ATF: Bighorn - Whisper Quiet ducting design issue

[SNOKING]

OK, looking at our new 2017 BH3575el, found that the bathroom hatch had compromised the duct at the corner right by the register. Put some gorilla tape on the hole for now.

Also I have half of my registers with foam filters on the duct side. Most were on the cold area side. I moved them all to the return side as a test.

Ducts are terminated/dammed just past the far register.

On edit I switched around to the front AC and it was really dumping a lot of cool air out the front must register, so I put a partial block there.
Chris

 

[Bones]

It looks like an air conditioner removal may be necessary to repair the duct work where it hooks up to the supply line.

 

[jmgratz]

Just so everyone understands how the whisper quiet is designed ... you cannot access the air conditioner from the inside of the coach. It does not stick into the inside of the coach. The ceiling is one solid piece and on the off-door side there are louvered opening about every 3 feet the length of the coach and this is where the cool air enters the coach. On the door side of the coach there are louvers about every 3 feet the length of the coach and these louvers have filters on them. This is the return air of the system. In order to access the ductwork you will have to go on the roof and remove the air conditioner unit. Even if you could remove a ceiling panel on the inside I don't know that you could gain access to the AC unit. In order to gain access to the ductwork you would have to remove the roof (I think) which is really not feasible for a repair of the ductwork.
Also the 'Tent in the vent' type fix could not be done in this type of unit. Also there is not a 'quick cool' feature on the AC.
In this type of system the bedroom AC blows cooled air the whole length of the coach and the living room AC blows air the whole length of the coach. So the living room air is traveling through the ductwork from the rear of the coach toward the front of the coach (some does go from the AC unit toward the rear of the coach) and the bedroom air is traveling through the ductwork from the front of the coach toward the rear of the coach (a small amount does travel from the AC unit toward the front of the coach). (confusing isn't it) Anyway the air meets somewhere in the middle. Now going a step further if you block the duct somewhere after the last vent by the stairs going into the bedroom, the living room AC would work to cool the living room/kitchen section and the bedroom AC would work to cool the bedroom bathroom. Haven't tried that yet but am considering trying.

BTW - By not having an AC unit protruding into the inside of the coach and having a 'clean' ceiling gives the inside of the coach a 'slick' look, but personally the 'old style' worked better.

 

[travelin2]

BTW - By not having an AC unit protruding into the inside of the coach and having a 'clean' ceiling gives the inside of the coach a 'slick' look, but personally the 'old style' worked better.

Couldn't agree more but these, and other purchases, are made on visual appeal and appearances these days. The "wow" factor is today's sales tool...

 

[Az_Ernie]

Just so everyone understands how the whisper quiet is designed ... you cannot access the air conditioner from the inside of the coach. It does not stick into the inside of the coach. The ceiling is one solid piece and on the off-door side there are louvered opening about every 3 feet the length of the coach and this is where the cool air enters the coach. On the door side of the coach there are louvers about every 3 feet the length of the coach and these louvers have filters on them. This is the return air of the system. In order to access the ductwork you will have to go on the roof and remove the air conditioner unit. Even if you could remove a ceiling panel on the inside I don't know that you could gain access to the AC unit. In order to gain access to the ductwork you would have to remove the roof (I think) which is really not feasible for a repair of the ductwork.
Also the 'Tent in the vent' type fix could not be done in this type of unit. Also there is not a 'quick cool' feature on the AC.
In this type of system the bedroom AC blows cooled air the whole length of the coach and the living room AC blows air the whole length of the coach. So the living room air is traveling through the ductwork from the rear of the coach toward the front of the coach (some does go from the AC unit toward the rear of the coach) and the bedroom air is traveling through the ductwork from the front of the coach toward the rear of the coach (a small amount does travel from the AC unit toward the front of the coach). (confusing isn't it) Anyway the air meets somewhere in the middle. Now going a step further if you block the duct somewhere after the last vent by the stairs going into the bedroom, the living room AC would work to cool the living room/kitchen section and the bedroom AC would work to cool the bedroom bathroom. Haven't tried that yet but am considering trying.

