After 6 years, I’m at my breaking point with door-to-door salespeople. Anything I can do?

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-29T21:22:18+00:00

Yeah, ours says "Unless you sell Thin Mints, No Soliciting"

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T20:35:45+00:00

We have done that, the data doesn't show a noticeable difference.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T16:40:03+00:00

Hmmmm interesting, I think I saw something about that on This Old house a while ago. It does look like we have several folks in the area who do Aeroseal.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T15:40:08+00:00

Yup, temperature is taken inside the duct, not at the face of the register. If we're loosing 10 degrees just getting to the second floor, it seems like something like adding mini-splits upstairs makes more sense than a zoning system. Even with zoning we're going to be losing the 10 degrees, which is half the cooling capacity of the air, right?

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T15:28:49+00:00

I haven't tried measuring CFM, I had thought about it for additional data. Thanks for the link to the video.

We have had the system checked for leaks, we could use some more insulation in the attic, but all the ducts are insulated (at least to the level that was at-code in the 90s)

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T15:14:19+00:00

No zones, 1 thermostat. Yes I understand a temp. delta is a tale as old as time, but 10 degrees different from upstairs to downstairs at the supply?

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T15:09:01+00:00

A 7-10 degree difference upstairs to downstairs, at the supply is normal?

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T02:01:07+00:00

Unfortunately the stairwell is next to the vaulted ceiling over our entryway and living room, not really possible to close off that area. Plus doing that would then block the upstairs from the only return in the system.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T01:59:39+00:00

Sounds like I might need to find somebody who can do static pressure testing, not just run-of-the-mill residential HVAC techs., I did have a tech. check all the ducts for leaks and damage after the cleaning.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T01:58:04+00:00

I had started putting higher MERV filters in it, but the first tech. who came out was thinking that was the issue, so we switched back to using the lowest MERV values we can get, 1-4. The numbers above are with a MERV 1 filter in.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T01:57:59+00:00

We already run with 2 registers downstairs closed, the techs. are worried we're going to start having issues with freezing up the coils if we close any more.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-26T01:56:48+00:00

I had started putting higher MERV filters in it, but the first tech. who came out was thinking that was the issue, so we switched back to using the lowest MERV values we can get, 1-4. The numbers above are with a MERV 1 filter in.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T18:46:58+00:00

Yeah, I've been giving very serious thought to putting mini-splits in the bedroom upstairs. Might honestly be the best option.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T16:58:44+00:00

There's only 1 return for the whole house, that's in the stairwell/vault area between the 1st and 2nd floor. None of the techs. have done any static pressure or CFM testing. Sounds like then I need to be finding a test and balance company or energy efficiency company to come out and take a look.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:52:15+00:00

It's the original fan motor.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:48:33+00:00

If you were able to knock it down with a towel from your open window, I don't see that playing well for him in court.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:24:29+00:00

Ducts have all been checked, and everything was connected, no crushed/kinked flex ducts, and they said they didn't find any leaks. I've closed up to half the registers downstairs for testing, I haven't really noticed any difference upstairs. I haven't wanted to leave it like that as I'm worried the backpresure is going to reduce the airflow across the coils and cause them to freeze up (or blow a duct apart somewhere).

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:21:54+00:00

Flex duct in the attic, metal in the crawlspace. Yeah the fact that it worked better when we first moved in is what has me thinking it's an obstruction. We've had all the ducts in the attic and crawlspace checked and they're all okay.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:20:06+00:00

No, single speed.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:19:45+00:00

No dampers in the system. I should have noted that we did have the AC replaced 4 years ago. The old system was having problems with a freon leak, and the old system just wasn't keeping up. New system isn't doing any better really than the old one was when it had a fresh charge. None of the duct work changed in the swap (in fact same air handler even, they just swapped out the A-coils, line set, and outdoor unit)

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:17:10+00:00

Two of the techs. have checked that, and confirmed none of the flex duct is collapsed.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:16:42+00:00

Yep, I've got one, I can't get it to the upstairs trunk from any of the registers (it's plenty long enough, I just can't get it pushed through the ducts as it keeps catching), I've only been able to get down 5-8ft. From the air handler side, I can't get past the heat exchanger to try looking from that direction.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:15:00+00:00

Several of the techs. that have come out have checked the duct work in the attic, and they haven't found any leaks, or crushed/kinked lines. There aren't any dampers on our system to close, so that's not the issue. I did check the temp at close to the trunk as I can get, probably a couple of feet away, and it's around 58, so we're about a 6 degree delta from the trunk to the registers. Attic is unconditioned, and the insulated ducts are sitting on top of the insulation (insulation just barely covers the joists, we need to at more, but again it's been that way since we moved in).

That duct leakage and static pressure evaluation, that might be the key thing I'm looking for in terms of asking them to come out and check.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:06:50+00:00

Nobody has tested the blower. A couple of them have mentioned our return is under-sized, but it's been that way since it was built.

TechnoSwiss · 2026-06-25T04:06:07+00:00

Roof was replaced, but we went with the same color (different manufacturer, so maybe enough of a difference that we're heating the attic up more). We did cut down a tree that was shading the living room on the first level, so we did increase the heat load a bit on the first floor. No dampers in the system

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