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Performance and Impact from Duct Repair and Ventilation Modifications of Two Newly Constructed Manufactured Houses Located in a Hot and Humid Climate
Abstract
Two nearly identical houses situated next to each
other in Bossier City, Louisiana were studied in an
effort to better understand moisture and cooling
energy related problems in manufactured houses with
low thermostat set-points during the cooling season.
By design, the major difference between houses was
the type of air conditioning units. House A had a
standard split air conditioner and House B had a twospeed
split air conditioner.
In an effort to make the buildings more similar,
the building airtightness was adjusted until it was the
same in each house, and duct leaks were sealed so
that the ducts were tight and there was equal tightness
in both houses. A ventilation system was also added
at the same time of duct repair. Duct repair and the
ventilation modifications resulted in significant
impacts on the cooling energy, temperature, relative
humidity, and building pressures. Cooling energy
decreased 37% in House A and 18% in House B,
while the floor space dewpoint increased
significantly. It is estimated that 35 % savings was
due solely to duct repair in House A and 17% in
House B. The primary cause of House A savings
being twice House B is attributed to House A
operating at nearly twice the capacity most of the
time and had more duct leakage repaired. This
resulted in higher system pressures and therefore
greater duct leakage than in House B. Before
building modifications, House A used 15.4 kWh per
day (32%) more than House B and 3.4 kWh per day
(11%) more after modifications.
A method of characterizing interstitial spaces
using dewpoint measurement is presented and shows
that the belly space became 2.6 times more like
outdoor conditions after repairs in House A and 2.0
times more in House B.
Citation
Withers, C.; Moyer, N.; Chasar, D.; Chandra, S. (2002). Performance and Impact from Duct Repair and Ventilation Modifications of Two Newly Constructed Manufactured Houses Located in a Hot and Humid Climate. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /4590.