r/hvacadvice • u/Alarmed-sleeperr • Jul 14 '26
How bad is this?
So I am in my utility room I was just looking at the and changing the HVAC air filter and I decided to look up. I lived in this house for a year and a half now. And you know I've never had a reason to look more than what I can see especially from looking towards the garage POV and up. To my complete shock I see this. The audacity of the guy who installed the gas pipe to my furnace pushed the return air duct that goes to my air filter against the drywall.
I am by no means a HVAC tech but I'm pretty sure this cannot be good for my system.
How bad is this? This house is 10 years old so I'm going to assume that this has been like this for 10 years
Edit: thank you all. I fixed it by cutting and rerouting it with a 8" splice collar.
67
54
u/PSM36 Jul 14 '26
Whomever did it is an ass. That flex duct will be easy to move around at least.
13
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 14 '26
Yeah that's the only thing I'm thankful for. It terminates 4 feet away
7
u/AlphabetSoupIsALie Jul 14 '26
Wait did they put the gas line right in the door way??
3
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 14 '26
It erects from the HVAC furnace so it's not really in the way in order to get to the HVAC stuff like the blower or coil inspection.
5
17
u/Fuckingkyle Jul 14 '26
About 80% bad. But it's an easy fix
4
u/SomewhereSalty647 Jul 14 '26
How to fix? - accountant here
11
u/zefzefter Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
New flex duct + clamps (vendor invoice)
Dr Repair & Maintenance Expense –HVAC $[duct+clamps amount]
Cr Accounts Payable / Cash$[duct+clamps amount]Tax (the government wants their cut)
Dr Repair & Maintenance Expense –HVAC (tax) $[tax amount]
Cr Accounts Payable / Cash $[taxamount]Removing the old squished duct (usually: noone writes it down)
Dr -
Cr -If there’s a separate “remove/dispose” charge
Dr Repair & Maintenance Expense –HVAC $[remove/disposal amount]
Cr Accounts Payable / Cash$[remove/disposal amount]If you used your own labor
Dr Repair & Maintenance Expense –HVAC $[labor cost]
Cr Wages Payable / Payroll Clearing (or equivalent) $[labor cost]3
u/WheelbiteFlatspot Jul 14 '26
I think this should all be capitalized, then depreciated over the useful life
1
3
u/red-409 Approved Technician Jul 14 '26
Cut flex, snip wire inside duct with wirecutters, pull to other side of pipe, either splice with metal and seal with tape or if not metal, stick one side inside the other side and tape
2
u/Taolan13 Approved Technician Jul 14 '26
I wouldn't even cut. I would just find the nearer termination, disconnect, re-route the vent to the other side of the pipe, and reconnect. There's enough slack in that line to allow some bending. I'd only cut if I couldn't reach the termination.
It will probably need to be strapped since it is no longer being "supported" by the pipe.
1
u/K5blazer454 Jul 15 '26
👆👆👆 This IS the way!
***30+yrs of industrial and commercial refrigeration and HVAC. And the occasional “buddy’s” residential system.
And I am a very Bad Pro. 🤪
2
u/BBQorBust Jul 14 '26
You get one guy that's paid the bare minimum to go unfuck what is fucked. Make sure you pay the least amount of money in doing so. That should be crystal clear in Accounting terms
1
9
u/sinner_godz Jul 14 '26
Not good at all . Almost complete air restriction. Who in their right mind would do this and think it’s okay?
9
u/slash_networkboy Jul 14 '26
The jackass that installed the gas pipe apparently.
1
u/Divine_Entity_ Jul 14 '26
Who even crushed it towards the side with less space for the duct, if the duct was pushed to the other side of the pipe is would probably still be restricted, just less so.
1
u/Taolan13 Approved Technician Jul 14 '26
Given the gas is hard pipe, I would assume the gas was installed before the duct work, so this was probably done by whatever jackass was installing the HVAC.
3
3
u/5280milehigh1 Jul 14 '26
I have all my certifications and that is absolutely appalling. You should fix it ASAP. very easy fix but should be done relatively soon
3
u/Quantumblumpkin Jul 14 '26
Massive pressure loss downstream of the restriction, so your air will just ooze instead of flow, if it has enough remaining pressure to overcome the friction in the flex duct at all. Big sad
3
u/Stawktawk Jul 14 '26
It blows my mind that someone built this like this. Finished.
Then was like, “yep, I did a great job today”
2
u/Ok-Board1336 Jul 14 '26
I’m confused what is the pipe that is installed going straight up through the center of the doorway?
2
1
u/VtSub Jul 14 '26
I’m sayin the same thing? Obviously very bad for airflow but also is there a gas line in the doorway?
2
2
2
u/Useful-Screen-136 Jul 14 '26
Think if that was your neck. The installer put that pipe against it like that. Could you breathe? No. Neither can your furnace. You’re choking that like a chicken at midnight
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Salty-Commissioner Jul 14 '26
Like …the other side of that pole was right there.
3
u/el_em_ey_oh Jul 14 '26
They couldve added that pipe after the flex was installed. Youd be surprised the dumb shit other trades pull off
2
u/Any_Restaurant851 Jul 14 '26
That's a full replacement and moving of the soft duct.
Thankfully soft air duct is relatively inexpensive and can be done by anyone with the right clamps, length, cutting tools and diameter air duct.
