[moneymm22]

So i replaced broken ac condenser which forced me to replace the air handler in the attic as well, the air barely comes out of the vents. its variable speed, so we tried switching the heating blower to medium instead of low, and then high, but i barely see a difference.

i have a 2 units/zones, first floor and 2nd floor, 2nd floor is fine. first floor is much bigger.

i changed the filter.

i have a 2nd floor unit and that blows the air out 10 times harder.

there is alot more area to cover and diffusers, but still, its barely coming out and its always cold in the house.

how do i troubleshoot this?

house was built 12 years ago, i just bought it last year, i dont know how it was working prior to the new unit, so i am not sure if its the ductwork or the unit, the unit sounds like its working perfectly.

 

[moneymm22]

So i replaced broken ac condenser which forced me to replace the air handler in the attic as well, the air barely comes out of the vents. its variable speed, so we tried switching the heating blower to medium instead of low, and then high, but i barely see a difference.

i have a 2 units/zones, first floor and 2nd floor, 2nd floor is fine. first floor is much bigger.

i changed the filter.

i have a 2nd floor unit and that blows the air out 10 times harder.

there is alot more area to cover and diffusers, but still, its barely coming out and its always cold in the house.

how do i troubleshoot this?

house was built 12 years ago, i just bought it last year, i dont know how it was working prior to the new unit, so i am not sure if its the ductwork or the unit, the unit sounds like its working perfectly.

heat has been on all day, and wont get over 70 degrees

 

[Bud9051]

I'm following but soo no one has replied. Not my field but I'll see what questions I can ask and they may be stupid.

new equipment can sometimes have packaging in places that needs to be removed.

If you disconnect the supply at that air handler, eliminating all of the ductwork, is the airflow better?

Pictures always help.

Bud

 

[user_12345a]

There are too many possibilities and you haven't provided very specific information.

Whoever installed it should be accountable and come back to fix it.

It may have been miswired and or not put in/set up properly.

 

[roughneck]

Since it’s new Id call the installer back.
But what is static pressure? TESP? Blower amp draw? Heat rise across the heat exchanger?
Is the blower spinning the right way?
Is the blower spinning at all?
Ideally you don’t want the unit “blowing hard”. Your not supposed to feel air movement as the system runs.

 

[moneymm22]

Since it’s new Id call the installer back.
But what is static pressure? TESP? Blower amp draw? Heat rise across the heat exchanger?
Is the blower spinning the right way?
Is the blower spinning at all?
Ideally you don’t want the unit “blowing hard”. Your not supposed to feel air movement as the system runs.

ill call him back, but he was already here for something else, so i had him look at the unit, he said everything seemed fine and i just asked him if he could switch the fan from low to medium (since he said the heat fan defaults at low).

but he did warn me that we were taking out alot of radiant heat so the heating unit may no longer be sufficient. so now that i have a problem, he is saying that, thats the problem, but to me the real problem is the fact that you dont feel the air coming out of the vents. he also had nothing to do with the ductwork, for all i know thats the problem, (and i assume it is), i guess ill take off the feed for all the diffusers in the attic and make sure its coming out of the unit properly. if so then maybe just need to get the duct work cleaned out?

perhaps the blower is going the wrong direction, that would be a nice easy fix.

 

[roughneck]

Why are you taking out radiant heat? Was this unit sized to heat the home by itself with no radiant?
Don’t take duct apart. Take static measurements and heat rise. This should have been on the commissioning form the installer filled out and gave to you.

 

[moneymm22]

Why are you taking out radiant heat? Was this unit sized to heat the home by itself with no radiant?
Don’t take duct apart. Take static measurements and heat rise. This should have been on the commissioning form the installer filled out and gave to you.

it was under tile which was in the kitchen/foyer/hallway, we removed to replace with matching hardwood for the rest of the first floor.

i am not sure how the unit was orginally sized for the first floor, i konw there was diffusers in everyroom, even with radiant.

i just bought the home last year, it was a foreclosure, so i dont know much, and the ac condenser stopped working thats why i replaced that and the air handler/unit in attic, perhaps i needed a more powerful unit in the attic? but i dont even know how that works. i just had a contractor install it, i figured we were just replacing things, so all he had to do was hook it up correctly and i could save on the nonsense of things that big companies charge, (but apparently i messed up and i should have had them come in and atleast gave me their opinion on things first).

