home sectionhome sectionOne of the best ways that you can make your HVAC (Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning) system more efficient is by installing dampers. These fixtures allow you to close off the ventilation ductwork in certain areas of your residence. This allows you to avoid heating unused rooms in the winter or cooling them in the summer. If you're a DIYer, you can install a control damper in a fiberglass duct yourself relatively simply.
All plumbing systems require an air vent to release the negative air pressure and allow liquid to drain down the pipes. Without an air vent, water would back up immediately inside your sewer lines. It's important that all drains are connected to the vent stack, which is the master air vent that runs up to the roof of your home. The air vent connects with toilets, sinks, washing machines and everything else in your home that drains liquids. It's critical that showers are connected to this air vent, as well.
Furnace ducts deliver air-conditioning or warm air throughout the rooms in a house. Duct lines appear as round pipes made of galvanized steel that attach to room vents or registers. Building a furnace duct involves constructing an opening for a new duct line, running the duct to the desired location and connecting it to the room vent.
A standard bathroom group consists of a commode, a vanity/sink and a tub or shower. When all three of these fixtures are in proximity, you can install one group vent that will eliminate the problem of water locks in the drain lines of all the fixtures. Just one vent is required in most residential bathrooms, but some local building codes might stipulate a second vent if the drain line supplying one fixture does not connect with the main drainpipe within a specified distance. This distance is often 10 feet, but it can vary.
The Aprilaire 550 whole-home humidifier adds moisture to the air as it passes through the existing ductwork for your furnace. Increasing the humidity in your home can make it feel warmer without adding to your heating bill. This can also prevent common problems caused by dry air, such as dry skin, sore throats, runny noses and respiratory issues. Instead of paying a repairman to install your new Aprilaire 550 humidifier, save money by doing the job yourself.
Ductwork usually comes in rectangular or circular forms made from sheet metal. When a custom shape, such as a square, is required, you can build your ductwork from lightweight fiberglass duct boards. Sold in sheets usually 96 to 120 inches long and 1, 1 1/2 or 2 inches thick, the board can be cut and assembled to created custom duct shapes and sizes. The board also has insulating qualities that can improve duct efficiency over sheet metal.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning duct diverters allow absolute control over air flows within your building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning ductwork. A diverter is a Y-shaped air valve with an internal door that moves to close off one branch of your ductwork while simultaneously opening up a second branch. Air duct diverters allow you to balance your building’s HVAC system and direct the airflow to where you need it.
The purpose of an oven exhaust fan is to carry smoke and grease produced by the oven to the exterior atmosphere. These fans are located inside the vent hoods, which help channel the warm oven air up to the fan. Hooking up an oven exhaust fan requires that ductwork be in place first so that the oven air is disposed of properly. Once the ductwork is complete, wiring an oven exhaust fan can be done by tying it into a nearby circuit box.
Bathroom vent fans help remove odors and moisture. If the fan is loud or does not work, replacing it with a new one is a common do-it-yourself project that requires a small amount of tools and time. However, it is important you measure the fan and get one from your local home-builder store that is suited for your bathroom. This helps take the guesswork out of installing the new fan.
Adding an air vent to a room in a home with an existing HVAC system can be a relatively easy and inexpensive project or a difficult and costly undertaking. Everything hinges on whether your existing HVAC system can accommodate another vent. If your HVAC system cannot accommodate this addition, you will need to upgrade the entire system. If your system can, in fact, accommodate an additional vent, the installation is fairly straightforward.
Even in cold weather, your home’s attic benefits from air circulation that allows warm humid air to escape through upper roof vents and fresh cool air to filter in beneath the roof. Soffit vents install in the horizontal soffit boards under the roof eaves and most of the time; you won’t notice any difference in indoor temperature. If you have a finished attic, however, the dead space behind the knee walls may become cold due to freezing air coming in from the soffit vents. To reduce the cold air, you can install soffit vents with dampers.
One of the most common reasons for repairing or replacing air conditioners is to improve return air in the home. Return vents and ducts comprise the air transfer systems in a home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. While the supply vents redistribute conditioned air throughout the home, return vents pull warm air from inside the home and send it to the air handler in your HVAC system. Installing an adequate number of return vents in your house is important for maintaining optimal room temperatures and energy efficiency.