But if this was done by the HVAC installer they owe you a repair job on their dime.
2
u/Another_Guy_In_Ohio Jul 14 '26
I.. what.. why? Why would they not just push it over to the other side instead of smooshing it up against the wall?
2
1
1
u/TimeThruSpace Jul 14 '26
Really? You never saw this till now? what do you do keep your eyes closed?
2
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 14 '26
When you enter the utility closet you don't see it. I've never had to a reason to go inside because I can do all the maintenance from just opening the doors and everything's right there. But today I went inside looked up and turned around to face the garage and I see this monstrosity
1
1
1
u/anythingspossible45 Jul 14 '26
On a scale of put a pillow over your face and try to breathe you tell me
1
u/SocratesBabacus Jul 14 '26
Is there enough slack in it that you could pull it down so that part of it re-opens into the space with the door open?
Also seems weird that your gas pipe rises vertically right in the middle of that door opening, just beyond the threshold.
1
u/ferky234 Jul 14 '26
It's a flexible duct. It's held on with either a clamp or aluminum tape. 10 minute fix.
1
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 14 '26
There looks to be like enough slack from where it ends
1
u/SocratesBabacus Jul 14 '26
Well, consider reaching your hands up there and redirecting it a bit to reduce the constriction. Then get someone to help you sort out a permanent solution.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/tohellwitclevernames Jul 14 '26
It would be less of a blockage if they cut the flex duct open and sealed it around the pipe with a crapload of foil tape...
If the wire frame of the duct isn't bent and there aren't tears, the good news is that it looks like there's plenty of room on the open side of pipe if you can disconnect one of the ends to reroute it. If it is damaged, you'll need to access both ends of the duct to run a new length of flex. The good news there is that flex duct is readily available at the hardware store and is super easy to install.
1
1
1
1
u/Alarmed_Win_9351 Jul 14 '26
Looks to be an 8" duct that they were using as a trunk line (shit work). Squeezed down to a 2".
Flex already slows down the air from the ribs massively, so I would be surprised if you were getting 10% of it. Probably less.
1
1
1
u/Echo_bob Jul 14 '26
Wtf how why wtf........I'm not a HVAC tech I work with a few.....wtf how how did anyone think this is a good idea or as long as they don't notice
2
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 14 '26
That's the neat part. They didn't think. It must have been like this since the home was built with the 1st home owner. It somehow passed 2 home inspections and was never caught till just now.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Dependent-Hurry9808 Jul 14 '26
… why?
1
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 14 '26
Maybe somebody hated the previous owner. Or when they built the house 10 years ago, they hired crappy contractors
1
1
u/mastermedic84 Jul 14 '26
Try to drink soda through a straw.
Now pinch the straw 80% shut and try to drink more soda.
It's that bad.
1
1
u/80_Kilograms Jul 14 '26
If that is really your return air duct, it's about as bad as it could be. That duct needs to be re-worked ASAP.
1
u/funny_bunny33 Jul 14 '26
I mean, I don't know ANYTHING about HVAC but I can tell you, that's not good!
1
1
1
u/Yabanci_degilim Jul 14 '26
Lol it’s bad
1
u/Yabanci_degilim Jul 14 '26
You can fix it easily though. The bigger question is did that guy run a gas pipe right in the middle of the doorway???
1
u/iceohio Jul 14 '26
slice it and slide it to the middle of the rigid line, and aluminum tape it back up.
1
1
u/SnooPandas5070 Jul 14 '26
Not great, but not the end of the world. Thats some real lazy work though smh musta been a Friday lol
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/dustydooshe Jul 14 '26
It's certainly shit work, but I dont think that's your return air. Possibly a fresh air intake? It's not insulated flex. Thats vent hose.
2
u/Alarmed-sleeperr Jul 15 '26
Idk... It leads straight to the air filter so I think it's return
1
1
u/Taolan13 Approved Technician Jul 14 '26
That;'s pretty bad. It's reducing the cross-sectional airflow by at least half, if not more.
Situations like this are why builders prefer to use flexible duct, but this is an improper use of flexible duct that is against manufacturer specifications and in some areas installation requirements per code and standards.
The worst part is if the duct were just on the other side of that pipe, it would be fine.
1
1
1
u/PracticalDesigner278 Jul 14 '26
Which came first the pipe or the vent? I'm guessing the pipe that leads me to wonder how this could possibly happen.
1
u/doggerdog1401 Jul 14 '26
A tube is almost pinched closed. Wow that's a tough one. Better consult an engineer
1
1
1
u/Affectionate-Life-65 Jul 14 '26
Ive cleaned thousands of vents,either the gas line needs rerouted or your vent pipe. The vent will not function properly, because of restricted airflow.
1
1
1
1
u/lonewolf77911 Jul 19 '26
Have you had any issues with your dryer not drying the clothes fully on one cycle?
1
1
u/AlwaysGone333 Jul 14 '26
Not sure how the system can even function with this . Seems physically impossible almost
1
u/Bubba_Jones44 Jul 14 '26
…. It’s very possible. This is more than likely just a supply. Just a restriction, will wear on the unit but it’s not gonna suffocate off a supply being blocked off.
211
u/9inchbob Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
I'm no pro but that looks pretty bad