HVAC Modifications

Greetings again, I just had a heat pump-air handler unit installed the other day. I was able to get seperate duct lines for my vocal booth air supply and return, and for my control room return. (BTW, the air supply for my vocal booth comes off a trunk from the air handler. This supply line to my vocal booth exits from the trunk about 2-3 feet after the trunk exits the air handler. From my reading, I figured it would be far enough away from other rooms/registers that there would be very little or no sound transmission. The nearest register to the vocal booth supply line would be the control room register which is approximately 18-20 feet away along with 2-90 degree bends for the vocal booth supply line...all the supply and return lines are flex duct lines...Is my assumption that there will be little or no sound transmission correct?) I had to sacrifice the duct line going to the control room by letting it tie into the main trunk which also supplies air to 2 other rooms. It was the "lesser of 2 evils" because I figured I needed as much noise isolation as possible in my vocal booth. I am hoping to get a reply from you by Monday, as I am going to hold up the HVAC workers over the weekend. There is a possibility I may be able to get a seperate line to my control room, but I'm on a tight budget to get the HVAC done. The HVAC guys are suppose to come later today, but I am going to see if I can get them to hold up on finishing the remainder of their work until Monday. I'm hoping I can get a reply as to whether or not the way it's set up would cause too much sound transmission. I will attempt to add a gif or jpeg to show my basement/studio layout. Also, a suggested studio layout would be appreciated. Thanx Stan

Just wanted to add, that as far as the vocal booth is concerned, I know that it's small already, but I need to be able to get up to 3 people in there at 1 time if possible, so whatever design that's created needs to have that inputed into the vocal room size. Also, I "hope" to be able to put a couch near the rear of the studio and have a pair of main monitors centered in on the couch since the control room is small also. I'll have a pair of near field monitors sitting on an Argossy console to use when I'm recording most of the time. Stan

Does the system provide fresh air? Or does it just recycle the stale air from the rooms?

I am attempting to see about a fresh air line to be added to the return on the air handler, but this HVAC system cost a little more than I had anticipated which kinda "threw me back a little". You helped me with this topic once before when I listed a post. I have had a total of approximately 7 estimates for the HVAC system intalled (which is specifically for the basement) All seven HVAC people stated "It was not necessary (even by code) to install a fresh air intake into an electric Heat pump-Air Handler system". They did say it WOULD be necessary if I had GAS heat. One of the HVAC guys had a good point when he said "By incorporating outside air into the system, it will make the unit run longer and harder to process the recirculating air due to more heat drawn into the system in the summer and more cold air drawn into the system in the winter. This will definately increase your electric bill". Man-O-Man...If only I could convert my MONOPOLY money into US currency... Decisions decisions... Hopefully, the HVAC guy's "Price will be RIGHT" Anyway, I'll decide something by Monday because I need to try to keep things on schedule. IN THE MEANTIME...any additional input/advice you can give me would be appreciated & more excitin' than "a donkey sittin' on a bee's nest" :lol: ... Later Dudes Stan

By the way...I also posted a drawing of the HVAC layout here... http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4377 I will be starting a thread with pics soon. (As soon as I get this HVAC thing finished, kapoot, ovuh, or, "git er' done"...) Stan

camistan wrote:

One of the HVAC guys had a good point when he said "By incorporating outside air into the system, it will make the unit run longer and harder to process the recirculating air due to more heat drawn into the system in the summer and more cold air drawn into the system in the winter. This will definately increase your electric bill".

He's right. That's one of the reasons I like the idea of having the ventilation and the air conditioning (and/or heating) be considered separately and, ideally, controlled separately, regardless of whether they are all part of a single system or (as in my case) or separate and distinct systems. There will be times that you'll want "maximum coolness" and there will be times tnat you'll want "maximum freshness." I would imagine a fresh air system tied to the air conditioning which did not allow the occupant(s) to turn off the fresh air component would be rather uncomfortable and it would be much more expensive to operate. Take a good hard look at the heat recovery ventilator I'm going to use. Here's the post in my thread where I introduce it. --Keith

Thanks Keith. That looks like a great thing to incorporate in my entire basement HVAC system. I even saw something about dehumidification. Can you give me an idea as to the price of the unit you bought? I also had 2 other questions: 1.) This link http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4377 has a layout of the HVAC duct setup I had installed. The room above where the studio is will be an exercise room. When I am recording/mixing, NOTHING will be going on in the exercise room. The exercise room and my studio are the ONLY rooms recieving an air supply coming out of the LEFT side of my air handler. If I elbow off the main trunk (3ft from the air handler) and run duct to the vocal booth, I will have to soffit the duct and loose some space I'd rather not. If I were to elbow off the end of the MAIN trunk and go to the vocal booth, the only register that would have sound to transfer would be coming from my control room. Would the distance from my control room to the vocal booth along with 3-90 degree bends pretty much eliminate sounds coming from the control room? (As far as my returns are concerned I have the MAIN return near the floor about 10 inches or less from the air handler, and SEPERATE returns from the vocal booth and the control room going directly back to the air handler) 2.) Do I need an air return in a small door air lock? (Approx 1-3ft between doors)

camistan wrote:

Can you give me an idea as to the price of the unit you bought?

I haven't purchased it yet -- it will come much later in my build. I think it will set me back a little less than US$1,000 including ducting and whatnot.

Would the distance from my control room to the vocal booth along with 3-90 degree bends pretty much eliminate sounds coming from the control room?

I'm not ignoring this question, but I'm afraid I'm not qualified to answer it. :roll: Sorry. Maybe Steve can though.

2.) Do I need an air return in a small door air lock? (Approx 1-3ft between doors)

I don't see the need to do any ventilation or conditioning in the area between the doors. This is not habitable space -- it's just an ultrashort hallway. In fact, by conditioning the space, you're attempting to make it habitable by code definition, and then a whole can of worms is opened that you won't be able to handle. :roll: Since you're not supplying that area, you wouldn't want a return there, since it is a sealed area/room -- you'd create negative pressure situation and thus would have difficulty opening the doors (which I presume would swing away from the air lock). Hope that helps!