Quick A/C question

[wizness]

So we closed on our new house today. Went up in the attic and noticed it was just as cool as the rest of the house and low and behold there is a 6 inch opening on the air handler just blowing tons of air. All duct work is hooked up to the proper vents throughout the house it just seems like this is an extra. I'm gonna let the builder know but was looking for a fix since I might not want to wait a week for someone to come and see it. Here's a pic



Would you just use one of these to cap it off? Not a HVAC guy but looking for a easy and proper fix. Thanks

 

[raceman17]

It looks like your home is insulated with spray foam. Your attic is considered a conditioned space since the foam is sprayed on the underside of your roof. This extra opening was probably designed into the system. I wouldnt worry with it.

 

[fredtech]

It looks like your home is insulated with spray foam. Your attic is considered a conditioned space since the foam is sprayed on the underside of your roof. This extra opening was probably designed into the system. I wouldnt worry with it.

Yes, exactly this. I have a house insulated the same way and it's normal to see this. It's the main way to cool your attic space, don't plug it!

 

[wizness]

awesome, thanks for the info

 

[pseudorealityx]

1) HIGHLY doubtful that space was considered part of the conditioned space
2) There's no good reason to blow air in to an unoccupied space.
3) Unless there's a return, you're forcing your house to go negative.
4) It's a waste of money, and you should cap it.


Most commercial buildings have a vapor barrier and their insulation on the exterior. You don't actively condition the attic/plenum/basement/crawl space.

 

[bonneyman]

1) HIGHLY doubtful that space was considered part of the conditioned space
2) There's no good reason to blow air in to an unoccupied space.
3) Unless there's a return, you're forcing your house to go negative.
4) It's a waste of money, and you should cap it.


Most commercial buildings have a vapor barrier and their insulation on the exterior. You don't actively condition the attic/plenum/basement/crawl space.

I agree.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

1) HIGHLY doubtful that space was considered part of the conditioned space
2) There's no good reason to blow air in to an unoccupied space.
3) Unless there's a return, you're forcing your house to go negative.
4) It's a waste of money, and you should cap it.


Most commercial buildings have a vapor barrier and their insulation on the exterior. You don't actively condition the attic/plenum/basement/crawl space.

I agree.

X3. Insulation or not, there's no reason to condition unoccupied space. I don't even know why someone would say having an insulated attic would require it to be conditioned space. Cap it off.

Tommy

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

The big tip off is that there is no return for that space so that air is pressurizing the attic and probubly leaking out. Now if the attic was huge and could be converted for usable occupied space (man room), then later that cap could be considered a resource to access AC but you still need a return.

In fact one of the 1st signs of a problem when entering a normally hot attic, is if its cool indicating a big leak from a fallen or torn flex duct.

 

[Rockhead261]

1) HIGHLY doubtful that space was considered part of the conditioned space
2) There's no good reason to blow air in to an unoccupied space.
3) Unless there's a return, you're forcing your house to go negative.
4) It's a waste of money, and you should cap it.


Most commercial buildings have a vapor barrier and their insulation on the exterior. You don't actively condition the attic/plenum/basement/crawl space.

x4. Cap it.