Foundation air vents and screens allow you to open and close the air circulation under your home. Over time, the mortar around the air vents deteriorates, causing them to become loose or fall out of the masonry foundation. Sometimes the vents and screens require replacement due to not working correctly. Attaching air vents and screens in a masonry foundation depends on the type of replacement you use. Traditional metal-vent combinations require mortar, while the plastic replacements use a combination of screws and plastic pins.
Dayton attic fans operate with a drive belt connected to an electric motor that can be run in reverse to change the rotation of the spinning fan blades. This is a useful feature in winter to push hot air downward while reversing the motor, during hot months, lets you force heated air upward and through the roof in the attic vents. Reversing the motor rotation on a Dayton takes only a few minutes to do.
Air admittance valves let air flow directly into your toilet drain pipe when you flush the toilet. Since air moves through the drain when water moves through the drain, you need a vent to avoid plumbing issues such as water hammer. Installing the valve takes some special plumbing skill, but is nothing the average person can not handle. You will need to have access to your toilet drain pipe, which runs from the toilet itself to the home's main drain line, called the drain stack.
Sources of unpleasant odors in your home or car include tobacco smoke, dust, dirt, mold, pet dander and engine fumes which get trapped in the air vents. Clean and deodorize the air vents in your home and car regularly to keep the circulating air smelling fresh.
The central vent in a home can be tied into the concept of a central vent in geology, which is used to describe a volcanic eruption. These eruptions occur as a result of lava being fed into a central location from several different channels, all arriving at the single location from deep underground. Lava then erupts through the lone outlet to the earth's surface. This same concept applies to a ventilation system in the home.
Positive crankcase ventilation systems are fairly humble in terms of sophistication, but they perform a number of important functions in terms of engine dynamics and emissions. An evolution of the simple vent tubes in use from the dawn of the internal combustion engine, the modern and federally mandated PCV system remains a wonderfully simple solution to a multifaceted problem.
A Sears evaporator humidifier helps increase humidity in your home or office by adding moisture to the air. Increasing moisture in the air relieves a variety of medical conditions, such as congestion, coughs and dry skin. To benefit the most from a Sears evaporator humidifier, it's imperative to keep the humidifier clean and disinfected. Failure to clean this device triggers the growth of mold and bacteria, which might cause other health issues.
A ventilation baffle is a box with open sides placed over a vent or ventilation fan in the attic. The baffle keeps the attic insulation from blocking the vent, which would also keep air from circulating inside the attic. Without proper air circulation your attic becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew. While many baffles are pre-made of plastic or metal, you can build your own baffle out of plywood to fit your ventilation fan.
The Bionaire BUL7921 UM is a cool-mist humidifier; it produces a mist that increases the moisture in the air. This style of humidifier works well in arid environments and medium to large rooms, making the air more comfortable to breathe. Keeping the humidifier clean prevents odors and helps to keep the unit in good condition. You can clean the Bionaire humidifier model BUL7921 UM with basic household supplies.
In a typical heating and air conditioning system, you may encounter registers in the ceiling, on the wall, at the baseboard level or in the floor. Floor registers are common in front of patio doors or floor-to-ceiling windows. By placing the registers directly in front of the window, the air blowing out of them will "wash" up along the window, which helps prevent drafts. Once properly installed, you can walk across a floor register as if it were part of the floor.
Vents remove offensive odors from a bathroom as well as exhaust the humid air from the room after you take a bath or shower. Because of the function of a bathroom vent, you should position it halfway between the bathtub or shower and the toilet. The vent needs to also connect to a vent on the house’s roof, otherwise the humid air from the bathroom will be trapped in the attic.
Marlite is a brand of fiberglass reinforced paneling (FRP) installed mainly in public locations, such as bathrooms. It comes in a variety of colors and textures, and even novices can install the panels without assistance. Marlite FRP requires only careful measurement and the application of adhesive to secure them to the bathroom walls. In addition, some cutting is required to fit the panels around fixtures such as sinks, vanities or toilets.
