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Buildings and Their Systems

1. Identify Basic Duct Configurations and Components

There are two major types of duct configurations, sheet metal and flexible duct work listed below.   

1. Sheet metal
2. Flexible duct work

Sheet metal ductwork

Sheet metal duct work is better for airflow than flexible duct work because there are minimal friction resistance along the line plus there is less room for error during installation such as kinking a line, making it too long or routing lines that result in poor airflow.  Sheet metal duct work in homes is found as either round or rectangular and sometimes even has dampeners to balance the airflow.  

Common problems found with rectangular duct work is that:

1. Ducts are not sealed
2. Joining ducts can be easily shifted and become loose
3. There is no insulation under the duct work because it was installed before the insulation and there is little room between the drywall and ducts.
   
4. Supply registers are too close to the returns 
5. The registers are placed at the room's entrance rather than the end or middle of the room

Flexible duct work

Flexible duct work is easy to install and comes insulated in either R-6 or R-8 wrap.  Gray duct work installed in the 1970's begins to crumble and fall apart and should always be replaced.  Common problems with flex duct work is:

1. Poor airflow distribution from lack of best practices
2. Make-shift wye's and sloppy installation contribute to leakage
3. Under sized returns
4. Kinked lines restricting airflow
5. Extra lines that lengthen the distance the air needs to travel to reach its terminal
6. Can be smashed or cut from other contractors working in the attic

Plywood

Plywood duct work is usually what makes the inside a return plenum as picture below.  

Sheet rock

If you are so luck to find a home where the contractor used a sub floor or sheet rock chase as duct work, I wish you luck first getting the homeowner to do take action to fix it and actually fixing it.  Sheet rock as duct work is rare but horribly leaky. 

How to tell the supply from the return lines

1. Package unit on the roof - will have one main supply and return going to the unit.  The return will always have fewer lines going into the main return.  If you can find the largest register (will have a filter in it) and follow it to the unit, that is the return.  The supply will be the line that feeds and splits into many flex lines or a sheet metal distribution box or duct work.
   
2. Split system air handler unit (AHU) - will have a condenser outside unit and an evaporator inside the AHU.  The return lines will always be less than the supply lines.  There will be several supply lines will be exiting the supply plenum and feeding into all the other supply lines.

Next Section

2a. Building Components

1. Identify basic duct configurations and components
   
2. Identify basic hydronic distribution configurations and components
3. Identify basic structural components of residential construction 
   
4. Thermal boundaries and insulation applications 
   
5. Basic electrical components and safety considerations 
   
6. Basic fuel delivery systems and safety considerations
   
7. Basic bulk water management components (drainage plumbing gutters sumps etc) 
   
8. Vapor barriers/retarders 
   
9. Radiant barrier principles and installations 
   
10. Understand fenestration types and efficiencies 
    
11. Understand issues involved with basements, crawlspaces, slabs, attics, attached garages, interstitial cavities, and bypasses 
12. Understand issues involved with ventilation equipment 
13. Understand basic heating / cooling equipment components controls and operation 
    
14. Understand basic DHW equipment components controls and operation 
    
15. Identify common mechanical safety controls 
    
16. Identify insulation types and R-Values 
    
17. Understand various mechanical ventilation equipment and strategies: spot, ERV, HRV 
    

2b. Conservation Strategies

1. Appropriate insulation applications and installation based on existing conditions 
   
2. Opportunity for ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances 
   
3. Identify duct sealing opportunities and applications 
   
4. Understand importance of air leakage control and remediation procedures 
   
5. Blower door-guided air sealing techniques 
   
6. Water conservation devices and strategies 
   
7. Domestic Hot Water (DHW) conservation strategies 
   
8. Heating & cooling efficiency applications 
   
9. Proper use of modeling to determine heating and cooling equipment sizing and appropriate energy use
   
10. Understand the use of utility history analysis in conservation strategies 
    
11. Appropriate applications for sealed crawlspaces basements and attics 
    
12. Identify/understand high density cellulose 
    
13. Appropriate applications for fenestration upgrades including modification or replacement 
    

2c. Comprehensive Building Assessment Process

1. Determine areas of customer complaints/concerns in interview
   
2. Understand / recognize need for conducting appropriate diagnostic procedures including when to refer to a specialist for further investigation
   
3. Interaction between mechanical systems, envelope systems and occupant behavior
   

2d. Design considerations

1. Appropriate insulation applications based on existing conditions
2. Understand fire codes as necessary to apply home performance in a code-approved manner.
3. Understand/recognize building locations where opportunities for retrofit materials and processes are needed to correct problems and/or enhance performance
   
4. Understand climate specific concerns
   
5. Understand indoor environment considerations for the environmentally sensitive
   
6. Understand impact of building orientation, landscape drainage, and grading
   
7. Opportunity potential renewable energy applications: geothermal , photovoltaic, wind
   
8. Understand impact of shading on heating / cooling loads
   
9. Awareness for solar gain reduction in cooling climate/solar gain opportunities in heating climates
   
10. Understand need for modeling various options for heating, cooling and DHW applications, as well as other efficiency upgrades