BTW - By not having an AC unit protruding into the inside of the coach and having a 'clean' ceiling gives the inside of the coach a 'slick' look, but personally the 'old style' worked better.

Thank you! Still hoping to get a Heartland rep to chime in.

 

[SNOKING]

Just so everyone understands how the whisper quiet is designed ... you cannot access the air conditioner from the inside of the coach. It does not stick into the inside of the coach. The ceiling is one solid piece and on the off-door side there are louvered opening about every 3 feet the length of the coach and this is where the cool air enters the coach. On the door side of the coach there are louvers about every 3 feet the length of the coach and these louvers have filters on them. This is the return air of the system. In order to access the ductwork you will have to go on the roof and remove the air conditioner unit. Even if you could remove a ceiling panel on the inside I don't know that you could gain access to the AC unit. In order to gain access to the ductwork you would have to remove the roof (I think) which is really not feasible for a repair of the ductwork.
Also the 'Tent in the vent' type fix could not be done in this type of unit. Also there is not a 'quick cool' feature on the AC.
In this type of system the bedroom AC blows cooled air the whole length of the coach and the living room AC blows air the whole length of the coach. So the living room air is traveling through the ductwork from the rear of the coach toward the front of the coach (some does go from the AC unit toward the rear of the coach) and the bedroom air is traveling through the ductwork from the front of the coach toward the rear of the coach (a small amount does travel from the AC unit toward the front of the coach). (confusing isn't it) Anyway the air meets somewhere in the middle. Now going a step further if you block the duct somewhere after the last vent by the stairs going into the bedroom, the living room AC would work to cool the living room/kitchen section and the bedroom AC would work to cool the bedroom bathroom. Haven't tried that yet but am considering trying.

BTW - By not having an AC unit protruding into the inside of the coach and having a 'clean' ceiling gives the inside of the coach a 'slick' look, but personally the 'old style' worked better.

The cooled air enters our 2017 BH3575el on the door/curb/supply side and returns on the street/driver' side.

I moved my filters to the return side as most were on the supply side.Chris

 

[TravelTiger]

The cooled air enters our 2017 BH3575el on the door/curb/supply side and returns on the street/driver' side.

I moved my filters to the return side as most were on the supply side.Chris

I discovered this as well, and swapped the vents with filters to the correct side right after delivery, so I know that's not my problem.

 

[jbeletti]

Thank you! Still hoping to get a Heartland rep to chime in.

Ernie,

Heartland Engineers and outside firms related to the design of the duct system do not get on this forum. Please don't expect to hear from them here.

I have passed this thread along to upper management at Heartland so they are aware that some retail customers are unhappy with the performance of this system.

 

[SNOKING]

The correct side for the filter is a question. Most likely they are in intended for the supply side and not the return side where I now have them.

ON EDIT: The filters belong on the return side.

Has anyone measures the temperature drop the system is creating. That is heat level of the supply air is vs room temperature. When we had a home heat pump it was 10 or 11 degrees, however a much larger duct system.

Chris

 

[TravelTiger]

The correct side for the filter is a question. Most likely they are in intended for the supply side and not the return side where I now have them.

Has anyone measures the temperature drop the system is creating. That is heat level of the supply air is vs room temperature. When we had a home heat pump it was 10 or 11 degrees, however a much larger duct system.

Chris

Chris, when I was trying to tape up inside the duct, my hand nearly froze! I had to turn it off to work in there. Using an infrared gun a few days ago I was getting 61* at the closest duct to the AC and 66* at the farthest, on an 80+ degree day. I have no doubt the air is cold.

 

[SNOKING]

OK, another question on the return side duct and the shower sky light. Does it zig zag around it with square corners? BTW the 3575el has the rectangle shower that runs across the trailer left to right. Chris

- - - Updated - - -

Chris, when I was trying to tape up inside the duct, my hand nearly froze! I had to turn it off to work in there. Using an infrared gun a few days ago I was getting 61* at the closest duct to the AC and 66* at the farthest, on an 80+ degree day. I have no doubt the air is cold.

