HVAC in Apartment Building Question (return air)

[Huffy]

I live in a converted warehouse apartment building in Richmond, VA. The apartments themselves are still partly under construction and have been since I moved in last October. We get a whole lot of dust coming into the apartment and I was curious if the return air on the HVAC is the cause. It looks like the system receives its air from inside the small attic structure over the bathroom and this is closed off. Only a vent above the access door allows the apartment air to enter. It is reasonable to me that these should probably be connected. Does this violate any building codes? Would this cause for inefficiencies in the HVAC system? I do not know anything about construction or building codes and I am uncertain how to proceed. My wife is pregnant with our first child and the purity of the air is less than ideal. I've attached some photos to hopefully illustrate this better.

 

[Builder Bob]

It depends.

It appears that your unit is using a plenum return which is allowable by code. I would question the air transfer grills in the pictures as being sufficient for air draw into the plenum area for starts.... I also see exposed wood studs in the back ground.... Not sure about the connection of the flex duct to the sheet metal elbow, and BTW the filter is extremely dirty.


Unfortunately, I have more questions than answers at the moment. Try to catch the inspector at the job and see if they can take a minute to look it over.

 

[cda]

Are you buying or renting????


Suggest you have the building department come by and look at it

To include dirtiness of system

Not an a/c person, but if that area is warmer or colder depending on time of year, you are paying extra to cool or heat your air.

Another suggestion is have at least to a/c companies look at it. Money spent if any might save you in long run

 

[cda]

Welcome....

 

[cda]

No matter what get a filter with the highest MERV rating and change it at least monthly if not more often if needed

 

[cda]

Did they install new Windows??

Did it out my house and that cut way down on dust.

Since you are able to see into the attic, is it open end to end or enclosed between your unit walls??

 

[steveray]

Shouldn't there be some type of fire barrier there?....Something doesn't look right but hard to say without more info...

 

[Paul Sweet]

Is this really an attic, or just a space between the bathroom ceiling and the structure above?

 

[ICE]

Ducts are supposed to be blocked off during construction.