I am going to remodel my kitchen. Currently there is only one forced air A/C
duct in the kitchen in the wall near the floor. This wall will be covered by
cabinets as well as all other available kitchen walls. Where is the best
place to relocate the only existing duct I have? I see the only place for it
is to move it higher above top cabinets. I also plan to add a couple of more
ducts and probably one return duct. Again the only place I see for those
additional ducts is in the walls above top cabinets. I cannot put them into
ceiling because of ceiling joists. Any advise would be appreciated.

Alexander Galkin wrote:
Any advise would be appreciated.

Don't go adding ducts without understanding the impaceon the rest of
your system. A return duct in the kitchen sounds like a great way to
get kitchen odors spread throughout the house. In some jurisdictions it
is against the building code.

"Alexander Galkin" wrote in message
...
I am going to remodel my kitchen. Currently there is only one forced air
A/C
duct in the kitchen in the wall near the floor. This wall will be covered
by
cabinets as well as all other available kitchen walls. Where is the best
place to relocate the only existing duct I have?


In the toe kick space, like most installs.


I see the only place for it
is to move it higher above top cabinets. I also plan to add a couple of
more
ducts and probably one return duct.


Which would violate code for return air!


Again the only place I see for those
additional ducts is in the walls above top cabinets. I cannot put them
into
ceiling because of ceiling joists. Any advise would be appreciated.


Call a professional and get it done correctly.

kjpro

"Travis Jordan" wrote in message
...
Alexander Galkin wrote:
Any advise would be appreciated.

Don't go adding ducts without understanding the impaceon the rest of
your system. A return duct in the kitchen sounds like a great way to
get kitchen odors spread throughout the house. In some jurisdictions it
is against the building code.

Should be all jurisdictions, as it's in the IMC.

kjpro

Putting toe space grills in houses with A/C and a basement or
crawlspace can be a mistake. Normally, the duct is attached to the
floor under the cabinet under the cabinet. This pressurizes the space
under the cabinet with cold air. The subfloor under the cabinet
assumes supply air temperature. If there is any humidity in the
crawlspace or basement, moisture will condense on the underside of the
subfloor. Conditions are then ripe for mold growth or wood rot. Even
if you duct the air all the way to the grille, there can still be
problems. The floor in front of the grille will also approach the
supply air temperatures. About 10 percent of my business involves
fixing problems with damp crawlspaces. The biggest problems are with
houses with toespace grilles Avoid toe space grilles unless you are in
a very dry climate.


Stretch

"Alexander Galkin" wrote in
message ...
I am going to remodel my kitchen. Currently there is only
one forced air A/C
duct in the kitchen in the wall near the floor. This wall
will be covered by
cabinets as well as all other available kitchen walls. Where
is the best
place to relocate the only existing duct I have? I see the
only place for it
is to move it higher above top cabinets. I also plan to add
a couple of more
ducts and probably one return duct. Again the only place I
see for those
additional ducts is in the walls above top cabinets. I
cannot put them into
ceiling because of ceiling joists. Any advise would be
appreciated.


Your plan is workable, especially since you are adding other
supply ducts... you may want to eliminate the return duct
though as that will take cooking odors all through the house..
you want the kitchen exhaust to take those outside as a rule.
and you want the new supply air to move in a way that it does
not interfere with the kitchen or stove top exhaust ..that
means no supply air blowing on or around the stove top.

The supply air registers above the cabinets should ideally be
in a facia flush with the front of the cabinets and be rated
for wall placement, as contrasted to say ceiling registers
that are configured differently.

The air should not just be dumped in a space atop the
cabinets.



However adding more ducts could unbalance the system and
deprive other parts of the house of air, so that the kitchen
would run too cold in the summer and too hot in the winter.

To cure that put manual balancing dampers in the kitchen ducts
so you can 'balance' the system later. If you rely on the
supply air grill dampers you could get whistling. or you can
do it as planned and see how it operates ..then add balancing
dampers as required later.

There are thermostatically controlled dampers you can buy but
thats a lot of complexity for a slight gain in your situation.


Phil Scott
Mech engr. HVAC contractor

"stretch" wrote in message
oups.com...


Putting toe space grills in houses with A/C and a basement or
crawlspace can be a mistake. Normally, the duct is attached to the
floor under the cabinet under the cabinet. This pressurizes the space
under the cabinet with cold air. The subfloor under the cabinet
assumes supply air temperature. If there is any humidity in the
crawlspace or basement, moisture will condense on the underside of the
subfloor. Conditions are then ripe for mold growth or wood rot. Even
if you duct the air all the way to the grille, there can still be
problems. The floor in front of the grille will also approach the
supply air temperatures. About 10 percent of my business involves
fixing problems with damp crawlspaces. The biggest problems are with
houses with toespace grilles Avoid toe space grilles unless you are in
a very dry climate.

First, if I do it, it's ducted all the way to the grill.

Second, I live in an area where humidity isn't an issue.

Your thinking, and sharing your knowledge, that's good.
That's the nice thing about the NG, it's made up of people from all
different areas of knowledge.


kjpro

Thank you for our response. I really understand now that putting a return
register in the kitchen is not a good idea. I however wonder how to install
forced air registers flush with cabinets facia. Registers are more then 4"
height, facia must be really huge. Are there online resources preferably
with pictures where I can see how registers are placed in kitchen?


"Phil Scott" wrote in message
. com...

