/r/hvacadvice

Photograph via snooOG

A place for homeowners, renters, tenants, business owners or anyone with a general question about their HVAC system.

Please read rules before posting!

/r/HVACadvice exists to offer insight from people who are experienced in the HVAC field. If you are experiencing issues with your Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration system PLEASE call a professional. While the mods do their best to make sure information is accurate, you should ALWAYS take internet advice with a grain of salt.

No advertising is permitted here - as in do not post links to your blog, specific products for sale on other websites, etc.

If you have an electrical question, feel free to ask over at r/askanelectrician !

Please do not crosspost to r/hvac or r/thermostats - pick one sub for your post.

Blacklisted topics:

  • Disabling safety systems, even for just a minute to test or because you are very cold. Zero tolerance.
  • DIY asbestos abatement
  • Untrained work on three phase or electrical voltages higher than 240
  • Venting refrigerant deliberately or advocating doing so.
  • Uncertified refrigerant use (using gauges without proper certifications).
  • Unlicensed or uncertified work on gas appliances directly affecting the flow of gas/exhaust, examples include: gas pressure adjustments, venting, gas pipe work.

An immediate ban will result for anyone giving unsafe or dangerous advice.

Related Subreddits:

There's also the HVAC discord that seems like a pretty chill place to hang out, but it isn't affiliated with Reddit. The mod crew is forever on call here.


Spam: If you think your submission was unfairly caught in the spam filter, message us right away using the "message the moderators" option below so we can quickly remedy it. Thanks!

/r/hvacadvice

126,973 Subscribers

1

Water emanating from Aqustat's Temperature Probe Insertion point into drywell Red arrow/middle hexagon)? Triangle Tube Indirect "Smart40" Water heater is only 5 months old! Tank Leak? Drywell pin hole? Not snugg?

0 Comments
2024/11/02
14:06 UTC

2

Flame rollout?

Is this what they call a flame rollout? On the left side where the flame comes out, some of it is shooting backwards and coming out on the back side of the pipe.

0 Comments
2024/11/02
14:05 UTC

1

Digital reading/setting Humidistat with 1% Incremental setting?

I'm looking for a digital humidistat with 1% incremental setting. Is there any that anyone knows exists? My new humidifier came with a humidistat - the HumidiORO H6062, with 5% incremental setting. I would like a little more accuracy.

0 Comments
2024/11/02
14:04 UTC

1

Hello! I need some advice regarding my mitshubishi ac.

I have the 18000 btu mini split haruzake black and white which has trouble cooling 30m2. What can I do? There are 25c outside. It ran for the last 5 hours on 25c and it brought down the temperature from 28.5c to 27 but not lower. It seems it's still running the highest speed. I read that it moves only 712m3. To me It seemed a little bit low for a 18000. In the summer when there were 37c outside it was on turbo not bringing the temp less then 29c.

https://preview.redd.it/lhhwpmajvhyd1.png?width=958&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff93a6c54e14d46353572a664d04406de0e6a2dc

0 Comments
2024/11/02
14:00 UTC

1

Replacement cost

Can anyone give me an idea of replacement cost for a gas furnace for about 4,000 square foot home? And, any experience with whether HELP offers a good replacement option?

0 Comments
2024/11/02
13:57 UTC

1

Hvac rookie here

Why would you ask the customers if their indoor fan works on an air conditioning before arriving at the customers house? At what major component would you expect to find the problem? Please explain why?

1 Comment
2024/11/02
13:49 UTC

1

How do I tell if my heat kit is running?

I've had a 5ton (20kw backup) heat pump installed last spring. Heil regular heat pump with a variable speed air handler.

I have several times smelt a mild burning or hot smell. Also, the air at the registers is warm, like really warm. I have a hunch that the heat strip is coming on in addition to the heatpump on a regular basis. Even when its not in recovery or defrost cycle.

Is there an easy way to confirm or test this suspicion at the stat? Do I need to take pictures of the wiring in the air handler panel and stat for you to confirm or deny?

Just trying to save electricity. Thanks.

0 Comments
2024/11/02
13:36 UTC

2

My AC started freezing at night, worked fine during the day. Now it freezes after about an hour no matter the time of day. I was told the coils are dirty but they have to remove the whole unit ( basically uninstall it ) to clean them. 2000 dollars. Does this seem right?

12 Comments
2024/11/02
13:33 UTC

2

Gable vent is a long run. Soffit vent? Details in comments.

7 Comments
2024/11/02
13:32 UTC

1

HVAC not working 6 months after new install 6 months ago

I purchased a condo with a new Carrier HVAC installed 6 months ago. Coil replaced twice and still freezes up. Previous owner has 2 year no lemon guarantee. Does that pass to me as new owner? How many attempts to fix until it qualifies as a lemon?

0 Comments
2024/11/02
13:28 UTC

1

Unknown source of high humidity when HVAC is running

I had a new gas furnace HVAC (RunTru by Train) installed earlier this year. It worked fine all winter, spring and summer. About a month ago, I started getting very humid air in my apartment, to the point it was fogging up my mirrors. I bought a humidity meter, and it's been as high as 78%. It jumps up as high as 20% in humidity in less than 5 minutes when running the heat.

