Clearing the air while giving builder his due
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Q: Our home was built two years ago. We noticed there wasn't much air coming out of the upstairs heating vents, so they rebalanced the system by putting dampers on the ducts in the crawlspace, which helped a lot.
A couple months ago, we wanted to put in air conditioning, and in the process found out about a problem we never expected.
Since moving in, the upstairs cold-air-return duct worked a lot less than the downstairs one. When we changed the filters, the downstairs filter was dirty, while the upstairs one always seemed like new. We thought this was because the downstairs return was so much smaller, only 40 percent as large (8-by-20 inches, versus 20-by-20 inches), so, of course, it would have more dirt per square inch. Also, since the downstairs one is so much closer to the furnace, it might get more air flow.
But then my husband tested the air flow. A newspaper held against the downstairs return held firmly against the grill, while a newspaper held against the upstairs return almost fell off. There seemed to be about 10 times as much air flow through the downstairs vent.
We explained all this to the builder and heating contractor and received the following reply: "The downstairs filter is always dirtier than the upstairs, because most people spend the majority of their time there and because doors open and allow dirt in that area."
He said the downstairs vent also is considerably closer to the furnace, so it would have a much higher velocity of air. The furnace would shut down if it were not getting enough return air, and if that was not happening, then we did not have a problem.
We didn't believe that, so we started getting bids from air-conditioning contractors. The first one thought of cutting an inspection hole in the return-air duct in the garage to peer into the place where the vent comes through the floorboards from the bedroom above the garage — lo and behold, it was filled with insulation! We e-mailed photos to the builder, and they sent the original heating contractor out to remove the insulation. We were surprised that something like that could get past city inspections, but a worker explained the points when inspections are done, and we can see now how it might happen.
The builder, Steve Burnstead Construction, didn't charge us for any of this, even though our warranty expired a year ago.
A: When cold-air-return pipes are substituted for the more common and cheaper open chase, this can easily happen without your knowledge. Problem is, there is no way to confirm it without going to the extra effort you guys did. It makes me feel good to hear you were not charged for this repair.
After all the stories I receive from disgruntled homeowners about poor customer and warranty service, it makes me feel good to be able to shamelessly plug Burnstead's customer service.
Time after time, sometimes many years later, Burnstead has a reputation in the industry for exceptional warranty work, and acknowledging the mistakes we humans all inevitably make. And I think it's time they were publicly acknowledged for this.
CONSUMER ALERTS: Homeowners with radiant-heating systems using Entran II hosing manufactured from 1989-93 may be interested in a recent class-action settlement. Claims can be filed until October 2009. To file a claim, see www.entraniisettlement.com for more information.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently recalled propane and convertible gas water-heater temperature controls manufactured by White-Rodgers. These gas controls can gradually open instead of snapping open to full flow, which can cause soot to build up on the water-heater burner, presenting a fire hazard. There have been eight reports of minor fire damage.
The temperature control is a small metal box located above the access panel door of the gas water heater. A white label with red lettering on the right side of the control contains one of the following model numbers: 37C55U 658, 3757C72U 602, 37C72U 520, 37C72U 546, 37C72U 547, 37C72U 548 or 37C72U 676. There should be a four-digit metal-stamped date code below the label on the right side of the control. Recalled controls will have date codes 0240 to 0329 (40th week of 2002 to 29th week of 2003).
Potentially affected gas water heaters include: AO Smith, Apollo, Crosley, Energysense, Freedom, Interthrem, Kenmore, Maytag, Mission, Myers, Penfield, President, Reliance, Sentry and State. Beginning serial numbers on these gas water heaters can be checked at www.regcen.com/tempcontrolrecall or 800-426-3579.
Retail distributors and independent servicers sold and/or installed water heaters with these controls from October 2002 through March 2004.
Darrell Hay answers readers' questions. Call 206-464-8514 to record your question, or e-mail dhay@seattletimes.com. Sorry, no personal replies. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.