"Alexander Galkin" wrote in
message ...
I am going to remodel my kitchen. Currently there is only
one forced air A/C
duct in the kitchen in the wall near the floor. This wall
will be covered by
cabinets as well as all other available kitchen walls. Where
is the best
place to relocate the only existing duct I have? I see the
only place for it
is to move it higher above top cabinets. I also plan to add
a couple of more
ducts and probably one return duct. Again the only place I
see for those
additional ducts is in the walls above top cabinets. I
cannot put them into
ceiling because of ceiling joists. Any advise would be
appreciated.


Your plan is workable, especially since you are adding other
supply ducts... you may want to eliminate the return duct
though as that will take cooking odors all through the house..
you want the kitchen exhaust to take those outside as a rule.
and you want the new supply air to move in a way that it does
not interfere with the kitchen or stove top exhaust ..that
means no supply air blowing on or around the stove top.

The supply air registers above the cabinets should ideally be
in a facia flush with the front of the cabinets and be rated
for wall placement, as contrasted to say ceiling registers
that are configured differently.

The air should not just be dumped in a space atop the
cabinets.



However adding more ducts could unbalance the system and
deprive other parts of the house of air, so that the kitchen
would run too cold in the summer and too hot in the winter.

To cure that put manual balancing dampers in the kitchen ducts
so you can 'balance' the system later. If you rely on the
supply air grill dampers you could get whistling. or you can
do it as planned and see how it operates ..then add balancing
dampers as required later.

There are thermostatically controlled dampers you can buy but
thats a lot of complexity for a slight gain in your situation.


Phil Scott
Mech engr. HVAC contractor

"Alexander Galkin" wrote in
message ...
Thank you for our response. I really understand now that
putting a return
register in the kitchen is not a good idea. I however wonder
how to install
forced air registers flush with cabinets facia. Registers
are more then 4"
height, facia must be really huge. Are there online
resources preferably
with pictures where I can see how registers are placed in
kitchen?

if you have only 2" or so above the cabinets you might have to
use 'slot diffusers'. take a sketch to your local sheet metal
shop and see what they say.. it shouldnt be a problem... or
they will have a source. Or call your local HVAC wholesaler
and tell them you are a home owner looking for wall slot
diffusers...however long but narrow...whatever space you have.


OR
In your case I might build a sheet metal box behind the facia,
flange it to the facia on the inside and cut 1/4"lots in the
facia with a router. or dado blade in a skill saw.

Phil Scott



"Phil Scott" wrote in
message
. com...

"Alexander Galkin" wrote in
message ...
I am going to remodel my kitchen. Currently there is only
one forced air A/C
duct in the kitchen in the wall near the floor. This wall
will be covered by
cabinets as well as all other available kitchen walls.
Where
is the best
place to relocate the only existing duct I have? I see
the
only place for it
is to move it higher above top cabinets. I also plan to
add
a couple of more
ducts and probably one return duct. Again the only place
I
see for those
additional ducts is in the walls above top cabinets. I
cannot put them into
ceiling because of ceiling joists. Any advise would be
appreciated.


Your plan is workable, especially since you are adding
other
supply ducts... you may want to eliminate the return duct
though as that will take cooking odors all through the
house..
you want the kitchen exhaust to take those outside as a
rule.
and you want the new supply air to move in a way that it
does
not interfere with the kitchen or stove top exhaust ..that
means no supply air blowing on or around the stove top.

The supply air registers above the cabinets should ideally
be
in a facia flush with the front of the cabinets and be
rated
for wall placement, as contrasted to say ceiling registers
that are configured differently.

The air should not just be dumped in a space atop the
cabinets.



However adding more ducts could unbalance the system and
deprive other parts of the house of air, so that the
kitchen
would run too cold in the summer and too hot in the
winter.

To cure that put manual balancing dampers in the kitchen
ducts
so you can 'balance' the system later. If you rely on the
supply air grill dampers you could get whistling. or you
can
do it as planned and see how it operates ..then add
balancing
dampers as required later.

There are thermostatically controlled dampers you can buy
but
thats a lot of complexity for a slight gain in your
situation.


Phil Scott
Mech engr. HVAC contractor

"stretch" wrote in message
oups.com...


Putting toe space grills in houses with A/C and a basement or
crawlspace can be a mistake. Normally, the duct is attached to the
floor under the cabinet under the cabinet. This pressurizes the space
under the cabinet with cold air. The subfloor under the cabinet
assumes supply air temperature. If there is any humidity in the
crawlspace or basement, moisture will condense on the underside of the
subfloor. Conditions are then ripe for mold growth or wood rot. Even
if you duct the air all the way to the grille, there can still be
problems. The floor in front of the grille will also approach the
supply air temperatures. About 10 percent of my business involves
fixing problems with damp crawlspaces. The biggest problems are with
houses with toespace grilles Avoid toe space grilles unless you are in
a very dry climate.


Stretch


Solve the humidity problem in the crawl! Then don't worry about problems
with the toe kick supply.
Greg

I am going to remodel my kitchen. Currently there is only one forced air
A/C duct in the kitchen in the wall near the floor. This wall will be
covered by cabinets as well as all other available kitchen walls.


We lived in the desert where COOLING was much more important than heating.
Our kitchen ducts were placed above the cabinets..Picture cool air
'falling'.
We were on a concrete slab so actually all the ductwork was "above" the
living space. It sounds like you could add a run from the existing duct,
up and along the tops of the cabinets and box it in with a bulkhead from
cabinet tops to ceiling. I like to do that anyway when I build..finishes it
off neater than just having the upper cabinets hanging on the wall and a
dusty, clutter collecting "shelf"/tops above.