coltboostin Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 One of the Reasons I love my first floor Master! Have a similar issue with a new house-closing all but a few select ducts to the first floor/basement, and remembering to keep doors shut did the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XChris1632X Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 One of the Reasons I love my first floor Master! Have a similar issue with a new house-closing all but a few select ducts to the first floor/basement, and remembering to keep doors shut did the trick Just know that your new found comfort come at a price. Try keeping track of how often your system runs and how long it stays on. Then try opening everything back up and keep track of what it does long. Your system "should" be properly sized to your house. If you shut vents and doors you are cutting sq ft off of your house and you will essentially have an oversized system that will short cycle. All of this cuts a lot of life off of a unit. I understand that comfortability is the name of the game but sometimes there are more economical ways to correct the problem if you look at things from a 15 year perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Just know that your new found comfort come at a price. Try keeping track of how often your system runs and how long it stays on. Then try opening everything back up and keep track of what it does long. Your system "should" be properly sized to your house. If you shut vents and doors you are cutting sq ft off of your house and you will essentially have an oversized system that will short cycle. All of this cuts a lot of life off of a unit. I understand that comfortability is the name of the game but sometimes there are more economical ways to correct the problem if you look at things from a 15 year perspective. Would it really short cycle or would it run longer and at a higher back pressure? If the thermostat is on the first floor it will take quite a bit of time for the cool air upstairs to make it down. I've also heard that the increased back pressure can kill the blower motor quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Last week and this week I have had my fan on "ON" instead of "AUTO" it has helped a lot with upstairs temps.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVRINGS Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 This might be a dumb question, but having something switched to on vs auto raise cost much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 This might be a dumb question, but having something switched to on vs auto raise cost much? Blowers Dont use a ton of electric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 This might be a dumb question, but having something switched to on vs auto raise cost much? What is being discussed is leaving only the fan ON, not both the heat pump and the fan. Ordinarily the fan cycles on only when the outside unit is running, so keeping the fan running will circulate the air better and keep the upstairs from holding heat/humidity. As for added cost, yes it will cost a bit, but the fan is really only a small part of the energy draw to cool your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimpsy1647545505 Posted July 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Ya I'm leaving the fan on throughout most of the day as well. . . it beats keeping all the ceiling fans on, that's for sure! =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XChris1632X Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Would it really short cycle or would it run longer and at a higher back pressure? If the thermostat is on the first floor it will take quite a bit of time for the cool air upstairs to make it down. I've also heard that the increased back pressure can kill the blower motor quicker. Depends on system, situation, location a lot of things. Generally yes I would say it will run longer, harder, and use more energy. The short cycling was in reference to keeping the doors shut. You could be cutting a large amount of sq footage out of the house and away from the thermostat. If I have all the doors open in my house on an 85 degree day my a/c will come on every 14 mins and run for about 7. When I shut the doors on the same day it will come on every 9 mins and run for 4 on average. I have logged it all. Not all systems will act alike either. My house is different due to the way it was constructed and ductwork is not perfect. House was originally equipted with base board heating. I wouldnt refer to any of it as back pressure but there is a high increase of pressure within the system. You can easily run much higher pressures but don't effect fan motor. It does however kill compressors. This might be a dumb question, but having something switched to on vs auto raise cost much? Many times you would be shocked to know that it lowers electricity usage. Motors like those use much more energy to start once then they do to run for a longer specific time. Our modulating furnaces come equipted with a motor that takes more energy to start it once than it does to run all day. This motor takes less energy to run it on low fan speed all day than one lightbulb uses for a day. My fan stays on 24/7 365. This gives the motor a much easier life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 My fan stays on 24/7 365. This gives the motor a much easier life. What's the worst thing you can do for a motor? Start it... What's the 2nd worst thing you can do? Stop it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XChris1632X Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 What's the worst thing you can do for a motor? Start it... What's the 2nd worst thing you can do? Stop it. Never really thought about it that way lol. But yeah, the only reason stopping it is bad is because it means you have to start it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coltboostin Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Just know that your new found comfort come at a price. Try keeping track of how often your system runs and how long it stays on. Then try opening everything back up and keep track of what it does long. Your system "should" be properly sized to your house. If you shut vents and doors you are cutting sq ft off of your house and you will essentially have an oversized system that will short cycle. All of this cuts a lot of life off of a unit. I understand that comfortability is the name of the game but sometimes there are more economical ways to correct the problem if you look at things from a 15 year perspective. I am all about long term savings. I will try the Fan action-doors open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Never really thought about it that way lol. But yeah, the only reason stopping it is bad is because it means you have to start it again. I test industrial motors for a living. I like it when people start and stop them too much. Makes me money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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