HVAC puzzle

[MossRoad]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. In our current house, I locked all the dampers full open and adjust flow by closing or opening the registers in each room to the desired comfort level. I realize the longer runs get a tad less flow as do rooms that frequently have their doors closed and no return air due to carpet under the doors, so in rooms with better flow I tend to close the registers more, which forces more air down the longer runs.

Of course, in winter, with the wood burner running, all bets are off. :laughing:

 

[heviduty]

Baseboard registers have a screw to limit the open position. It can still be closed but the open limit is set with the screw. Wonder if they would consider that "locked"?

 

[Tig]

Moss, I also burn wood, but I didn't want complicate the discussion further by adding reality.
Heviduty, they would not accept a limiter in place of a lock.

I still can't find a 4x10 ceiling damper like the round one posted.

 

[MossRoad]

...I didn't want complicate the discussion further by adding reality.
.

May I use that quote without paying royalties? :laughing:

 

[sailfast]

Here is the wording;
6.2.4.6. Adjustable Dampers and Balance Stops
(1) All branch supply ducts for residential systems shall be equipped with volume control dampers at the boot to permit balancing or shall be fitted with a diffuser incorporating an adjustable and lockable volume control device that can be set in a fixed position.

.

Notice the underlined bit after the OR

Every register in my home has one of these on the opening. Can buy them at Lowes in many materials, styles, and colors for very reasonable prices.

I don't see what the problem is

 

[wyeguy]

Sounds like maybe its acceptable for each register diffuser to be adjustable and lockable?

 

[Tig]

Sail, wye you are right. Adjustable lockable diffusers are acceptable.
Adjustable is easy to find, lockable, not so much. The lock would have to be something like a set screw, latch or lock nut that prevents the damper from changing position. I have not found them at Lowes, Homedepot or other retailers. If you have a link to such a product please post it. I may have missed it.

Moss, it's not just a quote, sometimes it seems like a way of life. Use at your own risk.

 

[sailfast]

You will find that the ones at lowes are lockable.

Your expectations for lockable are too high.

Lockable means set it and it doesn't change.

Sent from my MB525 using TractorByNet

 

[Tig]

Found one!
http://www.price-hvac.com/Catalog/Section_D/html/D_pdf/VCS5.pdf
If I can get the right size it should clip to the grills MrsTig picked out.
Thanks all.

 

[Tig]

I contacted the distributor. They build to customer spec'd dimensions, which is perfect.
I received a quote for qty 8. They're $38 each. Hmmmm.............

 

[dave1949]

I contacted the distributor. They build to customer spec'd dimensions, which is perfect.
I received a quote for qty 8. They're $38 each. Hmmmm.............

Cheap and easy - ain't :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Cheap and easy - ain't :laughing:

Here's the project triangle....

Cheap__________Good
\ ------------------- /
\ --------------- /
\ -------------/
\ ----------/
\ ------/
Fast

You can only pick two.
If its cheap and good it won't be fast.
If its cheap and fast it won't be good.
If its good and fast it won't be cheap.

Well, you draw the lines, my cheap fast editor is not good! You get the idea. :laughing:

 

[Tig]

Well now that I have all the info I will have to choose between two options, neither of which I will actually use after the initial balancing.
So after taxes, it's $15 or $350
The threshold for this project was $150. After that, the cash disposal mitigation equation must be used.
Based on your project triangle, plus a stomp of common sense, it flattens out to look like this:
easy + cheap = it's not just good, it's good enough.
I'll use nylon washers and locktite on the wing nuts to keep them from becoming a problem.