HVAC feedback please
Steve Cahoon
6 years ago
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Comments (13)
mmilos
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Feedback for new construction HVAC proposal
Comments (7)Yes, install a separate zoning control for the basement. Now is the time. Yes, I think both furnaces are oversized. Makes me wonder if he sized the furnaces not for the heating BTU capacity but for the 4 ton rated blower that would be needed for the 3 1/2 ton condenser. Yes, based on heat gain calc, a three ton condenser seems to be right size, not 3 1/2 ton as quoted. This should be questioned. Keep in mind, 36 KBTUs=3 tons. I would want to know the design temperatures used both inside temp and outside temp both for winter heating and summer cooling. You want excellent ductwork insulation for attic. That's a long way to blow air. You might consider an 80% furnace for second floor installed in attic. This would eliminate the long distance or perhaps insulate attic where it can take a high efficient condensing furnace without fear of freeze ups. The 80% would be a less expensive option. Discuss the options with dealer/GC. Nothing is easy is it? IMO...See MoreFeedback on Maryland HVAC Companies
Comments (1)there is a forum member, maryland irisman, who lives in your general area and his email is in his profile. use the search function to locate. perhaps he knows these dealers and can advise you. "amazing". humm. IMO...See MorePlease help: New HVAC and Duct problem
Comments (6)Thanks very much for your reply. The upstairs is 1100 sq ft. The main level is the same, as is the basement. The upstairs furnace is 50 BTU. The heating is natural gas. There is ductwork in the basement that supplies the main floor. The basement is unfinished currently. That may change. There are six vents upstairs with one return in the hall area. The return is 12x24. There are eight vents downstairs with one return in the hall area. The return is 12x24. I was told that the unit upstairs had a leak/crack in the compressor that could possibly leak carbon monoxide. There are marks on the outside of the unit that looks like burn marks. The heating unit performed fine the last time we used it before we found out about the burn marks. It is about 25 years old and about 8 SEER. The cooling unit seems to run almost all of the time in the summer. The downstairs unit also performs ok but needs a serious duct cleaning due to water from a pipe bursting in the kitchen getting into some of the ducts. We haven't used it in quite a while. The house has humidity problems sometimes (window condensation and my indoor hygrometer can get near 80% in the summer but is around 50% in the winter) and we would like a system that can take care of that and be more efficient. The upstairs unit seems to run all of the time in the summer. The stat is usually set around 75. I was told that 16 SEER two-stage would fit the bill. Other ac companies told me I needed nothing more than the typical 13 SEER. Some family members have asthma and I also want something that will help with that. How can I tell if my ductwork really needs to be enlarged? Thanks much for your input...See MoreFeedback on HVAC design
Comments (6)I should preface my comments by saying that while I consider myself to be practical, I'm not an engineer or a person who is militant or uber-motivated about building science. I like to do what is practical without going to the n-th degree with what may be possible (and ecologically sound) but not economical. We've beefed up our attic to a bit more than R-30 but took the advice of the insulation contractor who said insulating the floor was probably not worth doing. We have put in double windows throughout. I have a house about the same size as yours. My enlightened HVAC contractor had originally proposed 6 tons of cooling but agreed that 5 tons would probably do fine. It has been fine, long runs and very comfortable on the hottest days. With that in mind, I'd be concerned that 3.5 tons may be a shade small. 3.5 tons is 42000 btuh and since your load calc is at 44K, I might round up the small amount to 4 tons (48K) rather than down. It's a small difference but I'd rather be off slightly (and only slightly) on the high side than on the low side. You've cited a modulating furnace and that should provide good comfort. One concern, and a reason why I avoided a variable speed unit, was the thought that the fan operating at a low speed might not push much air to the far end of the ducts. My contractor agreed with that as a concern and so we didn't go that route. My house is > 100 feet long. If your HVAC contractor says that the max performance would come from a thermostat of the same brand (ie, Bryant), I would go with that. All up-market units have internet accessibility, you should be most concerned with its function. HRVs? I think these aren't common in our area except for the newest and tightest houses. Mine's about 50 years old and I like a small crack in a few windows, and sometimes with a bathroom exhaust fan running, to bring in fresh air. Good luck, take my comments as just one guy's personal opinions. PS - I too have Bryant equipment and am about to buy more for a second house. I'm very happy with it. But more important is having a great contractor. Good equipment doesn't make up for a crappy contractor....See Morechiflipper
6 years agoSteve Cahoon
6 years agoSJ McCarthy
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agotigerdunes
6 years agoSteve Cahoon
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoSteve Cahoon
6 years agotigerdunes
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
PROAustin Air Companie
6 years agoudarrell
6 years ago
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