FPX 44 Blower sound and location

[ironmanco]

We made a pretty big mistake when installing our FPX44 and located the blower in the room that the fireplace is. We knew we had to have it draw air from the inside of the house since we live in a cold environment (Colorado). We're considering doing some "re-construction" and moving the blower but it may be hard to do it without violating the number of 90deg bends limitation (2).

Anyone have any suggestions on how to approach this - the sound of the blower is really starting to get to us...even on low.

 

[webby3650]

Do you have a basement or crawlspace under the fireplace?

 

[ironmanco]

Do you have a basement or crawlspace under the fireplace?

No crawl space but basement. Basement is finished and where the blower would be would be the tv room. I think we are shooting for that or the laundry room that is adjacent. The laundry room would require the > 2 x 90deg bends.

 

[webby3650]

How cold is your climate? I really like the idea of the positive pressure system, its a big selling point for the FPX, it really works well.

 

[ironmanco]

How cold is your climate? I really like the idea of the positive pressure system, its a big selling point for the FPX, it really works well.

Not unusual to get temps in the 20's regularly at night and will go into the teens.

Boulder Average Temperatures by Month - Current Results

Detailed temperature information for Boulder, Colorado with statistics on average monthly highs and lows plus number of days with hot or cold weather.

www.currentresults.com

 

[webby3650]

Not unusual to get temps in the 20's regularly at night and will go into the teens.

Boulder Average Temperatures by Month - Current Results

Detailed temperature information for Boulder, Colorado with statistics on average monthly highs and lows plus number of days with hot or cold weather.

www.currentresults.com

I think the blower should have been mounted on an outside wall. That’s not any different than our winter temps.

 

[FPX Dude]

Mount on an outside wall, and you'll be fine.

 

[ironmanco]

Mount on an outside wall, and you'll be fine.

Can you hear the blower when it’s mounted on an outside wall? Anything else you do to insulate the sound?

 

[ironmanco]

I spoke to a tech at Travis Ind. as well and they said that mounting the blower to pull from the outside (in our weather) will result in a significant reduction in heating capacity. When you are pulling in 20f or lower air and running it across the fireplace it's just not going to heat compared to pulling 60f air off of conditioned space. At least that's what they said. They also mentioned issues with condensation.

 

[webby3650]

I can’t believe you actually talked to a real person there...
Did you ask about using additional 90’s to keep it inside the envelope of the home?

 

[ironmanco]

I've talked to them several times. It's been pretty easy. But they are very, very inflexible. I assume it's because the requirements are there to be as conservative as possible and in the classic CYA method, they adhere to them even when thermodynamics and airflow don't require it.

I did ask them about the additional 90s and to paraphrase..."no".

 

[webby3650]

We always mount the blower on an outside wall and have never had an unhappy customer. Did the installers put air dams in the cooling air vents? Basically make a trap in it to keep cold air from circulating when its not in use?

 

[ironmanco]

Not sure but we don't notice any backflow. The cooling air vents are tucked away on the leeward side of the chimney chase between the chase and the pitch of the roof.

 

[FPX Dude]

I have 36, and the sound is hardly noticeable, that's one of the reason's I went with remotely located blower and FPX, not like those rattling squirrel cages right in your face, and not dangling wires hanging in front to take away the look. I have to put the TV on mute, to make sure the fan is actually on just so I can barely hear it, not even as loud as when the HVAC kicks in. Mine is on outside wall about 8' from box. Run some ducting, and make sure to code, just to get the blower as far away as possible.

 

[ironmanco]

FPX Dude and webby3650 thanks for the info. Our challenge is going to be this is a fully faced and finished area. We're hoping to be able to demo from the outside in through the siding and sheathing to move the blower. Another one of those things that would have been so simple when we were constructing this. It's a shame the installer didn't provide any better guidance.