I went ductless in my home and pulled all the ductwork out. I gained two closets and have a lot of storage beneath the stairs. I would look at Fujitsu's and Mitsubishi's web site and use the "find a dealer" feature. I think that because it is a bit out of your contractors comfort zone they are pushing you to what they like with the price. I spoke with a contractor who did two identical homes. One high efficiency ducted propane. The other was a Fujitsu Hybrid Flex Inverter with 1 condensing unit and 8 indoor evaporators. He said the installed cost was almost identical for both systems. The mini-splits were operating at a 50% savings over the ducted system. In new construction running small line sets is a snap. There are not as many good installers of ductless, but more and more are coming to it annually. Since '08 the only category of products that grew year over year is the mini-split category. Find the best guy and hire him. Check his references. Installing the best efficiency highest technology products in the industry won't reduce the value of your home. You will have very nearly the same efficiency as a geothermal heat pump for a fraction of the cost. One of the best features of mini-splits is their very quiet operation. mine are much quieter that the ducted system they replaced. As well, you gain efficiency by zoning the space. There are a lot of ways to save energy. One of the best is to zone the space and heat only the area you are in. My Fujitsu 15 RLS which I just installed a few months ago has a feature that will automatically set back the temperature if the unit does not sense motion in that space for 20 min. when you walk back into the space it starts up and recovers quickly. Pretty neat! I am partial to Fujitsu as I represented them in a 6 state area in my business, so bias noted.

The biggest problem with HVAC zone systems is knowing when to choose it as a solution and when not to. Some HVAC companies it's about "sell, sell, sell" whether or not it works... there's more money in "sell, sell, sell" --- when it's only about money? So does the comment above mean I do it for free? No. If you think that you are reading things that aren't there. New construction? best to choose separate systems 9 times out of 10. In order for a zone system to work, you have to know what you are doing. Most HVAC companies staff (the techs they send you) are 20-30 year olds. How much practical experience could they possible have? It's best for HVAC zone systems to be an elegant solution. A HVAC zone system is a tool in the tool bag. Not all homes are suitable for zone systems. Some homes there is no other way, and in some cases complications to those problems will make an HVAC zone system design possibly more prone to problems. You have a problem now, do you want more problems. These decisions among others are decided "in person" --- so considering that becareful what information you decide upon from the internet. Just because it's here doesn't necessarily mean it's true. That said: Depending on equipment level chosen, how many different floors you have in your structure, how much room you have available... will all be factors that make you decide one way or another. From there it's in your best interest to pick a contractor that is skilled: especially when it comes to HVAC zone systems. (there's a lot of garbage out there.) (click to enlarge if necessary) I service the Katy, Texas area.

I looked in there with a flashlight and it seems to be cast iron and a pipe bringing the air up from the system below (it looks like the inside of a stove). This appears to be fit into the chimney space. As @Austin Air Companie pointed out this is exactly what I am hoping to do. It appears I just have to find the right professional with this knowledge. Well be careful in that, because what you likely have is some heating only channel in which they probably used natural heating principles to heat this home with. (Heat rises from the heating apparatus in the basement... due to age of the house this was probably not a forced air system like we have today.) Forced air requires more room as air takes up space if that space is not there it leads to a whole assortment of various problems. Then you throw in air conditioning another modern thing that wasn't there when the house was built. 400 CFM of air per ton of air conditioning. 3 tons that means 1200 CFM. 4 ton 1600 CFM, 5 ton 2000 CFM. Not only supply air, but also return air. Measure the entire cavity, it will tell you in quick fashion. I really doubt the cavity of the chimney is large enough to do what you will require to get this to work.

Elmer's inquiry deserved more of a answer than your chest-thumping, self-promoting, California-bashing commercial. The climate around Katy, Texas is certainly not "one in a million." It's similar... Just "similar" but not exact... meaning different. Me and Mr. Fudd's disagreements are well documented on this board the story continually evolves from duck to rabbit season and back again. One in a million is a generalized comment... a saying. But you Mr. Ross love to find something to argue about for the sake of arguing. Distinctly different? That's rich. I find it humorous to what people like to nit pick over. It doesn't change anything. I don't change anything about the comment I made. You can disagree if you want, I still say Katy, Texas is indeed "one in a million"... at least. Ray is a one-person company. He lives in the replacement contractor world. When someone is without heat, air conditioning or hot water, it's often the first replacement contractor to arrive that "wins." Not hot water... I am not a plumber. Texas licensed for AC and heat only (HVAC). Yes essentially that is the "service" I offer as well as the part of the world I live in. Air conditioning and Furnace repair service in Katy, Texas area. When I say "service" I mean it. Every day, including summer holidays, weekends. Repairs also include equipment replacement. I myself install all new equipment I sell. I don't sub out work to sub contractors unless the contract specifies that (which is extremely rare situation). If you don't like the way I do things you're free to look elsewhere. I'm not here to tell you what your ears are aching to hear, I am here to tell you like it is. (Firmly and exponentially based on experience.) You don't have to like what I say, most of the time it's not pleasant due to a variety of reasons. In some aspects similar to the confrontational aspects of this forum boards conversations. Anyone who has viewed my posts know I come thick skinned. Disagreements do not phase me. If you want a gimmick, chase a gimmick. I could not offer the service I offer if my approach didn't work after all these years. I'd be running back around chasing my tail. You'd never get thru when you try to call me. Seriously? Think about it. Chest pounding: If you want to call it that it's your opinion. You're free to have it. My experience is my experience. 26 years. Easily verified. 13 years running my own company. Again easily verified facts. Essentially it's an advertisement. I am not paid to be here. I am here drinking my morning coffee filling in that time. If this isn't advertising my business what purpose would I have to be here? I don't come here to argue with the metamucil fan club that propetuates this board. Ha, ha... you know who you are. People search for me. All I have to do is leave bread crumbs so people can find me. AC repair service Katy, Texas area. Everyday. When I say something I mean it. Not a spam service. Don't sell your info. Don't pester you. You initiate the service you want. It's not that difficult when you know what you're doing. If you want a 20 something or 30 something coming to your home, you have to ask yourself how much experience does this guy really have? If that's what you want go for it. I've worked for companies like that... having to go back behind some newbie over and over and over. Used in not very fun ways. Follow my rules. I've been doing this longer than some of you have been alive. My methods work. Experience. What is it worth? Who else on this board in all the world listed as a pro HVAC service provider has my work ethic? Name one besides me. (beside the mini split warehouse spammer) Truth is stranger than fiction. There are people out there who read these threads and never post due to this kind of argumentative climate so frequent here. How could I know such a thing? I service the Katy, Texas area.