Stupid Installer?

Bob Bona_4

would condensation form if the cabinets are in the conditioned space?

Pretty common procedure actually. Of course, the ultimate way would be fab a special deflector to fit over the floor boot. But then, enter these hassles: toe kick board clearances, base top clearance issues, alignment of the snout of the deflector to the grille, open door for repeat trips to appease the cabinet guy/GC/etc. Anyone want to pay extra for "just moving the supply"?

There are more important things in the scheme of things to worry about than this.

I have done it either way.

[Deleted User]

Hot air / AC Duct

Hello all, I work for a contractor that is putting an addition on a house in NY. We had a sub come out and extend the 6" round pipe out to the the new exterior wall, and it just so happens that the only place for it to come up is underneath the kitchen cabinets. well he ran a new 6" line next to the old one and has two register boots coming through the floor about 4" off the wall and a floor joists width apart. Why I dont know... But what he intends to do is cut a hole in the kick plate of the cabinet, put a diffuser on it and use the space under the cabinet as a plenum. This seems like an obvious no-no to me, wont condensation form under the cabinet and cause rotting and mold and destroy the cabinet????

Timco

There would be no way to balance the air dumping out of the under cab vent. It would be too hot or cold.

Tim

[Deleted User]

there are dampers on the taps at the trunk line...

[Deleted User]

to me it seems he was a lazy installer with no pride in his work. How hard would it be to make a plenum to fit the space? I dont see how its common practice to diffuse air underneath the cabinets and allowing it to go wherever it wants, seems like it would drop the efficiency of the system. It must have some affect on the cabinets, there is also a humidifier as part of the system. Its not about appeasing the installers, its about doing things right.He was paid to just to move the supply so I think it should be done right.

Bob Forand

I've done this

Mike, I do this quite a bit. There are no issues on cabinets. I use panning and make a "v" if you will, so that the air does go to the diffuser. However, the air will exit the diffuser regardless of the "v" if you will or not. It has no other place to go. I wonder if the heating contractor that does not do your job for a living questions things that you do and wonder if it is right? It goes both ways....

Bob Bona_4

the air

is not going anywhere it wants. It is aboard the return train back to the furnace/air handler.

Again, if there is a humidifier, all the cabinetry and furnishings and books, etc. by your theory would be "affected". Every object is acclimated to the house's RH.

It's really a non issue. If it is bothering you so much, why not go up to this "stupid, lazy installer", tell him as much, and "educate" him.

bruce_21

The slightly more work version of this is to set a 2 and 1/4 by 12 by six boot so that it faces the toe kick outlet. the 6" round boot inlet goes down through the floor and then a 6" 90 connects it to the runout pipe. This way the hot or cold air is always inside metal. The code does not allow for supply (ie heated) air to be panned, only return air can be in panned spaces. There are issues about drying out wood and high temps and fires.

Greg_41

Toe kick air

Ducting the supply air in metal is the right thing to do, and around areas in New York, upstate, even the return must be in metal, not panned. It is fire code that is changing the code.

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GW

Stupid?

did you tell the guy you wanted the best duct job possible, whatever the cost? It seems like your general sentiment is off base.

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Wayco Wayne_2

Problems.

You should not use the cabinet space as a plenum if there is going to be A/C air coming through. The chilled air is very close to dew point and will very likely cause mold inside the space. Also a toe kick location does not work for A/C air, only hot air. Blowing cool air across the floor will only cool you feet. Cool air likes to drop and the outlet should be located so you can either blow it across the ceiling or at least project it towards the ceiling. A kitchen can sometimes be a challenge to find good spots to do this, but it is also important to cool the chef. A happy, comfortable chef is VERY important to keep the good food coming . WW

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