Installing Our Displacement Air Ventilation System
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011We engaged Silicon Valley Mechanical to install our displacement air ventilation and hydronic heating and cooling systems. Ken Martin took the original design and has improved on it immensely.
Before we can cover any of the walls, we need to have the rough plumbing, rough electrical, rough HVAC and rough hydronic systems in place. In addition, we need to have all of the low voltage wiring (e.g., security, network, vacuum, generator and pool controls, etc.) in place. And then inspected by the City of Monte Sereno.
Silicon Valley Mechanical has been working on the ducting for our displacement air ventilation for over a week. Yesterday, Bryan picked up the heat recovery ventilator (we missed the delivery a on Friday) and took the unit to the job site.
The heat recovery ventilator is from Lifebreath Systems Inc., headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada (where Bryan completed his MBA at the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 1991).
Ken was on site to ensure the HRV was installed as he had designed. With such new equipment, it is key to get the unit oriented in the optimal position so it is easy to maintain and operates in the most efficient manner.
Examining the Lifebreath HRV, so we can orient and install it in the most appropriate manner.
The inside of the Lifebreath HRV. The unit takes the incoming fresh air and transfers the temperature of the outgoing exhaust air to it.
Ken Martin works the the Lifebreath heat recovery ventilator so it is positioned in the optimal orientation for operation and maintenance.
Emmanuel Zendejas positions the HRV in the West Air Handler room. Note the nifty platform Silicon Valley Mechanical uses to raise/lower/swivel bulky and heavy mechanical components at a job site.
Silicon Valley Mechanical uses low-VOC duct sealants, such as the product in this photo. Design Polymerics' 1010 Duct Sealant has less than 7 grams of VOCs per liter. This amount of VOCs is far lower than the 200 grams per liter required by MR 2.2.
In order to improve the efficiency of the clothes dryers, we used the Dryer-Ell, which is a large radius dryer exhaust elbow. This photo shows where the dryer exhaust comes down from the Upper Laundry room.
There is another Dryerbox Ell where the exhaust comes up from the Lower Laundry room. Also, the ducting for the displacement air ventilation is above the dryer exhaust.
This is the fresh air duct going to Kate's bedroom. Note the low VOC mastic over all the joints.
Two exhausts, one for each of the Lower Laundry and the Upper Laundry, going up, then through the concrete under Kates vanity before exiting the house on the West wall.
Before going through the steel beam, the duct splits and goes up to provide fresh air for the Living Room. We are, finally, using one of the holes that were cut through the steel beam.
Al and Nep have prepared the location behind the swimming pool and statue where the generator will be anchored. There will be a concrete pad in place here for the 100 amp generator.
