|
Home > Archive > Heating and air conditioning > October 2005 > HV- Unico or Spacepak? problems with HVAC quotes, need help.
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
HV- Unico or Spacepak? problems with HVAC quotes, need help.
|
|
|
| I'm planning on having a Unico or Spacepak system installed in our 1968
split level home which currently has hydronic heating. We've had both
Uncio and Spacepak contractors quote on the job, but we've gotten
different answers from all vendors, who is correct?
Our home is around 3900sq ft. with two levels being above grade, one
level partially below grade and the lowest level completely below grade.
We live in Michigan, so the summers are not super hot, but we did have
many days in the 90's this year. As the two lower levels maintain a
lower temperature then the upper two it has been suggested by all
contractors that we install a system only on the upper two levels which
comprise about 2000-2500sq ft and as cool air descends it will naturally
keep the lower levels cool. The home has blown cellulose insulation, 10
ft. ceilings on the upper level, and 15ft ceilings on the living room,
dining room and kitchen level. We have large glass exposure on the
living room level, but this faces North. Other then this we have typical
glass exposure on the South side bedroom levels. We have shade tree
coverage on 50% of the roof area by mid spring.
The problems begin when they start recommending systems. Two contractors
are suggesting we use a 5 ton condenser with a larger Unico system air
handler with around 30 to 31 diffusers. Two others are suggesting we use
a 3 1/2 ton compressor with a smaller Unico air handler and around 20 to
21 diffusers. The final one is recommending a 3 1/2 ton unit with only
17 diffusers, and insists that Unico recommends no more then 5 diffusers
per ton. However upon calling Unico direct I was told they recommend no
less then 6 diffusers per ton, so obviously the latter contractor is no
longer being considered.
We prefer it to be a little cooler then most, so we wouldn't mind the
extra headroom a 5 ton might provide, but understand that if the
condenser is oversized that the unit might not remove as much humidity
on cooler days when the system wouldn't be on as much. Would it make any
sense to go to a 4 Ton and split the difference? I called Unico direct
and talked to a rep, but he said they all could be right (not the answer
I was looking for). Not being a HVAC professional, just a confused
consumer, I'm lost as to which company is right and which is wrong, any
HVAC professionals with an opinion on who is right and who is wrong?
Also one vendor carries and suggested the Spacepak system. From the
outside they look the same to me. I have read that Spacepak was the
first, and that Unico started from some employee's that left Spacepak
when it was sold to another company. Is there anyone who has installed
both who has an opinion on durability and quality of Spacepak versus
Unico? or consumers who have had either system with good or bad experiences?
Thanks to all who reply.
Lee
| |
| ..p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com 2005-10-28, 5:21 pm |
| On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:10:35 -0400, LP <raptorlpNOSPAM@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:
>I'm planning on having a Unico or Spacepak system installed in our 1968
ALT.HOME.REPAIR, NOT HERE.
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/
| |
|
|
...p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:10:35 -0400, LP <raptorlpNOSPAM@ix.netcom.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> ALT.HOME.REPAIR, NOT HERE.
Sorry,
I assumed that since this group was for Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) professionals that it would be a perfect place to
ask for recommendations on a new high velocity air conditioning system.
It's not a repair of an existing system, nor is it a system I'm
installing myself. It's a system I've gotten quotes from HVAC
contractors on and received different opinions on, that I was hoping
other HVAC professionals could assist me with.
Lee
| |
| Steve Scott 2005-10-28, 7:21 pm |
| Sounds like 2 out of 4 are giving you the same answer. I just have to
ask. Why would you value the advice of people you do not know and
have not met while questioning the advice of the contractors you have
met?
Talk to the contractor that seemed the most knowledgeable. Get some
references from him for people that have a similar system. Call them.
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:10:35 -0400, LP <raptorlpNOSPAM@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:
>I'm planning on having a Unico or Spacepak system installed in our 1968
>split level home which currently has hydronic heating. We've had both
>Uncio and Spacepak contractors quote on the job, but we've gotten
>different answers from all vendors, who is correct?
>
>Our home is around 3900sq ft. with two levels being above grade, one
>level partially below grade and the lowest level completely below grade.
>We live in Michigan, so the summers are not super hot, but we did have
>many days in the 90's this year. As the two lower levels maintain a
>lower temperature then the upper two it has been suggested by all
>contractors that we install a system only on the upper two levels which
>comprise about 2000-2500sq ft and as cool air descends it will naturally
>keep the lower levels cool. The home has blown cellulose insulation, 10
>ft. ceilings on the upper level, and 15ft ceilings on the living room,
>dining room and kitchen level. We have large glass exposure on the
>living room level, but this faces North. Other then this we have typical
>glass exposure on the South side bedroom levels. We have shade tree
>coverage on 50% of the roof area by mid spring.
