AboutDavid Deal Expertise Indoor air quality, mold, compliance questions as well. Also, expert on lead, asbestos, radon, and most any other environmental/industrial hygiene issues.
Question This is a 2-story brand new home; master bed room is in the first floor and other bed rooms in the 2nd floor. On a ceiling of the hallway to master bedroom, I saw a central R/A duct installed without vent boot/register boot on the R/A opening ceiling, and the R/A duct installed OFF-SIDE from this R/A opening ceiling (please take a look on these photos on this web site at www.thebuilderfromhell.com/photos for more details). This look like a "wood frame" (ceiling joist space size 20"x14"x8") is using in lieu of a R/A outlet ceiling box. As of observation & measurement, this "wood board" of this ceiling joist space is the floor of a bedroom on 2nd floor. So, there's no insulation around & over on top of this "ceiling joist space". There is a ceiling joist dividing this ceiling joist space and it obstructs partly the air flow way. My questions are:
1. I wonder if this R/A is properly installed?
2. Can this "ceiling joist space" (as a wood box) be acceptable and pass the local machenical building code eventhough it is unsealed or uncaulked and uninsulated? (regardless grille & filter haved installed in a proper manner.)
3. Don't this "ceiling joist space" need to be insulated/sealed/caulked to prevent from moisturize?
4. Would this type of R/A installation be considered as efficient home or one of standard qualifications of "Energy Star" home?
Please advise!
P.S: This new construction home is built from an "Energy Star" registered home builder in Houston, TX.
Answer OK, this is what I'd call a bad contractor. I have seen these issues in the past and always signifies many other problems that can be found in the home. It also can lead to other air quality problems.
To answer your questions:
1) I'd say no, builders may say yes. But any independant quality contractor would also say no.
2) It may. This is return air and will not condensate due to it being the same temperature as the ambiant air. This return line does not have to be insulated as long as it exists in the home envelope of conditioned air. This is OK as that goes. The problem is it will return wall cavity air into the system. This wall cavity is often dirty and can lead to the outside air or crawlspace through other utility holes. Local codes may or may not disallow it. Call your local code enforcement people or better yet, get a home inspector, one that is either member of American Society of Home Inspectors or a state group. Just make certain your 'certified' inspector is certified independantly. In Georgia, any ASHI or Georgia Association of Home Inspectors (GAHI)works out well. I prefer GAHI since they are mostly old builders and know all the tricks.
