Gdog
write diagnostic firmware for embedded industrial
Hi All,
Recently moved into this house that's about 20-some years old. This past summer replaced original furnace/Ac with 96% Carrier system; here's the furnace: https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/products/furnaces/59tn6/
We're in SE MI so just coming into cold season now. The humidity was too low so had the company that installed the system come out and ck the humidifier. It was working fine but based on specs, think they installed one that's too small. Convinced them to give me next step larger humidifier and we'll see in coming months if that fixes humidity issue.
But before he agreed to install larger humidifier he suggested we close off, or at least dampen the fresh air intake pipe that comes from outside the house into the air return ductwork in basement. Note I'm NOT referring to pvc piping for combustion intake and exhaust air; those are separate from this.
The fresh air intake is about 4" steel duct from outside and goes straight into air return plenum ducting, but looks like an inline valve or damper may constrain how much air comes in. This mixes outside "fresh" air with recycled air from the house before it's conditioned by the HVAC system. It's definitely pulling in outside air because pipe is cold to the touch.
The tech was telling me these fresh air intakes are not really necessary and suggested either constraining it, or blocking it completely. He said, it's code to have them installed, but they make the HVAC work harder as it has to condition more outside air as opposed to air already conditioned by the HVAC system. E.g. in FL, where he used to work, the AC can't keep up conditioning this outside air so they routinely block them to make the AC more efficient and effective in the hot humid summers. Of course in summer, the HVAC is trying to de-humidify inside air, while the opposite is true in winter (especially where/when it gets below freezing outside).
Anyone here have experience with this? I can see his point, but also see the benefit of pulling in, at least some outside fresh air for mixing/diluting the stale air inside the house. TIA for any thoughts on the subject!
Recently moved into this house that's about 20-some years old. This past summer replaced original furnace/Ac with 96% Carrier system; here's the furnace: https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/products/furnaces/59tn6/
We're in SE MI so just coming into cold season now. The humidity was too low so had the company that installed the system come out and ck the humidifier. It was working fine but based on specs, think they installed one that's too small. Convinced them to give me next step larger humidifier and we'll see in coming months if that fixes humidity issue.
But before he agreed to install larger humidifier he suggested we close off, or at least dampen the fresh air intake pipe that comes from outside the house into the air return ductwork in basement. Note I'm NOT referring to pvc piping for combustion intake and exhaust air; those are separate from this.
The fresh air intake is about 4" steel duct from outside and goes straight into air return plenum ducting, but looks like an inline valve or damper may constrain how much air comes in. This mixes outside "fresh" air with recycled air from the house before it's conditioned by the HVAC system. It's definitely pulling in outside air because pipe is cold to the touch.
The tech was telling me these fresh air intakes are not really necessary and suggested either constraining it, or blocking it completely. He said, it's code to have them installed, but they make the HVAC work harder as it has to condition more outside air as opposed to air already conditioned by the HVAC system. E.g. in FL, where he used to work, the AC can't keep up conditioning this outside air so they routinely block them to make the AC more efficient and effective in the hot humid summers. Of course in summer, the HVAC is trying to de-humidify inside air, while the opposite is true in winter (especially where/when it gets below freezing outside).
Anyone here have experience with this? I can see his point, but also see the benefit of pulling in, at least some outside fresh air for mixing/diluting the stale air inside the house. TIA for any thoughts on the subject!