retired heating contractor would never crawl in space like this unless a homeowner is a CPR certified and all the money saved on a concrete slab and walls will be wasted on higher prices of heating/plumbing/electrical installations and future repairs and maintenance.

Look at this photo on the left. There are two houses, side-by-side, built on the low ground on the lake's shore. House to the left sits on the shallow crawl space, and house to the right on the full size basement. A wise builder built house to the right, but a moron, whose main goal was to safe a few bucks built house to the lift.
Ironically that house was burned down to the ground, but they rebuilt it the way it was before!?!

 

 
New Light in Crawl Space (Building Science), PDF

Crawl Space Mold

01. Mold in Crawl Space
02. Mold Spray in Crawl Space
03. Crawl Space Mold
04. Crawl Space Water Sources and Solutions
05. House Detective - Dank, Wet Crawl Space Issues
06. To Vent or Not to Vent
07. Crawl Space Moisture Problems and Black
08. Mold Health Effects
09. Crawl Space Mold Control
10. Crawl Space Mold
11. Crawlspace Encapsulation, Vapor Barrier, No More Mold
12. Crawl Space to Clean Space by Healthy Spaces Evansville
13. Drainage Problem Video
14. French Drain and Sump Pump Installation
15. Can Your Crawl Space Breathe?
16. Is There Water In Your Crawl Space?

Basement
A basement is a popular foundation due to the added functionality it brings to a home. The basement can be used as storage space, finished off for living areas, or both. This living space is often finished off as recreation rooms, added bedrooms and bathrooms, and depending on the slope of your lot, nice windows and doors can be placed to make a walkout or daylight basement. The basement foundation combines elements of a slab and crawlspace. The floor in a basement is basically a slab, and the floor support system is what a crawlspace uses. The days the walls of the basement are most offered poured, but the decision between poured or block walls is often determined by local building codes. You can find basements all over the country, but areas with high water tables or unsettled soil will probably restrict you from building a basement due to potential flooding or cracking in the foundation walls.

Basements are the most expensive of the three foundations to build. More labor is required to excavate the site, pouring the walls or setting the concrete blocks, and a basement is going to use more materials. A basement is also going to take more time to build. This is due to the added amount of work and the extra time needed to let all of the concrete set. An average basement will take 2-3 days to pour the concrete and up to a week to set.

Basements tend to be cooler which can be important in hot climates, they add value to the home and provide more room whether finished or not. Basements tend to be more expensive due to the footings and walls that must go below the frost line.

Drainage is very important for basements and crawl spaces – as you don’t want water in these areas. Slabs and crawl spaces are generally less expensive than full basements to build, especially in conditions were there is a great deal of rock to be removed. In some locations it is almost impossible to install a basement without the large expense of removing solid rock.

When it comes to the ductwork installation, the basement is the best place for your heating and cooling equipment. It would provide a necessary space for your almost entire ductwork system. Convenient overhead location allows easy access to all its elements, which contributes to easy installation, repairs and maintenance.

Below you can see some pictures taken from my "Ductwork Installation Guide" that show you how heating/cooling equipment, ductwork and some ductwork/venting elements should be installed.

Rules of Thumb for Duct Systems PDF

Basically, installation starts from joist's panning for cold air returns. (Chapter #34)



Next, follows furnace installation (Chapter #37)



Plenum installation (Chapter #38)

 
Install cold air return ductwork (Chapter #40)



Install supply ductwork (Chapter #41)

Install heat runs (Chapters #43, 44)

Install fresh air, combustion air and kitchen exhaust (Chapters #47, 48)

Upon completion of all ductwork installation do the venting (Chapter #49).

The next follows installation of condensate line (Chapter #50)

Install a humidifier (Chapter #51)


Tags
Can duct work be installed in the attic even if you have a basement, where to run ductwork in a two story with no basement,
Copyright 2007 by Ductwork installation   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement
DotNetNuke® is copyright 2002-2012 by DotNetNuke Corporation