What are your thoughts on this

[acassady]

Found this in a home today....call me crazy but is half of the cabinet missing. I pointed this out to the buyer and she said that this is the way her unit was in her old house as well?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Was it a mobile home?

[acassady]

it was a mobile home

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

I've seen that lots of times. The units are usually contained in a closet that serves as a cabinet in a way. I'll refrain from comment until a HVAC expert jumps in. I've always wondered about it.

[Charley L. Bottger]

No thoughts at all a piece of junk A/C are not designed to operate in that manner absolutely no efficiency. The coil has to be contained within its own box and air flow channeled across the fins poor people poor ways.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by cbottger

No thoughts at all a piece of junk A/C are not designed to operate in that manner absolutely no efficiency. The coil has to be contained within its own box and air flow channeled across the fins poor people poor ways.

Charley, if it's "not designed to operate in that manner", then why are they installed that way? They most certainly are designed that way. Not saying it's the best, but it is by design. The manufactured home meets HUD specifications.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

Charley, if it's "not designed to operate in that manner", then why are they installed that way? They most certainly are designed that way. Not saying it's the best, but it is by design. The manufactured home meets HUD specifications.

Joe I don't think you can find any MFG installation instructions that would allow that type of open A-coil design and warranty the equipment. I get to thinking about this and I also found one about 3 years ago on a Double wide MFG home I wrote it up as improperly installed. I was not hired to do a re-inspect so I don't know what the outcome of my report was but I wrote it up anyway. Just another example of a short cut to save the MFG of these Modular homes a $100.00 by not using a coil box. There are lots of things that gets past HUD that should never be.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Originally Posted by cbottger

Joe I don't think you can find any MFG installation instructions that would allow that type of open A-coil design and warranty the equipment. I get to thinking about this and I also found one about 3 years ago on a Double wide MFG home I wrote it up as improperly installed. I was not hired to do a re-inspect so I don't know what the outcome of my report was but I wrote it up anyway. Just another example of a short cut to save the MFG of these Modular homes a $100.00 by not using a coil box. There are lots of things that gets past HUD that should never be.

Charlie
I thought the same thing , I called the maker of the unit and They said that is how they are put in that type of home. The use the closet as a duct
LOL it is a cheap way of doing thing i agree .
Of course they are magnets for twisters so maybe it is a good thing that there is less sharp metal flying around .

[Gary Reecher]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

Charley, if it's "not designed to operate in that manner", then why are they installed that way? They most certainly are designed that way. Not saying it's the best, but it is by design. The manufactured home meets HUD specifications.

The same reason some companies will install a return on the back of the furnace when the installation manual says NO. Or they use 2 inch pvc pipe to vent a 120,000 btuhr high efficiency furnace when the manual only lists 3 inch for that btu rating. They got away with in the past and will continue to do so until they are called out on it.

[Greg Veal]

I've inspected only a few mobile homes in my time, but have never seen this setup before. I can't believe this installation would meet any Equip.Manuf's. specs..
By the way, what is the insulated flexduct designed to do in this picture?

[acassady]

I am thinking of writing this up as: Although this is a common practice in the MFG Homes in this area it is not installed as the manufacturer intended recommend having a HVAC Professional evaluate.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by acassady

I am thinking of writing this up as: Although this is a common practice in the MFG Homes in this area it is not installed as the manufacturer intended recommend having a HVAC Professional evaluate.

Do you know what the manufacturer intends? Do you have an installation manual from them when it comes to installation in a mfg. home? If you haven't already called them or a local HVAC rep. for that equipment, you should.

[Greg Veal]

Anthony

I don't think I would do that.

I would state - The existing installation is inconsistant with any established design for this type of HVAC system I am aware of. I recommend a Prof. HVAC Contractor inspect and advise on any changes necessary for safe and reliable operation.

IMHO

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by gveal

Anthony

I don't think I would do that.

I would state - The existing installation is inconsistant with any established design for this type of HVAC system I am aware of. I recommend a Prof. HVAC Contractor inspect and advise on any changes necessary for safe and reliable operation.

IMHO

Dat's veally gute.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

I spoke with a competent licensed HVAC contractor about this yesterday and we discussed it. He said that's they way they come from the factory and HUD approves it. He said it's not the best installation, but there's nothing "wrong" with it.