As I've mentioned in other posts, I recently bought a new house. This is a newly constructed townhouse and I got a great deal on it because I purchased it after someone else had backed out on their contract. Unfortunately by the time I put an offer in on the house it was 99% finished and I couldn't do any customization (in fact, it was less than 20 days between the day I made my offer and the day we closed).
In any case, I was going under the assumtion that my HVAC systems were dual stage because the HVAC contractor had hand written "Dual Stage" on the little sticker that they put on the side of the air handler. When I went to install my TZ16 thermostats I discovered that these are, in fact, single stage units. Not really a big deal.
But here is the bigger problem... as I was setting up the thermostats and trying to figure out whether these really were dual stage systems or not I got a hold of the installation manual for the air handlers. I noticed that it calls for a minimum filter size of 16x20 inches. The HVAC contractor, in their infinite wisdom, put the filter in the return vent in the living space, but they only put in a vent sized for a 16x16 filter. I'm sure this is hurting the effeciency of the system, and probably not doing good things for the lifespan of the blower motor either... It's like running with a clogged filter all the time.
I didn't notice too much of a problem with the really cheap fiberglass filter that was installed when I bought the house (the kind with the blue fibers that are spaced so far apart that you can practically see through the filter), but I just replaced the filter with a slightly better pleated filter that doesn't allow as much air to pass through and I think it's really starving the system for air (not to mention that it whistles whenever the system is running now).
As I see it, I have two options now... I can get a new return vent that will hold a 16x20 filter, but because the duct behind the vent is only 16x16 it will be a bit of work to actually get it installed and airtight and all... particularly without damaging the wall around it too much.
I also discovered that the air handlers have a built in filter holder underneath them that should hold a 16x20 filter, so I figured the easiest thing might be to just take the 16x16 filter out of the return vent (I'm hoping that the vent and the ductwork will be big enough without the filter blocking the airflow) and install a 16x20 filter under the air handler. It's a little less convenient this way, but I figured it beats modifying the duct and doing some drywall work. Unfortunately, however, it looks like the HVAC contractor got me there too... they used that space to attach the brackets that they used to mount the air handler. I think it's still usable for a filter, but the brackets reduce the size from 16x20 to about 15.5x20, which, of course, is a little bit too small for a 16x20 filter.
I'm hoping that I might be able to find a 15x20 filter to put in there, which should still be significantly better than the 16x16 I'm using now, otherwise I've seen some filters that come with the media and material to make a bracket, so you can make a custom size. I figure if I get something like that I should be able to make a 15.5x20 filter.
What do you guys think of these ideas? Any better thoughts?
Thanks much,
Brett
In any case, I was going under the assumtion that my HVAC systems were dual stage because the HVAC contractor had hand written "Dual Stage" on the little sticker that they put on the side of the air handler. When I went to install my TZ16 thermostats I discovered that these are, in fact, single stage units. Not really a big deal.
But here is the bigger problem... as I was setting up the thermostats and trying to figure out whether these really were dual stage systems or not I got a hold of the installation manual for the air handlers. I noticed that it calls for a minimum filter size of 16x20 inches. The HVAC contractor, in their infinite wisdom, put the filter in the return vent in the living space, but they only put in a vent sized for a 16x16 filter. I'm sure this is hurting the effeciency of the system, and probably not doing good things for the lifespan of the blower motor either... It's like running with a clogged filter all the time.
I didn't notice too much of a problem with the really cheap fiberglass filter that was installed when I bought the house (the kind with the blue fibers that are spaced so far apart that you can practically see through the filter), but I just replaced the filter with a slightly better pleated filter that doesn't allow as much air to pass through and I think it's really starving the system for air (not to mention that it whistles whenever the system is running now).
As I see it, I have two options now... I can get a new return vent that will hold a 16x20 filter, but because the duct behind the vent is only 16x16 it will be a bit of work to actually get it installed and airtight and all... particularly without damaging the wall around it too much.
I also discovered that the air handlers have a built in filter holder underneath them that should hold a 16x20 filter, so I figured the easiest thing might be to just take the 16x16 filter out of the return vent (I'm hoping that the vent and the ductwork will be big enough without the filter blocking the airflow) and install a 16x20 filter under the air handler. It's a little less convenient this way, but I figured it beats modifying the duct and doing some drywall work. Unfortunately, however, it looks like the HVAC contractor got me there too... they used that space to attach the brackets that they used to mount the air handler. I think it's still usable for a filter, but the brackets reduce the size from 16x20 to about 15.5x20, which, of course, is a little bit too small for a 16x20 filter.
I'm hoping that I might be able to find a 15x20 filter to put in there, which should still be significantly better than the 16x16 I'm using now, otherwise I've seen some filters that come with the media and material to make a bracket, so you can make a custom size. I figure if I get something like that I should be able to make a 15.5x20 filter.
What do you guys think of these ideas? Any better thoughts?
Thanks much,
Brett
