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  1. #1
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Air circulation fan

    This air handler was in an insulated attic of a town home built in 05. There were two units, although this was the only one I could access. Does the air handler need to be connected to the vent via duct work or will installation of a filter over the front of the air handler do.

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  2. #2
    David Bell's Avatar
    David Bell Guest

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    Ducted ,sealed, insulated, firestopped. That space is obviously not plenum rated.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    Looks like they are using that as a return air plenum, and there are a lot of things in there you do not want in a return air plenum = so installing a duct to connect the air handler to the return air grille looks to be the wise thing to do.

    From the insulation, I am having a problem understanding where the condition space thermal envelope is in that photo.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    Jerry,
    It is a vaulted ceiling with foam insulation on the ceiling and walls, so the entire area is within the thermal envelope.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Indiana
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    37

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    From NFGC that most manufacturers base thier installation manuals upon:

    Where a furnace is installed so supply ducts carry air circulated by the furnace to areas outside the space containing the furnace, the return air shall also be handled by a duct(s) sealed to the furnace casing and terminating outside the space containing the furnace


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Utah
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    390

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    That does not appear to be a furnace and the ceiling and walls are not fire rated. As long as the thermal envelope is protected above I see no violations. A filter on the fan would be a good idea.


  7. #7
    ray jackson's Avatar
    ray jackson Guest

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    Rod, I believe you are correct about the thermal envelope. However, just because that space is within the envelope doesn't mean it can be the plenum. That insulation shown in the picture alone isn't allowed to be in the air stream. Then all the electrical and anything else in the space must be plenum rated.


  8. #8
    Darrell Udelhoven's Avatar
    Darrell Udelhoven Guest

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    It is important to know what the purpose of the fan is.
    Does it circulate air into the living space?
    If it does, it cannot be left unconnected to the return air grille.


    If that is an air conditioning air handler with an evaporator coil, then pulling Return-Air from that area would defeat the very purpose of a Return-Air system. In cooling mode, there are also major temperature differences between conditioned living area, - defeating the effectiveness of the A/C.

    "The Return-Air must equal the Supply-Air to & from the living area."
    It would be drawing a lot of air from outside of the living areas.

    That is certainly NOT a living area, & among many other things, would defeat the purpose of a Living-Area Return-Air system.

    I don't know why anyone would do something like that!
    What is on the other side of the Return-Air grille, - living areas?

    I am a retired long time, back to the mid-1970's HVAC contractor & Tech; the contractor should have pulled a city permit, IMO an the HVAC city inspector should have written that mess up in a NY minute. - Darrell

    Last edited by Darrell Udelhoven; 03-15-2010 at 05:33 PM. Reason: Also, major temperature differences defeating the effectiveness of the A/C

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    Quote Originally Posted by mathew stouffer View Post
    Jerry,
    It is a vaulted ceiling with foam insulation on the ceiling and walls, so the entire area is within the thermal envelope.

    Then it is a return air plenum and I see all kinds of things one does not want in a return air plenum, not the least of which is the fiberglass insulation, plumbing DWV piping, NM cables, exhaust fans, etc.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    From what I could gather, the fan is pulling air out of the living space and attic and exhausting it to an exterior location. I was unable to locate supply vents in the home.


  11. #11
    ray jackson's Avatar
    ray jackson Guest

    Default Re: Air circulation fan

    From the looks of that blower they are exhausting a huge amount of air. Is that some version of a whole house fan?


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