 

[roughneck]

So you bought this equipment online and then hired someone to put it in?
That’s a very risky way of replacing equipment.
We need to know static pressures, heat rise, motor amps, all the basic commissioning information.
If the unit is too small then you’ll be buying new equipment again to replace it.
If you insist on buying your own equipment it’s suggested you install it yourself. As at least then you can fix it yourself. Relying on a tech to install self provided equipment means that many times you get a crappy installation.
How large is this unit? What are the model numbers? And how large of an area is this equipment conditioning (sizing isn’t done via square footage).
Post pictures of the install.
Who pulled the permits for this job?

 

[beenthere]

So does the rest of the house still have radiant heat? If so, good chance the attic unit was only an aux heat unit for the coldest days/nights when the radiant couldn't keep up.

 

[moneymm22]

So you bought this equipment online and then hired someone to put it in?
That’s a very risky way of replacing equipment.
We need to know static pressures, heat rise, motor amps, all the basic commissioning information.
If the unit is too small then you’ll be buying new equipment again to replace it.
If you insist on buying your own equipment it’s suggested you install it yourself. As at least then you can fix it yourself. Relying on a tech to install self provided equipment means that many times you get a crappy installation.
How large is this unit? What are the model numbers? And how large of an area is this equipment conditioning (sizing isn’t done via square footage).
Post pictures of the install.
Who pulled the permits for this job?

no no the contractor bought it, he looked at old equipment and gave me two replacement options, i went with the more expensive one, he said it was better.

ill try and get this info up later.

no permits.

 

[moneymm22]

So does the rest of the house still have radiant heat? If so, good chance the attic unit was only an aux heat unit for the coldest days/nights when the radiant couldn't keep up.

no, the first floor had ducts in everyroom and less than half first floor had radiant. i think it was more of a feature to have warmth on your feet.

i left the radiant zones and ran new loops to two bathrooms (for warmth on your feet)

 

[roughneck]

If you know some facts about the house, do a load calculation to see what size equipment you need.

www.loadcalc.net

Other then that we need facts and figures. Gas pressure setting, static pressure in the duct, model and sizes of the equipment.
Post a picture of the installation.

 

[moneymm22]

If you know some facts about the house, do a load calculation to see what size equipment you need.

www.loadcalc.net

Other then that we need facts and figures. Gas pressure setting, static pressure in the duct, model and sizes of the equipment.
Post a picture of the installation.

not sure if i got all the math right, but this is what i came up with the whole house.


15992 Total Btu's Heating

HOUSE - its a 3,600 sq feet of living space, 2,200 of 1st floor, 1400 on 2nd floor, first floor has 10 foot ceilings, 2nd has 8 foot.

i have two of the same air handlers in the atic, --- model no AHG48-0A

one for first floor , and one for second floor.

the compressors for AC outside are 3.5 for 2nd floor and 4 ton for first, but thats another topic i guess.

 

[roughneck]

And is this a heat pump or furnace? That model looks like a multi position air handler.
That BTU number isn’t right, way too low.

 

[moneymm22]

And is this a heat pump or furnace? That model looks like a multi position air handler.
That BTU number isn’t right, way too low.

i dont know what to call it, i have a gas boiler, its sends up hot water to these units, but this unit has coils to heat also.

it was installed 12 years ago in a newly built home, i just replaced what was there with what i was told was the same exact size /specs as what was taken out.

 

[roughneck]

Then it’s a hydronic unit.
From here we need to check static pressure and amp draw.
Your gas bill is likely to be extremely high from the heat running non stop trying to satisfy the thermostat.

 

[moneymm22]

Then it’s a hydronic unit.
From here we need to check static pressure and amp draw.
Your gas bill is likely to be extremely high from the heat running non stop trying to satisfy the thermostat.

where is the static pressure and amp draw? how do i check that

 

[roughneck]

You’ll need a manometer and a clamp on ammeter.
You’ll check the amp draw on the motor load wires and for static, you’ll want return, supply and TESP.

 

[moneymm22]

okay thats over my head, you think i can get a company out to check things for free? or just like a general 100 dollar consultation?