BCFBeacon

I am looking at a job that is basically making living space out of attic space. This house was built about two years ago. The attic space in question looks like it was meant to be converted to living space. It is pretty much framed and has electric run. I am just insulating, sheet rocking and trimming it out. The HVAC unit for this zone of the house is located in the space. I have access to all the branches and the main trunk. I need get heat/AC run to the space. It is not a large space. What is the best way to branch to this space? I am not an HVAC guy and the original builder is not being real cooperative. It is such a small job, it is not real interesting to any HVAC guys so I figured I would do it myself. I can find out all the info on the system if that helps/is needed. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

thom

We can't help you violate code so, first answer the following

Do you have a permit on the job"?
Did you engineer the floor joists to insure adequacy?
Is there proper and legal stairs for access?
Is the hvac system sized for the additional space?

probably a few questions that I forgot. In any event, how would you expect anyone to answer such a vague question. What, exactly, are you looking for? We can't teach you how to be an hvac mechanic if that's what you're looking for.

BCFBeacon

I apologize for being so vague. A permit will be pulled once I figure out what needs to happen in this part of the project. I don't want to get halfway into this and then discover that this system is inadequate. The reason I am soliciting advice on this is because I do not know HVAC that well. I want to ensure I am within code for that part of the project. I know the code for the other parts of the project. To answer your questions: 1.) There is a full staircase complete with proper handrail to this space. 2.) I am not the original builder but I have made the calculations based on span of the joists, thickness of the joists and type of wood to ensure the joists are more than adequate to handle the load. This house is part of a development that was built over the last few years by one builder. Many of the other houses in the development are of the same model and came with this space being finished (one of the reasons the homeowner wants his finished). This happened to be the last house in the development and was not finished when the housing market took a turn for the worse. The builder decided not to finish some things and I am guessing this was one of the things. As I said, the builder is being less than cooperative. I would love to have an HVAC mechanic do the job. When I explain the extent of the work needing to be done, the HVAC contractors I have spoken with either aren't interested in such a small job or want the money of a larger job (not that I blame them). I am not looking to be taught to be an HVAC mechanic. I do need help figuring out if the system is adequately sized for the additional space (the main question I have been trying to get answered from the builder). I am sure I can get all the info to calculate this, I just don't know the formula. So that would be the first thing I need help with. The second thing is if this turns out to be an adequate system, what is the proper way to feed this space? If the answers to these questions will be too detailed to answer via post or if it is just impossible to answer unless you see how the system is actually set up, I understand. If you just need specific info on the system, tell me what you need and I will get it for you. In the mean time, I will keep trying to get someone on site to do this part of the job. Thanks again.

AngusII

Generally speaking most HVAC equipment is way oversized so you probably are okay with the existing equipment. On the other hand duct work is a lot of the time undersized. Since your house is newer hopefully the ducts are okay and the equipment is oversized. (Most guys still oversize the equipment but the ducts are usually okay.) You do need to find somebody to run a heat/cooling load and check duct sizing verify though. You probably will have to offer to pay for the calculation as it does take sometime to do the calculations properly. I would do it for somebody if they were willing to pay for it. I do them for "free" on new systems but with out the larger payoff I would have to charge.

__________________
www.hotncoldhvac.com

meterman98

There is a lot of variables in you`re project.Especially when it comes to cooling a add-on such as this.you would be better off contacting an a-c man to look at this.Or take a shot at it your self

BCFBeacon

Thanks for the quick response. I will keep trying to get the builder to help me out. If that continues to fail, I will buck up and pay for an AC guy to come to do the work.

thom

find the hvac guy that did the job originally