Make-up air system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a system capable of reducing negative pressure. The system includes a make-up air system that can be configured and arranged to be installed within a structure, such as a building. The system can also include a pressure switch that is configured and arranged to sense a pressure within an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust device. The pressure switch can also be configured to communicate an activation signal and a deactivation signal to the make-up air system. In some embodiments, communication of the activation and deactivation signals can be at least partially dependent on the pressure within the exhaust duct. Moreover, the pressure switch can be configured and arranged to be retroactively coupled to at least one of the exhaust duct and the exhaust device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system capable of reducing negative pressure within a space defined by a structure, the space receiving air through an intake duct and exhausting air through an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust device configured to exhaust air from the space, the system comprising:
 a make-up air system configured to be installed within the structure, the make-up air system being operatively connected to the intake duct to selectively permit supplemental air into the intake duct; and   a current-sensing switch configured to sense a current driving a motor of the exhaust device to exhaust air from the structure via the exhaust duct;   wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to trigger an activation signal to the make-up air system to permit supplemental air into the space through the intake duct when a the current-sensing switch senses a current driving the motor to exhaust air from the structure via the exhaust duct.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the permitting supplemental air into the space through the intake duct is accomplished by the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising at least one electrical line configured and arranged to connect the current-sensing switch and the make-up air system motor and to carry a current between the current-sensing switch and the make-up air system motor. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the activation signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the motor is capable of being coupled to one or more electrical lines of the structure, and wherein the current-sensing switch is capable of being coupled to at least one of the motor and the electrical lines to sense a current flow to the motor. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the structure comprises at least one wall and the intake duct is configured and arranged to be at least partially disposed through the wall to fluidly couple an environment on an outside of the wall and the space upon receiving the activation signal from the current-sensing switch. 
     
     
         8 . A make-up air system capable of reducing negative pressure within a space defined by a structure having an intake duct configured to receive make-up air from outside the structure and an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust device configured to exhaust air from the space, the make-up air system comprising:
 a current-sensing switch configured to:
 (a) sense a current driving a motor of the exhaust device to exhaust air from the structure via the exhaust duct; and 
 (b) trigger an activation signal to the make-up air system to permit supplemental air into the intake duct when the current-sensing switch senses a current driving the motor to exhaust air from the structure via the exhaust duct. 
   
     
     
         29 . The make-up air system of claim  28 , the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         30 . The make-up system of claim  28 , wherein the permitting supplemental air into the intake duct is accomplished by the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         31 . The make-up air system of claim  28  further comprising at least one electrical line configured and arranged to connect the current-sensing switch and the make-up air system motor and to carry a current between the current-sensing switch and the make-up air system motor. 
     
     
         32 . The make-up air system of claim  28 , wherein the activation signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         33 . A system capable of reducing negative pressure within a space defined by a structure receiving air through an intake duct and exhausting air through an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust device configured to exhaust air from the space, the system comprising:
 a make-up air system configured to be installed within the structure, the make-up air system being operatively connected to the intake duct to selectively permit supplemental air into the intake duct; and   a flow meter in communication with the exhaust duct and configured to sense the rate of air moving through;   wherein the flow meter is configured to trigger an activation signal to the make-up air system to permit supplemental air into the space through the intake duct when an air flow rate exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the permitting supplemental air into the space is accomplished by the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising at least one electrical line configured and arranged to connect the flow meter and the make-up air system motor and to carry a current between the flow meter and the make-up air system motor. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the activation signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the structure comprises at least one wall and the intake duct is configured and arranged to be at least partially disposed through the wall to fluidly couple an environment on an outside of the wall and the space upon receiving the activation signal from the flow meter. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined threshold is zero. 
     
     
         40 . A make-up air system capable of reducing negative pressure within a space defined by a structure having an intake duct configured to receive make-up air from outside the structure and an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust device configured to exhaust air from the space, the make-up air system comprising:
 a flow meter configured to:
 (a) be in communication with the exhaust device and sense the rate of air moving through the exhaust duct; and 
 (b) trigger an activation signal to the make-up air system to permit supplemental air into the intake duct when an air flow rate exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. 
   
     
     
         41 . The make-up system of  claim 40 , wherein the permitting supplemental air into the intake duct is accomplished by the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         42 . The make-up air system of  claim 40 , the make-up air system further comprising a duct housing configured to be in fluid communication with the intake duct and a damper operatively coupled to a make-up air system motor capable of moving the damper within the duct housing to allow air through the duct housing. 
     
     
         43 . The make-up air system of  claim 42  further comprising at least one electrical line configured and arranged to connect the flow meter and the make-up air system motor and to carry a current between the flow meter and the make-up air system motor. 
     
     
         44 . The make-up air system of  claim 42 , wherein the activation signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         45 . The make-up system of  claim 40 , wherein the predetermined threshold is zero.