My HVAC contractor has just finished installing ductwork inside my Studio in my basement. It's now time to install the diffusers for the supply and the grills for the returns.
Because I need diffusers and grills designed to be "QUIET", I'm not sure if my contractor needs to take cfm readings at individual diffuser/grill openings in the duct or just use the estimated cfm he gave me. I've got 1 shot with him coming back to measure & tell me my ACTUAL cfm and I need to know for myself what needs to be done. Below are some questions that will help me know what's going on...
1.) Exactly what information do I need to be able to determine the correct
diffuser? (ie:cfm, diffuser size, grill size, etc etc.)
2.) Is it possible to obtain the cfm directly from the diffusor opening without
the actual diffuser attatched? If so, could you briefly tell me what needs
to be done/used to measure this? (In my contract he's suppose to come
back after the Studio duct was installed to measure my cfm. This question
will tell me what I need to request him to do in obtaining the(cfm) number.
My present contractor is not the original contractor who installed the
HVAC system I now have in my basement. Since I did not use the
original installer/contractor my new contractor only gave me a general
cfm number. I'm somewhat confused because my present contractor
stated that the diffusers need to be on first, but from my
reading, you need to know the correct cfm to order the diffusers)
3.) Although there is a 'general' cfm number for my HVAC system,
is it better to install duffusors based on the ACTUAL cfm
blowing from each INDIVIDUAL diffuser opening in the duct, or should I
use the "general" cfm number?
4.) What specific info is needed to select a return grill?
Well, that's about it. The diffusers/grills won't be ordered until I'm sure of my cfm and I make sure it's measured correctly. Any and all help is appreciated!
I'm somewhat confused because my present contractor
stated that the diffusers need to be on first, but from my
reading, you need to know the correct cfm to order the diffusers
You are attempting to enter a deep level of aerospace engineering that isn't applied in HVAC because there is no measured benefit. Your contractor can't guarantee an exact written CFM for each duct before the diffusers are installed. Would you ask a sprinkler contractor to demonstate a sprinkler system without sprinkler heads?
The diffusers (Registers) have a certain range they work within. Your contractor has to estimate what the final CFM throughput will be in order to order the diffusers. You are asking a chicken before the egg type question.
You should be more worried about assisting the contractor by defining where you don't want the cold air to blow (i.e. over an intended location for a bed).
Register selection should be known before installing the duct.
Then the duct can be sized accordingly.
You can use the Hart&Cooley website to pick them now. But when they are installed, your CFM will change slightly from any reading taken before they were installed.
your contractor should be able to tell the cfms for each and every branch run of your ducting before they begin the install. a proper duct layout is based partially on the amount of cfms needed to condition a specific space. diffusers restricting the airflow is almost a non topic, they are designed to cover a specific sized opening without a large pressure drop. the size of the supply opening, branch run diameter, and especially the duct size will determine the cfms being delivered through each run.
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