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The DIY HVAC Community

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1 contribution to The DIY HVAC Community
Before Replacing the HVAC, I Fixed the House—and It Worked
I wanted to share a DIY HVAC success story from our home in Central Florida. We have a 1,775-square-foot house with a 3-ton, single-stage Bryant system. For a long time, the house never seemed to perform as well as it should. The AC would run short cycles, humidity was inconsistent, some rooms were uncomfortable, and the system seemed to struggle even though it was technically cooling. Instead of immediately replacing the equipment, I started collecting data. I installed an Ecobee thermostat and placed multiple temperature and humidity sensors throughout the house, including the bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, garage, and attic. I also used a thermal camera, an anemometer, a manometer, and temperature probes to start identifying where the house and duct system were losing performance. Here is what we found: • Several supply registers and return grilles were leaking air around the drywall openings. • The fireplace chase was open to the attic and allowing hot, humid attic air into the conditioned space. • Bathroom exhaust ducts and exterior terminations had damper and sealing issues. • The kitchen range hood had been running continuously and was depressurizing the house. • Some attic insulation had been disturbed or compressed. • The AC blower speed had a major effect on both temperature control and humidity. • The garage door, wall penetrations, and other envelope areas also needed attention. We sealed the supply and return openings, sealed the fireplace chase from above and below, corrected the bathroom exhaust venting, installed proper exterior dampers, sealed penetrations, and stopped running the range hood continuously. We also tested different blower settings instead of assuming the highest airflow was automatically best. The results have been significant. The house now feels noticeably colder and more comfortable at the same thermostat setting. The AC cycles are more stable, room-to-room temperatures are more consistent, and the humidity is under better control. We are comfortable around 72°F without needing a separate whole-house dehumidifier.
1 like • 6d
@Jason Millsap I started with a few inexpensive sensors so I could see what the system was actually doing instead of relying only on how the rooms felt. The tools I used were: - Govee temperature and humidity sensors - TempPro Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensors - Ecobee thermostat data - Beestat for runtime and temperature tracking - Infrared thermometer and thermal camera Based on what I found in my own house, I would start inside the conditioned space before doing much in the attic. First, remove the supply registers and return grilles and seal the gaps between the metal boots and the drywall. Those openings can leak conditioned air into wall cavities or pull hot, humid air into the house. Next, check the bathroom exhaust fan. Make sure the housing is sealed to the ceiling, the backdraft damper works, and the duct is actually connected and vented outdoors rather than dumping into the attic. After those items are addressed, then move into the attic and inspect the ductwork. Sharp flex-duct bends, kinks, compression, sagging runs, loose connections, and poorly supported duct can all significantly reduce airflow. Flex duct should be pulled reasonably tight and should not be forced around sharp turns. For sensor placement, I would put one near the main return, one in the room farthest from the air handler, and one in any room that feels warm or has weak airflow. I also used ChatGPT to analyze the exported sensor, thermostat, and Beestat data together. It helped me compare room temperatures and humidity, system runtime, cooling rates, and performance before and after each repair. The key is to make one change at a time, document when it was made, and then collect enough data afterward so you can compare the results rather than guessing. A 3-ton unit in a 1,200-square-foot house makes me suspect an airflow, return-air, ductwork, or envelope problem before assuming the equipment is too small.
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Dean Stumpf
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@dean-stumpf-3768
Professional Homeowner That attempts DIY

Active 5d ago
Joined Jul 24, 2026
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