What Happens in the Real World Stays in the Real World

Package-unit-flex-duct-outdoors-hvac-hacks.jpg

Today for your enjoyment, I have some mighty fine photos for you. They speak for themselves, really, so I don’t have to say much. First up is a nice package unit air conditioner (or heat pump) in Little Rock, Arkansas. The flex duct—yes, flex—runs from the ground up to the attic. Notice that it’s got its own notch cut into the soffit, too, although I suspect that might have been there before someone changed out the duct.

Today for your enjoyment, I have some mighty fine photos for you. They speak for themselves, really, so I don’t have to say much. First up is a nice package unit air conditioner (or heat pump) in Little Rock, Arkansas. The flex duct—yes, flex—runs from the ground up to the attic. Notice that it’s got its own notch cut into the soffit, too, although I suspect that might have been there before someone changed out the duct.

Speaking of changeouts, someone in Kentucky installed a new 80 AFUE gas furnace…with a PVC flue. Uhhhhhh, that kind of furnace needs a metal flue, as you might suspect from the melted and burnt plastic where it used to touch the furnace. Good thing that was in a vented attic. And lucky they didn’t burn down the house! (Thanks to Jamie Clark of Lexington, KY for this find and the next one, too.)

combustion safety 80 afue furnace pvc flue 500

This next photo shows real class (especially if you remove the ‘cl’); since it’s in a million dollar home, it has to be classy. The HVAC contractor here is using the rafter bays in a vaulted ceiling for return ducts. Surely there must be lots of foamboard on top of the roof deck so they’re not displacing insulation. Right? They must be coming back to line those rafter bays with real duct and then seal it. Right? And certainly that piece of PVC will serve as the good conduit for ventilation air that they intend. Right? (Incredibly, Jamie Clark told me that the PVC pipe really does seem intended for that purpose. Notice there’s one in the next bay, too.)

vaulted ceiling duct chase bubble wrap 500

Welcome to the real world

I thought about calling this article, Freaky Friday Photos, but then the idea that what happens in the real world stays in the real world came to me, probably from aliens. Or maybe it was spurred by what a commenter wrote in another article a month ago: “This is the perfect example of book smart and real world smart. Most HVAC contractors fortunately excel at the latter while only some energy auditors excel at the first.”

I’ll grant that there are quite a few HVAC contractors out there doing excellent work. I’ve seen some of it. Unfortunately, I don’t think they come anywhere near making a majority among HVAC contractors. Yes, the first two photos above are certainly extreme, and I think not so many contractors would do things as stupid as that. The third photo, though, is sadly common.

Just to ease your soul a bit, let me show you again what is my favorite building science photo of the year. I saw this beautiful duct system in a beautiful crawl space in Nashville a few months ago.

beautiful duct system in a beautiful crawl space

Why can’t more homes have nice work like this? This is both real-world and book-smart!

 

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Why Do So Many Expensive Homes Get Walmart-Class HVAC Systems?

 

Photo credits: (1) Package unit flex duct by Samuel Stephen Coulter, as posted on the HVAC Hacks Facebook page. (2) Burnt plastic flue by Jamie Clark of Climate Control in Lexington, KY. (3) Vaulted ceiling duct by Jamie Clark of Climate Control in Lexington, KY. (4) Beautiful duct system in a beautiful crawl space by Allison Bailes of Energy Vanguard.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Allison, 

    Allison, 
     
    Your customarily informative and amusing work! It even has a happy ending :-). 
     
    Just wish you had not hyper-linked “HVAC Hacks” in the photo credits. There went 30 minutes I’ll never get back :-(.

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