While this may surprise you, flooding can occur from a number of unlikely sources, like a broken water main or a burst pipe in your Los Angeles home. One of the most expensive replacements you might have to make after a flood is your home’s HVAC unit.
Your HVAC system is heavy and hard to move, be it your indoor furnace or your outdoor air conditioner condenser and compressor. Here are some recommendations on how you might protect your HVAC system from flooding, both indoors and out.
Tips for Protecting Your HVAC Unit
- First, raise your outdoor condenser/compressor. It should be on a concrete base you can raise it a couple of feet higher. Check local safety codes to see what’s recommended.
- Next, relocate your furnace and/or air conditioner air handler to a higher floor or your attic. This is no simple feat and may require ductwork, wiring, and drainage renovations.
- Rather than moving your outdoor condenser/compressor, it might be easier to build a wall around it. Talk to a contractor about whether you have enough space and how high to build it.
- Timing is everything, so if you’re already planning to replace indoor and outdoor parts, you might look into re-installing your unit on the higher ground outdoors or in a higher location indoors.
- If your furnace and air handler are in the basement, consider installing a sump pump. These can come in handy during heavy rains when a pipe leaks or bursts when a washing machine overflows and when water collects in your basement.
How to Design Ducts for Residential HVAC Applications
Ductwork systems run through most homes out of sight in unconditioned spaces, such as the attic or crawlspace. However, just because this is the most common practice doesn’t mean it’s the best method when designing ducts. Keep reading to learn more about the basics of designing a duct system.
Duct Layout
First, you should draw a rough layout of your home’s floor plan and the location of your heating and cooling systems. Next, review your home’s floor plan, noting any areas where air ducts may be located within conditioned spaces.
This could include a dropped duct chase in a hallway or a raised floor. Keep electrical and plumbing chases separate from ducts, and install actual ductwork in the chase rather than using an open chase. Afterward, insulate ducts outside any conditioned spaces.
Straight lines and smooth turns are very important in duct design. The more turns and direction changes you have, the more resistance your blower must overcome. This results in increased energy consumption and degraded comfort.
Registers and Return Grills
Your supply registers may be located on the floor, wall, or ceiling. If your HVAC system is in the attic, use diffusers located in the ceiling for better airflow and comfort. Don’t underestimate the importance of duct returns. Install as many as practical for your budget and home. There should be at least one return grill on each floor, but the more the Merrie