One of the biggest contributors to high heating bills is loss of heat through cracks and crevices in your home. Your exterior walls, windows and doors, even your outlets, can leak air. Spray foam insulation is a simple way to reach areas that are hard to insulate with fiberglass or board foam insulation. Air sealing a home refers to sealing off air leaks. You can do this by using spray foam insulation, caulk, gaskets or plastic sheeting.
Removing noxious fumes and embarrassing odors is just part of the job performed by a NuTone bathroom fan. Warm, moist air from showers can cause mold and mildew problems – leading to unpleasant smells and costly repairs. You can install flexible ductwork to vent a NuTone bathroom fan outside of your house. When properly vented, the bathroom fan will help prevent moisture problems.
Not all microwaves require fan vents, but if yours is an over-the-range model, it almost definitely does. Unlike countertop units, range hood microwaves must contend with the smoke, grease and odors that a regular range hood sucks up. A built-in fan pulls these cooking byproducts up and into the fan vent, which leads outdoors through the roof or a wall. If the fan works but doesn't seem to be doing anything, the fan vent may be blocked. You can check it yourself, but you'll need to remove the Whirlpool microwave to do so.
Dehumidifiers are designed to pull hot, humid air into the unit and separate the water from the air, collecting the water in a tank and sending the now drier air back into the living space. While not all dehumidifiers have a sensor, some have a humidity sensor that helps adapt the dehumidifier to maintain the set relative humidity point. If the sensor gets dirty or cloudy, sensor effectiveness will be reduced. Troubleshooting the sensor can often help avoid this problem.
A range vent hood can be both beautiful and practical, adding charm to the cooking area while also removing smoke, grease and fumes. The air drawn out of the kitchen must go somewhere, and a properly installed vent has ductwork leading to the outside. This duct should be designed to let air out, but not in. However, sometimes cold air manages to make its way in through the duct.
Duct collars provide a convenient way to connect your air ducts to your main system. These collars come in a variety of sizes to accommodate most air conditioning and heating systems. Proper installation of duct collars is necessary to gain maximum efficiency from your heating and cooling system.
Ventilation in attics is an important part of making your home energy efficient. Attics, which are located right under the roof, where they are exposed to sunlight for long periods, can become very hot. Moreover, moisture can accumulate, which can cause your home's wood structure to rot, mold to form and insulation materials to become saturated. Setting your attic fan to recommended temperatures for optimum ventilation can help to prevent these problems.
The air that your air conditioner cools or your furnace heats needs a closed system of vents to deliver it throughout the home. When installed properly, duct work helps the temperature of your home remain comfortable in all weather. Serious problems arise that waste money and lower the air quality if the ducts aren't installed correctly.
Honeywell is a company that makes many products for the home, including humidifiers. A humidifier keeps the moisture level in your house constant, and it is especially useful is dry climates. The Honeywell HE360 humidifier works in conjunction with your furnace blower to humidify the entire house. The HE360 is versatile, in that it works well with almost every Honeywell humidity control. The company recommends installation be performed only by an experienced service technician.
Ground-to-attic-fan ventilation can provide an alternative source of home cooling during warm months or supplement a home’s existing cooling system. A ground-to-attic fan creates a whole-house fan effect by moving warm air out and pulling cool air in. The airflow created may pose certain problems in homes that have combustion-powered appliances situated in conditioned air spaces.
Installed in bathrooms that do not have a window for ventilation, fans can reduce both odors and moisture. The units, rated on their ability to move air as well as their loudness, are not difficult to replace. Available at building supply stores, fans have noise and airflow figures printed on the box, making it easy to select the proper unit for your bathroom.
Many Frigidaire freezers are frost-free, which means that the freezer self-defrosts to keep ice and frost from building up inside. Freezers with this feature should run a self-defrost cycle about two to three times each day. If a component within the defrosting system fails, however, the freezer won’t cycle into defrost. Often the problem is not the defrost system and can be resolved without calling a repair technician.
Air return vents are vented openings located throughout a home that allow cool air to escape as the furnace system distributes warm air into each room. In some cases air return vents are horizontal, located on the floor near walls. However, air return vents also function when they are vertical, installed in walls at positions close to the ground.
