HVAC Air handler issue

[Shadowrider]

Tape:

Ductboard = Aluminum tape (it's like a really super thick foil with adhesive on one side)

Flexible insulation = Good old fashioned duct tape.

ETA: Definitely get some insulation on the suction line. It's foam with a split in it to slip over the line, made in several sizes. Tape it closed every 12"-18" or so.

 

[SlugSlinger]

Condensation does happen.
You can slow it down by insulating and it does not matter if you use paper backed fiberglass to wrap that plenum or vinyl back insulation.

That plenum should have some duckboard or other insulation inside of it but it may not.

I wrapped all my plenums and ducts with paper backed because that is what I had a lot of.
I also had a lot of no backing insulation and used that also in some areas.

No issues.

If you have roof vents you can sometimes open the attic access door a foot or so and allow air to draw through the garage up through the access door and out the roof vents.

If you have the door in the garage.
That really does help cool the space some.

Some areas of your attic floor look a little thin on the insulation 3" maybe.

Yes insulate the suction line.

Attic ventilation is a good point. If there is no airflow, the moisture has a hard time evaporating.

OP, Is there plenty of roof ventilation?

 

[Fredkrueger100]

Condensation does happen.
You can slow it down by insulating and it does not matter if you use paper backed fiberglass to wrap that plenum or vinyl back insulation.

That plenum should have some duckboard or other insulation inside of it but it may not.

I wrapped all my plenums and ducts with paper backed because that is what I had a lot of.
I also had a lot of no backing insulation and used that also in some areas.

No issues.

If you have roof vents you can sometimes open the attic access door a foot or so and allow air to draw through the garage up through the access door and out the roof vents.

If you have the door in the garage.
That really does help cool the space some.

Some areas of your attic floor look a little thin on the insulation 3" maybe.

Yes insulate the suction line.

My lines are wrapped all the way up until it gets to the handler. I’ll make sure and wrap the rest. Thanks for the input on the insulation. Sadly, my roof has one roof vent! And it doesn’t even work. It’s one of those that when the attic temp reaches a certain setting the fan is supposed to turn on. Well, it’s so rusted it don’t work. I need to replace the motor if I can. At least I would have one that work.

Man I struggle with depression and am a former addict and this kind of crap really tests my ability to remain sober. I really wish I would have went with another company. Now I spent $12000 on my unit and it’s not even done right. Now the duct work was already there but it should have been fixed. I think if the ductwork was fixed on the north side of my unit it would be great because the air blows fine everywhere but my master bed and bath.

 

[Fredkrueger100]

Attic ventilation is a good point. If there is no airflow, the moisture has a hard time evaporating.

OP, Is there plenty of roof ventilation?

No, it’s horrible. The idiots put one roof vent and it’s broke.

 

[trekrok]

No, it’s horrible. The idiots put one roof vent and it’s broke.

I'd definitely get the attic ventilation squared away. And there's no way that one vent at the peak will be enough. That may help the condensation issue since I'll bet it's a million degrees up there.

 

[Letfreedomring]

Not sure who inspects new builds, but I suspect it is Joe Bob's kin that just pops head in attic and says:'Looks good from here!' I was laid off for a few months during the scamdemic and got restless so decided to fix some f-ups from my 2010 built house.
The contractor installed a 93% (Concord) in the attic with the condensate line dropping into washer drain box. Every time the furnace came on you could hear gurgling and fan noises coming out of laundry room and in the summer when a/c kicked on, all the vents would blow warm for about 30sec until cooling off. Upon inspection I found the contractor failed to install any traps in the condensate line and main trunk and return coming off unit was not insulated. During my inspection I found a disc cut-out from the trunk and noticed some thin furry stuff stuck to back side that I assumed was supposed to be insulation. You could still see metal through the "insulation". I installed a couple of waterless traps on condensate lines and wrapped everything in insulation and it seems to really help.
TL;DR- New builder's suk!
Before:

After:

Plus they just ran bathroom vents to terminate under blown-in insulation!

ETA: These are the traps I installed. One on the exhaust drop leg and another on end of line in washer drain box. They work great, but are hard to find and not very cheap.
https://www.famous-supply.com/Product/3068843

 

[2busy]

Not sure who inspects new builds, but I suspect it is Joe Bob's kin that just pops head in attic and says:'Looks good from here!' I was laid off for a few months during the scamdemic and got restless so decided to fix some f-ups from my 2010 built house.
The contractor installed a 93% (Concord) in the attic with the condensate line dropping into washer drain box. Every time the furnace came on you could hear gurgling and fan noises coming out of laundry room and in the summer when a/c kicked on, all the vents would blow warm for about 30sec until cooling off. Upon inspection I found the contractor failed to install any traps in the condensate line and main trunk and return coming off unit was not insulated. During my inspection I found a disc cut-out from the trunk and noticed some thin furry stuff stuck to back side that I assumed was supposed to be insulation. You could still see metal through the "insulation". I installed a couple of waterless traps on condensate lines and wrapped everything in insulation and it seems to really help.
TL;DR- New builder's suk!
Before:
View attachment 486569View attachment 486570View attachment 486571
After:
View attachment 486572
View attachment 486573
Plus they just ran bathroom vents to terminate under blown-in insulation!

You need a secondary drain pan under the air handler with it's own drain ran outside that you will notice water dripping from it. That will let you know the evaporator drain is plugged and running over.

Never mind I see,

 

[Letfreedomring]

Oh yeah and I run these:

in the summer and it really improves air flow over the standard 1" filters. They are 4" that fit in standard 1" return registers. Not cheap though, but they last all through the a/c season.

 

[Fredkrueger100]

I'd definitely get the attic ventilation squared away. And there's no way that one vent at the peak will be enough. That may help the condensation issue since I'll bet it's a million degrees up there.

Oh it is. But even if I get that one vent fixed I’m sure it will still be a million degrees up there. I don’t have the skill to install others. And I don’t have the money to have it done. Just like I don’t have the money to have my ductwork redone. I will have to do everything myself. Now, my brother in law just got his journeyman’s license. But he is really busy all the time. But I’m hoping he can help me out.

 

[trekrok]

Oh it is. But even if I get that one vent fixed I’m sure it will still be a million degrees up there. I don’t have the skill to install others. And I don’t have the money to have it done. Just like I don’t have the money to have my ductwork redone. I will have to do everything myself. Now, my brother in law just got his journeyman’s license. But he is really busy all the time. But I’m hoping he can help me out.

Yeah if nothing else maybe he can tell you what you need to do on the ducts. I think more 'engineering' needs to happen on that than usually occurs.

Good luck. Attic is about the last place to be right now. Might need to pull the midnight shift on it.