Any HVAC pros around?
Syndil
Posts: 1,582
I've already posted this question in the HVAC-talk forums but haven't gotten an answer yet and it's driving me mad. Yes, I'm being really impatient. Here's what happened.
My house was built in 2008. Since day one we have had a cat. Cat just passed away two weeks ago. We decided it was a good time to get the ducts cleaned, to get rid of the possible cat hair in there, and also we suspected there was a bunch of debris leftover from the builders. So COIT came in today and cleaned the ducts. Before they left, they showed us what they pulled out of the ducts: Cat hair, pieces of drywall, bits of wiring, even bits of fiberglass insulation. Very bad.
Anyway I was glad all that was out of the ducts and was happy for about two minutes, until I went around and started examining the ducts they had just cleaned. Two of the overhead return vents were making a faint rattling noise I had not heard before. Sounded like maybe a bit of something was loose and rolling around in the ducts. So I took the grill off and stuck my hand up one of the vents to feel around... And the thing that was making noise was the ripped inner lining of my flexible ductwork. There were two wide rips--one on the top of the duct, one on the bottom--that were flapping in the breeze, sounding like a plastic grocery bag.
Now before we go any further, I made damned sure COIT knew we had flexible ductwork, and they assured me beforehand that their equipment would not damage it.
First of all, how big a deal is this? How important is that inner lining? Can I just tape over the rips till they stop making noise and not worry about it any more, or is this more serious? Also, these are just the rips I know about. There may be more rips further down the ducts that I can't see, feel or hear.
Should I demand COIT to pay to have my damaged flexible ductwork replaced, or don't sweat it, or something in between? Either way, I'm pissed. Beforehand I just had some perfectly intact, relatively new ducts with a bit of junk in them, and now I have damaged ducts, even though they are clean. You tell me which is worse.
My house was built in 2008. Since day one we have had a cat. Cat just passed away two weeks ago. We decided it was a good time to get the ducts cleaned, to get rid of the possible cat hair in there, and also we suspected there was a bunch of debris leftover from the builders. So COIT came in today and cleaned the ducts. Before they left, they showed us what they pulled out of the ducts: Cat hair, pieces of drywall, bits of wiring, even bits of fiberglass insulation. Very bad.
Anyway I was glad all that was out of the ducts and was happy for about two minutes, until I went around and started examining the ducts they had just cleaned. Two of the overhead return vents were making a faint rattling noise I had not heard before. Sounded like maybe a bit of something was loose and rolling around in the ducts. So I took the grill off and stuck my hand up one of the vents to feel around... And the thing that was making noise was the ripped inner lining of my flexible ductwork. There were two wide rips--one on the top of the duct, one on the bottom--that were flapping in the breeze, sounding like a plastic grocery bag.
Now before we go any further, I made damned sure COIT knew we had flexible ductwork, and they assured me beforehand that their equipment would not damage it.
First of all, how big a deal is this? How important is that inner lining? Can I just tape over the rips till they stop making noise and not worry about it any more, or is this more serious? Also, these are just the rips I know about. There may be more rips further down the ducts that I can't see, feel or hear.
Should I demand COIT to pay to have my damaged flexible ductwork replaced, or don't sweat it, or something in between? Either way, I'm pissed. Beforehand I just had some perfectly intact, relatively new ducts with a bit of junk in them, and now I have damaged ducts, even though they are clean. You tell me which is worse.
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
Post edited by Syndil on
Comments
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Sorry, but that duct work needs to be replaced. What you really should do is call a good/reputable contractor/service company, and get the complete system checked for air leaks. The inner liner is what keeps the air going to where it's supposed to go. Duct tape is not a repair, becaues it isn't considered air tight.
My advice to any customers that have flex duct is to never have tham cleaned. Just het a shop vac, and vacuum whatever it is you can, and only what you see. The reason is, what you just experienced. -
It needs to be replaces. If you don't you will have issues with moisture getting into the insulation of the flexduct. Without the inner lining, any humidity or moisture that is pulled into that return will settle in that spost and be absorbed by the insulation. Moisture breeds mold...bacteria...etc. But, that should be a very easy and inexpensive repair for them to take care of.The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
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Can you post pics of these return grills, with approx. dimensions? Someone may be able to give a ROUGH estimate for repairs.I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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Wherever you can access it, I'd convert to ridgid round ducting with an outer insulator wrap. Better/cleaner flow that's closed for business to rodents etc.:eek:
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Wherever you can access it, I'd convert to ridgid round ducting with an outer insulator wrap. Better/cleaner flow that's closed for business to rodents etc.:eek:
That's always preferred, but generally budget is the reason for using flex. It can be put in at about 25% the cost.The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
Thorens TD320
Modified Carver C-1
Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects -
I was afraid of that. I'm thinking I should have ALL of the ducts inspected by someone other than COIT... Pretty sure the floor ducts are flex as well. House was built on the cheap, apparently. :P
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII -
almost all newer homes use flex duct. I've worked on 7 and 8 figure homes with flex duct in them. HVAC systems are where builders save money, because most people never give a thought to it. Nothing wrong with flex duct, if it installed correctly, and entry points for rodents are sealed.
You relly do need to get your duct work checked for leaks. Call some of the ones with a good reputation. I work for a company that many consider expensive. Many repeat customers called use after 2 or 3 "reasonably priced" companies. Usually duct blasting is a set price per system. -
Update: Spoke to the general manager about the situation, and he agreed to have all of the ducts inspected. He's going to see if it's something his guys can do or if he needs to send an HVAC company out. Either way, I'll be there for the inspection to see what they are seeing, because this screams "conflict of interest."
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