>
>The problems begin when they start recommending systems. Two contractors
>are suggesting we use a 5 ton condenser with a larger Unico system air
>handler with around 30 to 31 diffusers. Two others are suggesting we use
>a 3 1/2 ton compressor with a smaller Unico air handler and around 20 to
>21 diffusers. The final one is recommending a 3 1/2 ton unit with only
>17 diffusers, and insists that Unico recommends no more then 5 diffusers
>per ton. However upon calling Unico direct I was told they recommend no
>less then 6 diffusers per ton, so obviously the latter contractor is no
>longer being considered.
>
>We prefer it to be a little cooler then most, so we wouldn't mind the
>extra headroom a 5 ton might provide, but understand that if the
>condenser is oversized that the unit might not remove as much humidity
>on cooler days when the system wouldn't be on as much. Would it make any
>sense to go to a 4 Ton and split the difference? I called Unico direct
>and talked to a rep, but he said they all could be right (not the answer
>I was looking for). Not being a HVAC professional, just a confused
>consumer, I'm lost as to which company is right and which is wrong, any
>HVAC professionals with an opinion on who is right and who is wrong?
>
>Also one vendor carries and suggested the Spacepak system. From the
>outside they look the same to me. I have read that Spacepak was the
>first, and that Unico started from some employee's that left Spacepak
>when it was sold to another company. Is there anyone who has installed
>both who has an opinion on durability and quality of Spacepak versus
>Unico? or consumers who have had either system with good or bad experiences?
>
>Thanks to all who reply.
>
>Lee
--
'If at first you do succeed, try not
to look astonished.'
| |
| Power's Mechanical 2005-10-28, 7:21 pm |
| It's not a repair of an existing system, nor is it a system I'm
installing myself. It's a system I've gotten quotes from HVAC
contractors on and received different opinions on, that I was hoping
other HVAC professionals could assist me with.
Lee
xxxx
Your first mistake is assuming that the troll PJ is a pro. He is not.
Just tell him to fuck off, he cant and dont control what is posted here.
| |
| Noon-Air 2005-10-28, 8:21 pm |
|
"LP" <raptorlpNOSPAM@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:43627587$1_2@newspeer2.tds.net...
> I'm planning on having a Unico or Spacepak system installed in our 1968
> split level home which currently has hydronic heating. We've had both
> Uncio and Spacepak contractors quote on the job, but we've gotten
> different answers from all vendors, who is correct?
>
> Our home is around 3900sq ft. with two levels being above grade, one level
> partially below grade and the lowest level completely below grade. We live
> in Michigan, so the summers are not super hot, but we did have many days
> in the 90's this year. As the two lower levels maintain a lower
> temperature then the upper two it has been suggested by all contractors
> that we install a system only on the upper two levels which comprise about
> 2000-2500sq ft and as cool air descends it will naturally keep the lower
> levels cool. The home has blown cellulose insulation, 10 ft. ceilings on
> the upper level, and 15ft ceilings on the living room, dining room and
> kitchen level. We have large glass exposure on the living room level, but
> this faces North. Other then this we have typical glass exposure on the
> South side bedroom levels. We have shade tree coverage on 50% of the roof
> area by mid spring.
>
> The problems begin when they start recommending systems. Two contractors
> are suggesting we use a 5 ton condenser with a larger Unico system air
> handler with around 30 to 31 diffusers. Two others are suggesting we use a
> 3 1/2 ton compressor with a smaller Unico air handler and around 20 to 21
> diffusers. The final one is recommending a 3 1/2 ton unit with only 17
> diffusers, and insists that Unico recommends no more then 5 diffusers per
> ton. However upon calling Unico direct I was told they recommend no less
> then 6 diffusers per ton, so obviously the latter contractor is no longer
> being considered.
>
> We prefer it to be a little cooler then most, so we wouldn't mind the
> extra headroom a 5 ton might provide, but understand that if the condenser
> is oversized that the unit might not remove as much humidity on cooler
> days when the system wouldn't be on as much. Would it make any sense to go
> to a 4 Ton and split the difference? I called Unico direct and talked to a
> rep, but he said they all could be right (not the answer I was looking
> for). Not being a HVAC professional, just a confused consumer, I'm lost as
> to which company is right and which is wrong, any HVAC professionals with
> an opinion on who is right and who is wrong?
>
> Also one vendor carries and suggested the Spacepak system. From the
> outside they look the same to me. I have read that Spacepak was the first,
> and that Unico started from some employee's that left Spacepak when it was
> sold to another company. Is there anyone who has installed both who has an
> opinion on durability and quality of Spacepak versus Unico? or consumers
> who have had either system with good or bad experiences?
>
> Thanks to all who reply.
>
> Lee
Which contractor actually did a Manual J heat load/loss calculation to
correctly size the system for the home??....or did they only use a "rule of
thumb"?? Which company gave you actual figures and backed them up in
writing?? Which company has been in business for more than 10 years??
The brand is not the most important thing, but brand does help in the
overall scheme of things. The single most important things are the correct
sizing, and quality of the installation.
|
|
|
|
|