How do you open Aluminium Air Diffusers

[back2space]

Our work has a ceiling concealed ducted unit that supplies 3 aluminium air diffusers.



That exact typehttp://www.indiamart.com/ashishair/pcat-gifs/products-small/aluminium-diffuser_10380567.jpg

They are arrange in a triangle shape with the diffusers on each corner of the triangle. So there are 2 diffusers furthest away from the unit to the centre of the room that have the volume fully open as you can see in this picture, the one nearest the unit at the top of the triangle shape appears to be closed almost, hardly any air comes through it.

We are wanting to open this diffuser so more air flows through it but not sure how to, we have felt around the top of it but cannot find anything.

Wud altering this reduce air flow too much to the other diffusers?

[Pyr0Beast]

Wud altering this reduce air flow too much to the other diffusers?

Not really if the system has been designed properly.

How to open them ?
Some have some kind of a flap 'behind' them, others are adjusted by pressing/twisting in and out the front part and there are some which cannot be adjusted but are adjusted with a separate flap somewhere else on the air duct.

[back2space]

We think that on the top where the duct would connect to the vent there is some sort of plastic hood that seems to go down over the top of the diffuser. It is definatly an adjustable one and you can see the damper flaps in side just cant find that lever!!!

[paul_h]

As said, on some you turn the centre square, others you remove the diffuser (push up and lift over the pegs, or push to the sides if it's spring loaded) to remove. Then use a screwdriver or hex key to adjust the damper.

If the centre diffuser is tight, it's either a spring loaded type and you have to push sidewards in one particular dirrection to push the springs back to remove the central parts.
Or it's the type where you just keep turing the centre square to open and close the dampers.

Make sure the air filter isn't blocked, the fan is operating correctly, and the evaporator coil is clear before playing around with the dampers.

[back2space]

Ok we have looked and cannot find any pegs??? I have a feeling its spring loaded as i can see a spring when looking up into the diffuser. When looking at the centre square it doesnt seem attached to anything apart from the other squares it certainly wont turn.

THe filters are fine and evaporator is fine also. Its just this one damper within the diffuser closest to the unit that is partially closed.

[Pyr0Beast]

A good light may work miracles :) If it is unreachable stick a good camera with flash there than take some pictures and evaluate the situation on the ground later :)

[back2space]

Oh we are not messing around with it any more, we have logged a call to our service desk to get someone with a proper ladder "and not standing on a chair" to open it!

[sinewave]

It sounds like it's a spring loaded unit.

These can be very stiff to remove and replace, but as said, look which way the two rods with springs on run and push the whole grill in that direction.

If it doesn't move much try pushing the opposite way, the springs will compress and the rods will then slide out of the two holes on the opposite side of the housing you are pushing at.

The grille will then drop down where the rods have slide out (under pressure) and then you can slide the other end out and remove fully.

Usualy there is a damper inside the duct above the grill which can be adjusted.

Don't shut off too much or too many grilles as this can cause other outlets to sweat and drip water off the grilles!

[back2space]

Were trying to open them all up, 2 of them are fully open 1 is partially open, this is closest to the fan coil however the ducting is the same length in the ceiling so its still receiving the same pressure from the fan as the other 2 ducts.

We have logged a call to the helpdesk to get an engineer in to do it. This is the type that has the damper inside the duct above it, and we cannot open it even by tryin to push the metal pieces apart they are stuck!

[Brian_UK]

Perhaps they are not stuck but have a locking handle on the outside of the duct.

[Abby Normal]

if they have a damper you will see a round plastic button with a slot in it, stick a screw driver in the slot and rotate to open/close the dampers

If you have no damper then replace branch duct to larger size and install a new diffuser with a larger neck, not so painful when you have a t-bar, sucks when the ceiling is sheet rock