A bathroom fan helps control moisture and odor in the bathroom by sucking air from the room and venting it outside the house through the roof, the sidewall or the soffit. All three are effective methods, but venting through the soffit has several advantages over the other two. First, it's safer than a roof installation because it doesn't require you to climb on and walk around on the roof. And second, it's more attractive than a wall vent because it doesn't interrupt the lines of your house.
Most dishwasher installations include a vent that functions to keep the water running through the plumbing properly and not back into the dishwasher tub. The vent is called an air gap and is located next to the faucet on top of the sink. When debris accumulates inside of the air gap, you may notice some standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher tub. When this occurs, the air gap must be removed and unclogged. This simple fix can be applied before calling in a professional plumber to address the issue.
Venting a toilet in a new bathroom is similar to venting a toilet in an existing bathroom, because the drain lines in the new bathroom are already installed. Since the vent will allow air to flow into your drainage pipes as the water flushes through the drain, so it must go on the home's main drain line, called the drain stack. Installing this vent will require access to the main drain stack and a few common tools.
In most situations, a bathroom toilet vents near the drain stack, which is located centrally in most homes. This drain line carries all the waste from the toilet out of the home. When venting the toilet, it's best to place the vent right near the inlet to the stack. Much of the decision on where to place the vent depends on how much access you have to the stack, so choosing the best position for the vent is at your discretion.
Exhaust fans are used to carry unwanted air from various parts of the house to areas where it can be safely released. Many exhaust fans are installed while the house is being constructed, but if you are doing remodeling work that necessitates the creation of a new exhaust fan, be very careful how you insulate around it. Insulation should never be installed over any part of an exhaust fan.
Gas ranges with a downdraft venting system operate separately from the oven. The gas cooktop is usually installed on a countertop and has a ventilation system that is placed in the middle of the cooktop or on the rear. Understanding a downdraft gas range is helpful because the range works differently from traditional gas stoves.
Installing a whole house fan in your attic can help cool your home during the summer without running your air conditioner as often. In some climates, whole house fans can completely eliminate the need for your air conditioner. Proper placement and installation are key to the effectiveness of these fans. To get the best results, whole house fans should not be installed in the attic entrance, but in the attic ceiling.
The Sub-Zero corporation produces refrigerators for both residential and commercial use. While many different refrigerators fill this company’s product line, all run using similar systems and, as a result, can be inspected in similar ways should you experience a problem with your appliance. While professional repair may be necessary if your Sub-Zero stops functioning properly, often you can solve the problem yourself by asking some simple diagnostic questions and inspecting your refrigeration unit.
Small air cleaners are commonly referred to as room air purifiers in the appliance industry. That's because these machines are highly mobile and capable of purifying the air in just about any room in the average-sized home. However, households differ greatly in terms of architecture and design. Some rooms are larger, with open floor plans. Also, cooking appliances and heating equipment in homes pollute the indoor air in much the same way as automobiles and factories pollute the outdoor air. Many households obtain these air purifying machines to improve air quality, equating their use with better health. However, there are…
Heat exchangers are a vital component of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems since they assist in the transfer of heat. Air conditioners use them to pull warm air out of the vicinity so colder air can replace it. Heat exchangers in HVAC systems are typically a series of coils that utilize refrigerant to pull heat from the air. These coils require regular inspection and maintenance to prevent them from failing.
On a cold day, you can stay warm with a sweater or keep the family toasty with a fireplace as long as everyone stays in the same room. But if you need to heat up all the living spaces of your home, the most efficient way of doing so is with a furnace. This device forces hot air through ducts that can become dirty after use.
A floor air vent consists of a grate installed at the end of an air duct. It allows you to control the air that flows into a room. A floor vent either lies on top of the floor or is installed flush with the floor. Adding one to your wooden floor requires a floor vent grille, measuring tape, carpenter’s square and circular saw.
Kitchen exhaust fans provide a convenient way to vent the kitchen and help eliminate odors. Many kitchen exhaust fans have a light bulb in the hood that enables the cook to better see what is taking place on the stove. Sometimes these light bulbs burn out quickly and continue to do so faster than other bulbs in the home. The reason for this may have little to do with the wiring.
