You can find it right next to my bank account that happens to not be bottomless
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My New Studio Build (perhaps overly detailed)
- Thread starter silky smoove
- Start date
What he's done in that video violates code here in Washington state. You can't vent one space into another. Every room needs its own vent to the outside world, or it has to join a common plenum that ends up outside.
Probably violates code everywhere. The fan sucking the air into the next room is a no-no. He should have been venting to the outside. It could be that he put in place what was needed to pass inspection, then performed modifications. Not that anyone would endorse that.
I use a portable Hepa air purifier to filter and circulate air. Turn it off when I want it quiet.
I use a portable Hepa air purifier to filter and circulate air. Turn it off when I want it quiet.
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You can buy a mini split at Home Depot for around $1,200. You can also install it yourself and then have an HVAC guy come out and charge the system. Basically all he does is pull a vacuum to suck the freon from the condenser to the air handler. If it gets picked up in recording, chill the room, turn it off when recording. I bet you can even automate that so that when you hit record on your DAW, the AC would shut off.
Of course all of this is moot if your state/town requires a licensed installer.
Of course all of this is moot if your state/town requires a licensed installer.
That's one of the routes I'm considering. The problem is that most local HVAC guys refuse to do the vacuum/refrigerant portion of a system they don't install themselves. It's odd, but that's a hurdle I'm running into. I've got plans to do some more research in-person later this week.
The good news is that all the code requires is fresh air supply and return, and minimum heating. At this point it's "crisis averted" but still a question of how much comfort can I afford.
The good news is that all the code requires is fresh air supply and return, and minimum heating. At this point it's "crisis averted" but still a question of how much comfort can I afford.
could be as simple as their guys hourly wage is more than the cost of that service. see if you need to "pay a little extra" to just get it done. i just can't imagine you willing to give someone money and them not take it.
One mini split can handle that entire space no problem and provide heat, cooling and fresh air. Like MPM32 said, chill the room and put the remote for the unit right next to the record button. I have a number of friends that use them in studios and my inlaws just installed one last week (not for a studio) the cost wasn't even close to half the estimate you got. If all else fails walk into HD or Lowe's and talk to one of their certified installers. That estimate is way out in space...
Agreed. It could also be a case of finding someone who wants to do it "after hours" and presumably off the books. The good news is that after watching a few installation videos I'm confident that I could do the install myself, minus the pressure test, line purge, and refrigerant vacuum. Even the electrical connections on these are made to be pretty foolproof.
The fresh air component is where you're unfortunately mistaken. Mini split systems do not provide any provision for fresh air supply or return. I wish they would as it would make things considerably more simple, but alas it's not the case. You have to build the fresh air supply and return separately. You also need the fresh air supply and return for each space in order to meet code, at least here in Washington.
A friend of mine used a Fujitsu unit and it has a fresh air intake. I don't know if it meets your overbearing west coast codes though
A friend of mine used a Fujitsu unit and it has a fresh air intake. I don't know if it meets your overbearing west coast codes though
lol
Please get the model number for me if you can. The prevailing wisdom among studio builders and contractors is that mini splits do not provide fresh air supply and return. There's been talk of a unit that has the fresh air provision built-in, but it's been something of vaporware as best as I can tell.A friend of mine used a Fujitsu unit and it has a fresh air intake. I don't know if it meets your overbearing west coast codes though
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Fresh Air Intake
Outside air can be introduced by attaching field supplied flexible duct to fresh air knockouts. Fresh air connection kit is Fujitsu part #KHRS940-25. (available through distributors)
I've never heard of such a unit. I'll do some digging. Thanks!
I've seen this one before, but for some reason I ruled it out. I'll need to dig up why I had that thought. Additionally, this handles the air supply but not the return. At a minimum there would need to be a separate return vent. I also need to do some math on the unit itself to see if it can deliver enough fresh air to constitute enough room changes per hour at a slow enough air velocity. Thanks for sending it over. More research still required.
I don't know if that's the right unit or if it works for you. I just knew there is an air intake option. I wonder how it works because without a return or exit it would seem to create a negative air flow issue.
My home has all new HVAC done to code with 3 zones of forced air heat and cooling. No fresh air, is the code only if you don't have Windows?
My home has all new HVAC done to code with 3 zones of forced air heat and cooling. No fresh air, is the code only if you don't have Windows?
Looks like it requires a fan force of 15 CFM (900 CFS), which is at a minimum three times faster than what's acceptable for studio work. When you run faster than 300 CFS you run into vent noise and turbulence problems that translate to background noise problems. Basically you need an oversized unit that you can run at low speeds to get enough air volume at a slow enough speed.
You'd need to build a separate return outside of the unit.
It's a lot easier when you're looking at a house compared to a studio. If things get stale in your house you just open a window, or someone comes in through the front door and there's a large air exchange. Additionally, houses aren't built as close to airtight as possible like studios. In a studio there's no air exchange happening except where you dictate it. Without a fresh air supply and return you end up with a funky, stale environment at best, and at worst you end up with an environment devoid of air and full of CO2 resulting in dead musicians.
With regard to AC. If it's a matter of not having it at all vs having to turn it off when you record the choice seems clear to me. You'll also need fresh air regardless of if you do a ductless unit.
Hopefully you can come up with a solution for all but if needs to be piece meal so be it.
Hopefully you can come up with a solution for all but if needs to be piece meal so be it.
