need air balancing tips - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

deer3 · 11-10-2008, 10:27 PM

so i do commercial hvac service calls and tomorrow i am going into a commercial space to do some air balancing...basically the situation is that the building is one story 2 rooftop units. when you stand on the floor lets say the temp is 20 degrees celsius but when someone gets on a ladder the temperature up at the height of the 10 foot ceiling is somwhere closer to 30 degrees celsius so a 10 degree temp difference....now its been a while since i have done any air balancing so if anyone can refresh my memory it would be greatly appreciated....basically i was going to go in there tomorrow and either add more air return grills in the ceiling or move a few to better suited locations...any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

kennzz05@yahoo. · 11-11-2008, 03:31 PM

aside from ceiling fans dont think theres much you can do other than installing low returns which probably isnt an option either heat rises im sure the system works great for a/c

MechanicalDVR · 11-11-2008, 06:38 PM

Well not being a certified balancer myself I'll take a shot. Check the plate on the unit and see what kind of cfms it pushes out, then check the size of the ductwork with a ductulator and see if it will provide the necessary cfms in and out. Then take readings with a balometer and see what it is doing. Once you know what it is supposed to do and what it is doing you can figure out if it needs something changed.

neolitic · 11-11-2008, 06:44 PM

A nonprofessional observation.
It always helps stratification
if they will just let the
air handler run continuously.

**genecarp** · 11-11-2008, 06:47 PM

stratification/ductulater/balometer.

MechanicalDVR · 11-11-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

A nonprofessional observation.
It always helps stratification
if they will just let the
air handler run continuously.

I wouldn't bring it down to just an airhandler, I think constant flow is always a more even temperature change, furnace, RTU, a/h, or hotwater system. Keep the pumps and fans running.

MechanicalDVR · 11-11-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genecarp

stratification/ductulater/balometer.

OH YEAH, dealing with duct work and airflow is much more complicated than shooting a few staples through a shingle or a few scews into a piece of sheetrock.
Just one of the facets of HVAC work that seperates the mechanics from the hacks and attic butchers.

**genecarp** · 11-11-2008, 07:05 PM

[quote=MechanicalDVR;532231]OH YEAH, dealing with duct work and airflow is much more complicated than shooting a few staples through a shingle or a few scews into a piece of sheetrock

Dont forget, we also have to get technical when pulling out rusty nails, and sanding pine.

MechanicalDVR · 11-11-2008, 07:09 PM

[quote=genecarp;532260]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MechanicalDVR

OH YEAH, dealing with duct work and airflow is much more complicated than shooting a few staples through a shingle or a few scews into a piece of sheetrock

Dont forget, we also have to get technical when pulling out rusty nails, and sanding pine.

Hmm, from what I see on the DIY channel it looks like anyone can do it.

mo-flo · 11-13-2008, 09:58 PM

high supply=low return,low supply=high return....i mainly concentrate on the living/working area like 5-6 ft. from floor and not worry so much about what's going on at ceiling level....ain't nobody gonna be up there anyways.

neolitic · 11-13-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mo-flo

high supply=low return,low supply=high return....i mainly concentrate on the living/working area like 5-6 ft. from floor and not worry so much about what's going on at ceiling level....ain't nobody gonna be up there anyways.

Hot at the ceiling usually means cold
on the floor.
Tell the sales girls in skirts that
it doesn't matter.

mo-flo · 11-13-2008, 10:12 PM

that's why you pull the air across the 5-6 ft. by floor with supply and return placement...