That is a good drop across the unit. Chris

 

[Bones]

Jim and all. I think one of the best solutions for the engineers to investigate is to eliminate installer error. This can be accomplished at the design phase and when designing the ducts to make positive locks and seals so that installers no matter who they are know to put this piece here until it locks. This will help eliminate some of the issues and you could just use this model throughout the product lines. It would seem that the system works when done well. I know I'm just a Mechanical Engineer rambling on

 

[TravelTiger]

Today is cool and 69, so no testing of the AC today, got the windows open and saving that electricity$$$!

But I do have a question, do those of you with WhisperQuiet have one or two vents in the kitchen area? Also, how many vents total in your "downstairs"?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RVFun4Us]

In my 3270 Bighorn, have a return vent directly over kitchen island, one midway to back of coach and one at end. So three supply and three return total in downstairs. Also have two supply and two return in bedroom, and of course one return in bathroom. But curiously, there is no supply vent in the bathroom or even outside the bathroom door.

 

[Toy1Ton]

My 2016 3760EL has a total of 4 supply 4 return on main level on 40' 11" trailer

 

[danemayer]

I believe on some floor plans, the shower location prevents installation of a 2nd bathroom duct. Where this occurs, the only vent will be for air outlet (no return). This also affects which row is for cold air outlet and which is for air return, since the available location of the bathroom vent defines which side is the outlet row.

Based on posts about filter location, I think manufacturing may have built some units without realizing that the air flow had been swapped side-to-side, and they put the return filters on the outlet side, because that's where they always went.

Erika, I suspect that's why your filters were placed incorrectly.

 

[SNOKING]

I have 4 supple and 4 return on the lower level. On the upper level I have 3 supply and 2 return. Chris

 

[Az_Ernie]

Ernie,

Heartland Engineers and outside firms related to the design of the duct system do not get on this forum. Please don't expect to hear from them here.

I have passed this thread along to upper management at Heartland so they are aware that some retail customers are unhappy with the performance of this system.

Jim,

I know that these folks do not monitor this forum. I do know that you as the Heartland Director of Owners Interest do a great job of monitoring and helping out when possible. That is why I asked if maybe you could inform the system experts that many Heartland owners are experiencing cooling problems and maybe they, as experts, could offer ideas on things to check and fix to improve cooling performance. However, I am perplexed that someone at Heartland does not monitor each Heartland brand communities "ATF:" sub forum at a minimum.

Thank you for passing this thread along to upper management. I am looking forward to any feed back they may offer.

 

[NHCelt]

THAT is strange. I was on board with you until the bathroom...I have a 2016 3270 built 2/16, and the bathroom vent is definitely a supply....which side of the coach are your supply vents on...mine are off doorside. My bathroom supply vent runs right between the shower skylight and the vent fan. Both intrude into the ductwork.

In my 3270 Bighorn, have a return vent directly over kitchen island, one midway to back of coach and one at end. So three supply and three return total in downstairs. Also have two supply and two return in bedroom, and of course one return in bathroom. But curiously, there is no supply vent in the bathroom or even outside the bathroom door.

- - - Updated - - -

Frostking makes a heavy foil/foam stick on duct insulation. I used this to insulate the interior bottom of the ductwork. It can also be used to stick a small flap on the top of the ductwork to route the airflow a bit. Keep in mind that airflow direction changes depending on which ac is in play.

Celt.

 

[mrcomer]

I have always wondered if there was a seal between the ceiling panel and the foam to make sure the ducts would be sealed so that the system would create proper pressure. I would like to see the lamination plant in person to see what they do. I would also like to see just how many other protrusions happen in these ducts that would cause poor pressure and poor performance. Someone here posted as picture of a waste line vent going right through the duct. Hopefully we will see some changes here.