Ducting, Air Circulation and Ventilation Systems - do duct fans work?
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Roeboat109
01-04-08, 09:13 AM
I am having trouble heating one of my bedrooms and my kitchen because they are the farthest distance from my furnace. ive seen those electrical fans you can insert into the ductwork to help push the air to the rooms.do they help much? does it take more than one fan per duct? any input anyone can give me would sure be appreciatted. thanks Happy New Year.
pflor
01-06-08, 05:09 AM
What you're looking for is called an "inline duct fan"
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/pflor_bucket/th_Inlineductfan.jpg (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/pflor_bucket/Inlineductfan.jpg)
They do help and you'll need one per branch...and you have to be familiar with electricity, electrical work and wiring schematics for HVAC.
Having said all that, check your duct system first. Do you have flex? check for kinks or sags, for too many turns or too long a run to these rooms. Some rooms may be getting too much heat, if so, balance the system (this usually takes care of it). If you see sources of air leaks, patch them up.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/pflor_bucket/th_Inlineductfan.jpg (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/pflor_bucket/Inlineductfan.jpg)
They do help and you'll need one per branch...and you have to be familiar with electricity, electrical work and wiring schematics for HVAC.
Having said all that, check your duct system first. Do you have flex? check for kinks or sags, for too many turns or too long a run to these rooms. Some rooms may be getting too much heat, if so, balance the system (this usually takes care of it). If you see sources of air leaks, patch them up.
airman.1994
01-06-08, 09:38 AM
I will disagree! The duct is your problem. The fans do not work if their is no air for them to push. Have an HVAC company take a look at the duct.
Roeboat109
01-06-08, 09:44 PM
ive already pretty much adjusted my ducts for each of my hot rooms but it hasnt changed the other cooler rooms much. the cooler rooms ducts have several turns and are 25-30ft to the far registers. we also have central air .same problem. i'll have someone come in look at the situation. thanks for the information. i didnt want to waste my money.
Spike99
01-07-08, 08:09 AM
ive already pretty much adjusted my ducts for each of my hot rooms but it hasnt changed the other cooler rooms much. the cooler rooms ducts have several turns and are 25-30ft to the far registers. we also have central air .same problem. i'll have someone come in look at the situation. thanks for the information. i didnt want to waste my money.
One might want to ask several different HVAC Specialists to visit your home. They will perform an indepth analysis and recommend what can be improved - for your specific home. The other day, I seen a show on TV. They replaced some 4" ducting with 5" ducting. Thus, allowing more air to flow down that pipe. This worked for their one bedroom. On a different TV Program, the specialist didn't touch any duct piping at all. Instead, they recommended that more insulation be added around that bedroom. Especially its ceiling and floor (which was a bedroom above their garage). These "more insulation" modifications helped for them.
Many of the HVAC Specialists have a tool. It measures the home's air movement "out" of a register. If NOT enough air flow, they recommend better flow or larger duct piping. If air flow is ok, they should recommend more insulation - for that room's area. Or, they might look at intake to heat vent volume & location details.
Also.... Do keep in mind that air floor inside a home is a "circle flow system". One can install all the "air flow" booster upgrades they want (like inline duct blowers) and larger size duct heat vents. But if they don't have proper size "return air intake" piping, their heat distribution "within the entire house" will never be resolved. Wasted upgraded money. As a suggestion (as a short term test), 50% block off your nearest to furnace air intake systems. Tape a card board sheet over them - for now. For the air intake piping inside those "too cold" of rooms, 100% open their air intake piping up. If no air intake within those "too cold" of rooms, I'd recommend you install cold air intakes. Especially if these rooms have shut-able doors. A shut door (with no cold air intake within that room) will reduce amount of heat that can be pumped into that specific room. This short term test is to determine if improper "cold air return" system is in your home. Always remember the "circle flow" balance system. Heat cannot be pumped into that area unless air is also sucked away - from the same area.
Hope these ideas help as well....
.
One might want to ask several different HVAC Specialists to visit your home. They will perform an indepth analysis and recommend what can be improved - for your specific home. The other day, I seen a show on TV. They replaced some 4" ducting with 5" ducting. Thus, allowing more air to flow down that pipe. This worked for their one bedroom. On a different TV Program, the specialist didn't touch any duct piping at all. Instead, they recommended that more insulation be added around that bedroom. Especially its ceiling and floor (which was a bedroom above their garage). These "more insulation" modifications helped for them.
Many of the HVAC Specialists have a tool. It measures the home's air movement "out" of a register. If NOT enough air flow, they recommend better flow or larger duct piping. If air flow is ok, they should recommend more insulation - for that room's area. Or, they might look at intake to heat vent volume & location details.
Also.... Do keep in mind that air floor inside a home is a "circle flow system". One can install all the "air flow" booster upgrades they want (like inline duct blowers) and larger size duct heat vents. But if they don't have proper size "return air intake" piping, their heat distribution "within the entire house" will never be resolved. Wasted upgraded money. As a suggestion (as a short term test), 50% block off your nearest to furnace air intake systems. Tape a card board sheet over them - for now. For the air intake piping inside those "too cold" of rooms, 100% open their air intake piping up. If no air intake within those "too cold" of rooms, I'd recommend you install cold air intakes. Especially if these rooms have shut-able doors. A shut door (with no cold air intake within that room) will reduce amount of heat that can be pumped into that specific room. This short term test is to determine if improper "cold air return" system is in your home. Always remember the "circle flow" balance system. Heat cannot be pumped into that area unless air is also sucked away - from the same area.
Hope these ideas help as well....
.