×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

(OP)
Hey,
I'm new at this but seeking advice from anyone proficient at this type of work. I have an existing home that I purchased a few years ago that I want to install HVAC ducting in. I purchased a TRANE 13 seer packaged unit for this house which has no central heating or cooling (Wood frame home built on concrete pillars in 1956) It has a simple gable style roof with a 4 on 12 pitch. It does have an accesible attic although room is limited. I will be running 11 registers off of the supply(Plenum) duct and I prefer to run the supply in the attic space. My question is how big should my supply duct(Plenum) in the attic be? My work space up there is limited so assembling a plenum in the space is not practical. It's possible to cut an access at either end of the gable and slide in a prefabricated plenum. What type of material is commonly used? The approximate size of the house is 1100 sq ft. It has single pane windows and no insulation in the attic. Insulation batts will be installed prior to constructing and installing plenum. Should I leave this project to a professional or can it be accomplished by myself?

RE: Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

bigo46 (Marine/Ocean)
You have too many unknowns for a simple answer on this forum.
For example where are you going to place the furnace/ air handler.
 I would suggest getting a professional involved.
B.E.

RE: Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

I have seen some awful hack jobs done by "professional" HVAC installers.  Cutting collar ties, flex duct everywhere...

 

RE: Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

MintJulep (Mechanical)
That brings to mind the old saw , That Noah's Ark was built by an amateur and the Titanic was built by professionals.

 As far as the question about Plenum size is concerned there are knockdown plenums that can be assembled in the attic, but first you have to know the airflow requirements.
B.E.

RE: Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

You haven't even said where this building is; this will make a big difference in any answer.

RE: Fabrication & Installation of HVAC duct work

You should hire a pro to do this work IMO.  

There is more to installing a home HVAC system then banging sheetmetal together!  

Who's doing the cooling & heating load calcs?
Who's sizing the ductwork to ensure you don't exceed your unit's ESP?
Who's going to properly install the refrigerant piping in accordance w/ industry practices?  If you screw this up, you'll be throwing away lot's of money for someone to repace your compressor!
Who's going to charge the system?  Federal Regs require you to be EPA certified to handle/purchase refrigerants.

This is not a DIY activity.  Do yourself a favor and get competitive prices.
 

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources