Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 3Dec 11, 2019 12:04 am Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 4Dec 11, 2019 7:13 am ![]() Hi Ren You will find that RC air cons are closed systems ie that don't take air from outside just recirculate the air inside the house while passing it through an evaporator. The only thing that goes from outside to inside is the refrigerant through pipes. It isn't possible for them to be blowing air from outside into your house. Maybe because it moves air in the house it seems like it is smokey but it's physically impossible for standard split systems to blow smoke from outside. Actually usually when they install split systems, they leave a dirty big hole in the wall. when you run the split system it could be drawing air from outside if these holes behind the unit are big enough it will be noticeable. We see this a lot out there. Here is a video to explain. https://youtu.be/SEDaXDqGWPU Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 5Jan 19, 2020 11:28 pm ![]() Hi Ren You will find that RC air cons are closed systems ie that don't take air from outside just recirculate the air inside the house while passing it through an evaporator. The only thing that goes from outside to inside is the refrigerant through pipes. It isn't possible for them to be blowing air from outside into your house. Maybe because it moves air in the house it seems like it is smokey but it's physically impossible for standard split systems to blow smoke from outside. A ducted RC system should be installed with a fresh air intake if it was going to be installed correctly to comply with AS1668.2. The rule of thumb is 10L/s per occupant. The issue is the filters are not filtering down to a fine enough level to remove the smoke particles which are passing through it. Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 6Jan 20, 2020 12:16 am ![]() ![]() Hi Ren You will find that RC air cons are closed systems ie that don't take air from outside just recirculate the air inside the house while passing it through an evaporator. The only thing that goes from outside to inside is the refrigerant through pipes. It isn't possible for them to be blowing air from outside into your house. Maybe because it moves air in the house it seems like it is smokey but it's physically impossible for standard split systems to blow smoke from outside. A ducted RC system should be installed with a fresh air intake if it was going to be installed correctly to comply with AS1668.2. The rule of thumb is 10L/s per occupant. The issue is the filters are not filtering down to a fine enough level to remove the smoke particles which are passing through it. That is for public buildings (that often don't have windows that open) HVAC systems not domestic AC systems and certainly not for split systems that the OP has mentioned. The only possible way that a split system could be allowing smoke from outside into the house is through the entry point for the refrigerant lines as was mentioned before, and that is an easy fix. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 7Jan 20, 2020 12:42 am 1668.2 also covers private residential dwellings, I checked before I posted. I wasn't aiming to attack or offend you, just correcting a point whereas in the case of a ducted RC system, installed in a single residential dwelling, if you wanted to comply with 1668.2 you would need to allow for the minimum outside air requirement. hth Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 8Jan 20, 2020 1:13 am ![]() 1668.2 also covers private residential dwellings, I checked before I posted. I wasn't aiming to attack or offend you, just correcting a point whereas in the case of a ducted RC system, installed in a single residential dwelling, if you wanted to comply with 1668.2 you would need to allow for the minimum outside air requirement. hth I wasn't feeling attacked or offended, don't worry. It's just that it is highly unlikely to be the OP's issue. I've never seen a residential AC system incorporate fresh air ducting, if you want fresh air you open a window. I've seen plenty of commercial systems in public buildings allow for it but that particular AS is certainly not mandatory for residential construction and I'd say is rarely if ever allowed for. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Help! Split system letting in bushfire smoke 9Jan 21, 2020 10:52 am I agree with konsjo50 and Chippy, especially if your splits are back-to-external-wall setups. We had 3 splits installed in our new build last year (during construction) and luckily I was onsite when the indoor units were going in.....the holes that the guy cut into the walls on both sides (bottom corners) of the indoor head units were fairly large. I asked him to basically do something else for a while, as we went around with the caulking gun and gap filled them as best we could. If your wall wrap is also not taped on the external pipe penetrations and the plaster holes are not filled you would have a fair amount of air leakage occurring. Here is a before/after shot of some splits we had installed. These holes in the wall were made on both bottom corners of each indoor head unit. I also tape sealed the external pipe penetrations before the bricks were laid.Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Check our Homeone build blog here Also had a look at your website and can see you also assist with this 3 1370 Kiwimoisi I can't answer question one as I am not an insurance expert. I can only give you my personal opinion as to what I would do if it was my property. I don't think… 3 2252 ![]() Move your linen into laundry and access laundry from your present linen space 1 9429 ![]() |