My landlord hasn't been able to figure it out. They gave me a giant humidifier and that's the only thing that works to get the humidity out when I use the heat. A few things to note:

  1. The company that installed the unit said the unit is running properly at 17% humidity
  2. Temperatures outside and humidity low or within the normal range (60's-70's outdoor temp)
  3. I've lived here over 15 years and humidity has never been a problem before now
  4. The dehumidifier has been able to get the humidity levels down to 35%
  5. I have a concrete slab foundation
  6. I have a CO detector and there have been no issues with that

It's driving me crazy and affecting my health. My landlord does not make fixing this a priority, as it's been over a month now. If anyone can help me figure out the source of this issue, I would be eternally grateful.

0 Comments
2024/11/02
13:02 UTC

1

Boiler Heat Exchanger

My boiler is 20+ year old and out of warranty. I took a picture of the heat exchanger when it was serviced. Are the circled areas cause for concern? It looks as if pieces are missing.

0 Comments
2024/11/02
12:58 UTC

4

Help. No heat

Does anyone know what's going on here. Turns on for a few seconds and then shuts off with an orange light. I'm not well versed in anything HVAC. Thank you for your help.

I have checked filter and it's clean.

10 Comments
2024/11/02
12:57 UTC

1

Temperature Bulb of Aquastat is supposed to slide down a hole into the water heater tank... but what's to stop said water from emerging out into the drywell? Is some water expected?

It certainly can't be water tight since you are basically sliding a probe with a wire down through ?

3 Comments
2024/11/02
12:57 UTC

1

Room furthest from furnace always cold. Are automatic dampers the solution to this problem?

2 Comments
2024/11/02
12:42 UTC

1

Help with new system thermostat

Hi Everyone, Looking for some advise with my new system. We had a heat pump with a furnace installed a couple of weeks ago. We have a 2 stage lennox high efficiency 2 stage gas furnace #EL296UH070XE36B paired with a bryant  #38MURAQ36AB3 heat pump, bryant #40MULAQ36XBX cased evaporator coil and a #KSACN1101AAA controller with the associated thermostat, which is where my question comes in. 

Some folks from the company we picked said that an ecobee can be used with the controller while the sales folks are saying we must use the associated communicating thermostat.  The thermostat seems very buggy, it has a temperature swing of 2-3 degrees (won't kick on until 66 or turn off until 73 when set to 70).

The KSACN1101AAA control board seems very similar to that in the 40muaa which does allow for the communicating unit or an ecobee. Does anyone have advice with using an ecobee with this set up. I plan on pushing my installer to do this, but want to make sure this is doable prior to starting this. 

Thank you for your help!

https://preview.redd.it/564uszobhhyd1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb14a56a594ff026d078673af4943e1cffb59b80

https://preview.redd.it/3cpa72pbhhyd1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cffd03fee303e7e0cde8ea81902aba98800a382

https://preview.redd.it/k3nqy1pbhhyd1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14cd5b28d9dc08fa15a49aef07eee3d09cd89641

https://preview.redd.it/od2am8pbhhyd1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d0964a0f5dae2a2d8aa92b9ad63a3474abe5203

1 Comment
2024/11/02
12:40 UTC

1

Rinnai EX38CTP

Rinnai furnace rattles when the blower turns on, and stops rattling when the blower turns off. Very hard to tell where the rattling noise is coming from. Has anyone else experienced this?

1 Comment
2024/11/02
12:33 UTC

6

furnace won’t kick on and the flame looks rather large?

14 Comments
2024/11/02
12:30 UTC

2

Best way to cool a single room in winter (for sleeping)

1920s mill house retrofitted with central heat/air. Each room has 2 vents but only one central return in the entire house. We like to sleep COLD so we added a window AC to just our room and keep it on 64F with the door closed (we also like to close the door to keep it as dark as possible). We only run it at night for sleeping. Problem is you can't run window AC when it's below 60F outside, so during the winter when the heat is on (so everyone else in the house isn't cold) and the door closed the room gets very warm and it's difficult to sleep.

How can we cool this one room at night during the winter? Would blocking off the vents so the heat doesn't enter the room help? We've already got a vornado fan and the fan from the window AC going as well but they aren't helping much. We do have a "return" on the door in the way of a cat door as well.

4 Comments
2024/11/02
11:59 UTC

1

Intermittent fan on new Mitsubishi Splits

I can’t find anything in the guides or online. The fan cycles on and off about every 3 seconds. The unit is giving heat. Anybody seen this before?

2 Comments
2024/11/02
11:58 UTC

3

Good comparable replacement?

Have a 30 year old boiler for a shop with infloor heating. Was wondering if there was something out there newer and more efficient?

6 Comments
2024/11/02
11:37 UTC

1

Best furnace for small home.(1100 Sq Ft)

I am doing a major remodel and want to get rid of my big furnace and replace it with something smaller. I need a gas up flow. I do have a good size crawl space where it could go. Any suggestions on make and models that would work that won't break the bank? Suggestions on what to do with old furnace? It still works great

1 Comment
2024/11/02
10:46 UTC

1

Best furnace for small home.(1100 Sq Ft)

I am doing a major remodel and want to get rid of my big furnace and replace it with something smaller. I need a gas up flow. I do have a good size crawl space where it could go. Any suggestions on make and models that would work that won't break the bank? Suggestions on what to do with old furnace? It still works great

0 Comments
2024/11/02
10:46 UTC

1

Flexible duct in basement ceiling?

A rectangular metal duct coming from my furnace in the basement makes loud popping sounds as it thermally expands and contracts. Is it against any code to replace it with a flexible duct to eliminate these sounds?

3 Comments
2024/11/02
10:37 UTC

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