I'm in Florida and have a 400 sq foot room that is nearly all
windows. It is the kids play room, but is only used seldom in the
evenings and is used on the weekends. Ideally, I'd like to only A/C
that room when it is being used.

I have sealed French doors that can close the room off to the return
duct. So I hoped that when the door was shut, there would be positive
pressure in the room that would act to shut off the 2 A/C ducts. But
it does not. Cold air still blows from them. I can only assume there
is a lot of leakage in the room around windows, etc. So my plan is to
spend a weekend sealing everything I can.

However, if the air still comes out a significant amount, I would like
to install motorized ducts assuming it does not cost a small fortune
(more than $200 per duct). I don't need variable control. Just on
and off. Either controlled by timer or by simple switch. I thought
about installing a linear actuator myself to control the flapper in
the existing register, but it would have to be on the outside and
would be visible in the room.

Any suggestions?

http://www.smarthome.com/307107.html

Motorized dampers, available in various sizes, about $60 each.

One thing to watch out for: depending on a number of factors, you could reduce airflow in the A/C system enough that the
evaporator could freeze - not something you want happening!

wrote in message oups.com...
I'm in Florida and have a 400 sq foot room that is nearly all
windows. It is the kids play room, but is only used seldom in the
evenings and is used on the weekends. Ideally, I'd like to only A/C
that room when it is being used.

I have sealed French doors that can close the room off to the return
duct. So I hoped that when the door was shut, there would be positive
pressure in the room that would act to shut off the 2 A/C ducts. But
it does not. Cold air still blows from them. I can only assume there
is a lot of leakage in the room around windows, etc. So my plan is to
spend a weekend sealing everything I can.

However, if the air still comes out a significant amount, I would like
to install motorized ducts assuming it does not cost a small fortune
(more than $200 per duct). I don't need variable control. Just on
and off. Either controlled by timer or by simple switch. I thought
about installing a linear actuator myself to control the flapper in
the existing register, but it would have to be on the outside and
would be visible in the room.

Any suggestions?

On Aug 16, 9:41 am, wrote:
I'm in Florida and have a 400 sq foot room that is nearly all
windows. It is the kids play room, but is only used seldom in the
evenings and is used on the weekends. Ideally, I'd like to only A/C
that room when it is being used.

I have sealed French doors that can close the room off to the return
duct. So I hoped that when the door was shut, there would be positive
pressure in the room that would act to shut off the 2 A/C ducts. But
it does not. Cold air still blows from them. I can only assume there
is a lot of leakage in the room around windows, etc. So my plan is to
spend a weekend sealing everything I can.

However, if the air still comes out a significant amount, I would like
to install motorized ducts assuming it does not cost a small fortune
(more than $200 per duct). I don't need variable control. Just on
and off. Either controlled by timer or by simple switch. I thought
about installing a linear actuator myself to control the flapper in
the existing register, but it would have to be on the outside and
would be visible in the room.

Any suggestions?

Personally I'd just get some of those magnetic vent covers and slap
those over the vents when I wasn't using the room.

Maybe get fancy and attach a string to them so I can pull them down
without a ladder.

-Nathan

nhurst wrote:
On Aug 16, 9:41 am, wrote:
I'm in Florida and have a 400 sq foot room that is nearly all
windows. It is the kids play room, but is only used seldom in the
evenings and is used on the weekends. Ideally, I'd like to only A/C
that room when it is being used.

I have sealed French doors that can close the room off to the return
duct. So I hoped that when the door was shut, there would be
positive pressure in the room that would act to shut off the 2 A/C
ducts. But it does not. Cold air still blows from them. I can
only assume there is a lot of leakage in the room around windows,
etc. So my plan is to spend a weekend sealing everything I can.

However, if the air still comes out a significant amount, I would
like to install motorized ducts assuming it does not cost a small
fortune (more than $200 per duct). I don't need variable control.
Just on and off. Either controlled by timer or by simple switch.
I thought about installing a linear actuator myself to control the
flapper in the existing register, but it would have to be on the
outside and would be visible in the room.

Any suggestions?

Personally I'd just get some of those magnetic vent covers and slap
those over the vents when I wasn't using the room.

Maybe get fancy and attach a string to them so I can pull them down
without a ladder.

-Nathan

Hmm what if he has aluminum vents?

--
Zyp

Then get CU/AL rated magnets, silly!

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Zyp" wrote in message
news:0oednTuU3fFYsljbnZ2dnUVZ_remnZ2d@championbroa dband.com...
:
: Personally I'd just get some of those magnetic vent covers
and slap
: those over the vents when I wasn't using the room.
:
: Maybe get fancy and attach a string to them so I can pull
them down
: without a ladder.
:
: -Nathan
:
: Hmm what if he has aluminum vents?
:
: --
: Zyp
:
:

on 8/17/2007 1:19 AM Zyp said the following:
nhurst wrote:

On Aug 16, 9:41 am, wrote:

I'm in Florida and have a 400 sq foot room that is nearly all
windows. It is the kids play room, but is only used seldom in the
evenings and is used on the weekends. Ideally, I'd like to only A/C
that room when it is being used.

I have sealed French doors that can close the room off to the return
duct. So I hoped that when the door was shut, there would be
positive pressure in the room that would act to shut off the 2 A/C
ducts. But it does not. Cold air still blows from them. I can
only assume there is a lot of leakage in the room around windows,
etc. So my plan is to spend a weekend sealing everything I can.

However, if the air still comes out a significant amount, I would
like to install motorized ducts assuming it does not cost a small
fortune (more than $200 per duct). I don't need variable control.
Just on and off. Either controlled by timer or by simple switch.
I thought about installing a linear actuator myself to control the
flapper in the existing register, but it would have to be on the
outside and would be visible in the room.

Any suggestions?

Personally I'd just get some of those magnetic vent covers and slap
those over the vents when I wasn't using the room.

Maybe get fancy and attach a string to them so I can pull them down
without a ladder.

-Nathan


Hmm what if he has aluminum vents?

....or plastic, like mine?
I tape clear saran wrap over them, and the returns, using blue painter's
tape. That way, I don't have to mess with closing the louvers, which
isn't really airtight anyway. Looks bad, but the tape doesn't leave a
residue.
I was thinking of trying some magnetic plastic tape (the soft kind used
to make refrigerator magnet business cards, etc.), taped under the edges
of the vent, and then use the same, but untaped, magnetic tape to hold
the saran wrap on the outside. I don't have any magnetic tape to see if
it would be strong enough to attract through the plastic vent cover.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
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