AC inlet chase

[jimfflih]

I have a 2004 Homes of Merit 28 X 80. My AC comes into the house in a hollow section of the wall by the 2nd bathroom. You can feel alot of cold air leaking out of the wall under the bathroom cabinet and the light switch. My question is: is the corner of the wall a hollow chase and leads up to the duct work in the ceiling or is there duct work in the wall that must have come apart. The only way to find out other wise is to cut a hole in the wall under the bathroom cabinet and look inside.

[David Oxhandler]

The air/hear riser should minimally be a metal duct inside that chase. The code has no requirement for insulating duct work that is between the interior floor and ceiling. Merit builds a superior product. Most of their features are well above average. From your comments it sounds apparent that the duct is not insulated.

I have the same situation in my 1984 Fleetwood. The cabinet under our hall bath sink is very cool in summer and warm in winter, as are the kitchen cabinets on the opposite side of that wall containing the chase. I have had "blow insulation into the chase" on my to-do list for many years but have never gotten around to it.

There is always the possibility that a section of the duct work has come loose. Stranger things have happened as a manufactured home rocks and rolls towards its installation destination.

I suggest that you follow the flex duct work from the air unit to where it is connected under the home. Disconnect the flex and have a peak up the duct work using a flashlight.

If it looks as if the duct work is in good repair you can find insulation at Lowes or Home Depot that can be blown into the chase way around the duct work by making a reasonably small hole in a wall of the chase. This is usually the most efficient way to insulate the duct and keep the cold air from escaping to places where you really don't need that much and at the same time increasing the efficacy of your cooling system.

[jimfflih]

Thank you very much. Going under the house and looking up.........not sure why I didn't think of that. Great idea saved me from cutting a hole in the wall. You have been a tremendous help!!