Central heat and air with no return duct drop ceiling?

5 years ago

I have never seen this before. My parents live in a retirement community and are having mold issues.

I went to replace their filter with an allergen filter (step 1) and was going to install a uv unit in the return plenum (step 2). There is no return plenum just a filter grill installed in a drop ceiling tile. I feel as though as much air is being pulled around the drop tiles as through the filter.

I am being told by the facility that installing a return "will cause other problems such as the blower motor burning up prematurely. It also causes air flow problems causing the system to get sick. If you would like to have that done I will get a price for you."

I only know enough to be dangerous, but the airflow is not balanced and 75% dumps into living room (first drop from the system) through a blackened vent...any suggestions?

I just want my parents to breathe better

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Comments (3)

PRO
Austin Air Companie
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
UV won't stop mold in a return. It will raise maintenance costs as then you have to replace UV bulbs annually. They may create ozone, which lead to health problems. (gadgets rarely fix anything, other than poor boy bottom line. These gadgets are a billion dollar industry.)

Mold production is typically around the indoor evaporator coil, not the return unless it's an electric air handler (mold growth requires moisture). What you probably see is dirt. Calling that mold would require testing. You send specimens off to a lab. They then tell you what it is. Guessing never goes anywhere fast.

In some situations an HVAC system may "sweat" in various locations, under certain conditions. This moisture can grow mold.

Because this is a "facility" I think you need to tell us more about the HVAC system for this particular unit that your folks live in. What kind of system is it? Mod # / Ser # of the equipment. Name of the equipment, are there outside individual condensers that you can see?

Take some pictures and post them.
L Gilman thanked Austin Air Companie
L Gilman
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you, I will take some pictures the next time I am there. the air handler is up in the drop ceiling and will have to get a ladder to get close enough to grab some shots.
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PRO
Austin Air Companie
5 years ago
Ok in some of these kinds of "mastermind" communities... they build an enclosure and then put the air handler in that. There is no return perse, it's the enclosure. Not sure if this is what they did or not... all kinds of whack ball type stuff they do.

Basically how you describe it leads me to believe this may be how it is.

Is this a condo type building? Try and find out if this building is on a chilled loop. Chillers on the outside are hard to hide, they are big and usually behind a big fence or up on the roof. Or if you see alot of small AC condensers then it's not a chilled loop type set up.