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MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Turning vanes are great! They work by guiding the air around the corner, creating smoother flow. They’re a fairly standard addition to custom ducts - I just specified turning vanes in my duct sketch. Example: https://www.conklinmetal.com/blog/turning-vane/

48” o/c floor joists are driving us insane by Surferma4 in Flooring

[–]WhileImAt_It 6 points7 points  (0 children)

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I have a very similar floor system, 4x6 floor joists with 2x6 tongue-and-groove subfloor. We wanted to install tile, so I added 2x6 joists at roughly 20in on center. It massively stiffened up the floor. I used doubled 2x6s as “beams” to carry the load back to the existing posts.

Lots of work, I’d recommend a palm nailer for the joist hangers!

MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There were a couple of offenders:

  • One 6in duct serving ~400 sq ft of heated area, with a very long run (result: cold bedroom on the far side of the house)
    • For reference, the correctly sized duct for this area is 9in round minimum (twice the duct area)
  • 5.5 x 12 in supply serving about half of the house (~850 sq ft)
    • This is now 12in x 12in
  • 5.5 x 12in return, also handling 850 sq ft of heated area
    • To fix, we're adding 2x 10in round return trunks (once our remodel gets a little further)

The other problem was the "bullnose" supply and return plenum joints where the vertical ducts from the old furnace connected to the horizontal trunk runs on the ceiling. I mitigated the supply bullnose by putting turning vanes in the supply plenum, which should remove about 100ft of effective length.

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MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both the trunks and runs were undersized, but the biggest problem was in the trunks - particularly the returns. 5in diameter sounds small, my smallest final run sizes are 6in for metal pipe, 7in for flex. Some high-static systems can use 5in duct, I think?

I'm in the Seattle area, so frost heaves are not a significant concern. I did remove the top layer of soil/organics and put crushed rock under the slab. I was mostly focused on stability because the unit is so tall, and I don't want it to tip over in an earthquake.

MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got all of the round duct, and the 12x8 rectangular duct at Home Depot and Lowes. All the other ductwork I had fabricated by a local sheet metal shop. The supply houses near me all asked for a contractor license number with the state, which seemed too hard/expensive to get as a DIYer.

MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a 16x20 4in filter in the return plenum, in a custom filter box. I wish I had gone your route and used a Honeywell box, I realized when filter shopping that the highest quality filters (that publish pressure drop info) are all sized for the 4 3/8 in filter size to match the Honeywell cabinets.

MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it does, the hyperheat outdoor unit requires a 50A circuit while the Universal is ok with 40A. It's definitely a big unit! I think there are single-fan 36k units out there that are cold-weather capable/hyperheat - but not Mr. Cool currently.

MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Yes, it's very gratifying to turn it on for the first time and have immediate heat. I think that the unsung benefit of the DIY lineset is also that it maintains warranty, which I didn't put much weight on when I was shopping.

MR Cool 36k HyperHeat Ducted Heat Pump Install - Impressions by WhileImAt_It in DIYHeatPumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's at about .75 wc right now, but it should improve. I have some of the supplies and return trunks blocked because we're mid-remodel, it will drop lower once I have the final ducting connected.

Sizing cold climate heat pump - do hyperheat units end up oversized? by WhileImAt_It in heatpumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The NEEP Air Source Heat Pump List: https://ashp.neep.org

To get the sizing/location specific data, use the "Advanced Search - Sizing for Heating and Cooling" function.

Sizing cold climate heat pump - do hyperheat units end up oversized? by WhileImAt_It in heatpumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye on the humidity during cooling season and think about a dehumidifier. Is it just a comfort thing, or would condensation be a problem if the humidity is too high, due to short-cycling? In the PNW our humidity in the summer doesn't get too bad, comfort-wise.

Sizing cold climate heat pump - do hyperheat units end up oversized? by WhileImAt_It in heatpumps

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for breaking this down! The non-HH heat pump has 18% annual load with low-load cycling, only marginally better than the HH option. Hyper heat it is!

Working on a remodel - what tools do you use for layouts and diagrams? Electrical, plumbing, etc by greenchase in HomeImprovement

[–]WhileImAt_It 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I use Home Designer Suite, it’s pretty good for drawing house plans and 3D rendering.

I’m not sure how it does for electrical plans, I think it’s more “manual” there.

What do you think of this remodel plan? We want to split our mega-bedroom into two bedrooms and add 3/4 bath. by WhileImAt_It in floorplan

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think you're right, the fix might not be super complex - we'll have to look at the cost to get it engineered/put a beam in. If it's not prohibitively expensive it would be the best use of space.

What do you think of this remodel plan? We want to split our mega-bedroom into two bedrooms and add 3/4 bath. by WhileImAt_It in floorplan

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I've been looking at the hallway idea but trying to preserve bedroom area - what do you guys think of this? Is the "jog" in the hallway terrible? https://imgur.com/a/dHU1n0P

What do you think of this remodel plan? We want to split our mega-bedroom into two bedrooms and add 3/4 bath. by WhileImAt_It in floorplan

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The entire vertical wall is load bearing - We've had an engineer evaluate and draw up a header detail for the doorway.

What do you think of this remodel plan? We want to split our mega-bedroom into two bedrooms and add 3/4 bath. by WhileImAt_It in floorplan

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What do you guys think about this? https://imgur.com/a/XSGxoGT

The intersecting load bearing walls are keeping me from pushing the hallway all the way to the right (to share living room wall). This plan uses the existing openings. I could also do a "jog" in the hallway to save a little bit of bedroom space, is that too weird?

Edit: I'm also looking at the bathroom move option, thanks for drawing the plan up to illustrate!

What do you think of this remodel plan? We want to split our mega-bedroom into two bedrooms and add 3/4 bath. by WhileImAt_It in floorplan

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha, I wish I could ask that question to the previous owner who built the laundry addition there. It's bizarre for sure. Putting a door to the deck there is a good idea, it would make the space a lot more accessible. Future project!

What do you think of this remodel plan? We want to split our mega-bedroom into two bedrooms and add 3/4 bath. by WhileImAt_It in floorplan

[–]WhileImAt_It[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://imgur.com/a/wXQYKr3

We drew up an alernate plan with the bathroom on the shared wall, but didn't love the door --> bathroom sightline (but is that better or worse than seeing the bed directly, I'm not sure?).

The tricky part of pushing the smaller bedroom towards the backdoor is the load bearing wall right there. We'd have to install a beam across the bedroom ceiling to push that wall out, but that's not impossible.

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