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Home > Archive > Heating and air conditioning > January 2006 > Question on heating/cooling the second floor
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Question on heating/cooling the second floor
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| I am in the planning stage of building a new two-story home that has
2000 sq.ft on the first floor and 1000 sq. ft on the bottom. The
conventional wisdom here is to have two HVAC units, one for each floor.
I can live with that. However, I have been advised that the second
story unit is usually a split unit with the unit in the attic space of
the second story. I don't like this idea for several reasons: First,
I'm going to be installing a gas furnance, so the thought of a furnance
in the second story attic just scares me (carbon monoxide and fire
danger). Second, I hate split systems - more joints for freon to leak
from. Third, repairability seems problematic with a system partially
in the attic space.
So, I was thinking that I could put the second floor unit on the
ground floor (complete package - not split) and duct the air up the
side of the house. I could build an insulated "chase" around the
ductwork so that it looks nice. However, is sending the air up two
stories (to the attic of the second floor) reasonable? Can the fan
blow hard enough to make the right angle bend that I'm putting in the
ductwork and can I get enough air flow? Is this a good or bad (or
stupid) idea? Comments welcome
Thanks......russ mc.
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| .p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com 2006-01-16, 4:21 pm |
| On 16 Jan 2006 11:20:17 -0800, "RWM" <mcelhane@hiwaay.net> wrote:
>I am in the planning stage of building a new two-story home that has
Post in alt.home.repair, not here.,
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| According to Hank Ratkowski, from ACCA, there's no drop in CFM until the
first take off "no matter how long the trunk duct is". If you're using a 90+
gas furnace, you can't put it in most attics. Personally, I'd put an 80+ in
the attic. If you have to worry about joints leaking in split system
refrigerant tubing, then you need to start looking for another contractor.
"RWM" <mcelhane@hiwaay.net> wrote in message
news:1137439216.997911.196270@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I am in the planning stage of building a new two-story home that has
> 2000 sq.ft on the first floor and 1000 sq. ft on the bottom. The
> conventional wisdom here is to have two HVAC units, one for each floor.
>
> I can live with that. However, I have been advised that the second
> story unit is usually a split unit with the unit in the attic space of
> the second story. I don't like this idea for several reasons: First,
> I'm going to be installing a gas furnance, so the thought of a furnance
>
> in the second story attic just scares me (carbon monoxide and fire
> danger). Second, I hate split systems - more joints for freon to leak
> from. Third, repairability seems problematic with a system partially
> in the attic space.
> So, I was thinking that I could put the second floor unit on the
> ground floor (complete package - not split) and duct the air up the
> side of the house. I could build an insulated "chase" around the
> ductwork so that it looks nice. However, is sending the air up two
> stories (to the attic of the second floor) reasonable? Can the fan
> blow hard enough to make the right angle bend that I'm putting in the
> ductwork and can I get enough air flow? Is this a good or bad (or
> stupid) idea? Comments welcome
>
>
> Thanks......russ mc.
>
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| Noon-Air 2006-01-16, 9:21 pm |
| Your best bet is to do the split system upstairs and put the upstairs
furnace in a closet instead of the attic. If your installer is good you will
only have 2 sets of brazed joints on the lineset. FWIW, leaks happen on
*ANY* type of system, its only a matter of when.
If your -really- set on a package unit, keep in mind that as a rule, split
systems are a whole lot higher efficiency than package units.
But.... with enough money, anything is possible.
"RWM" <mcelhane@hiwaay.net> wrote in message
news:1137439216.997911.196270@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I am in the planning stage of building a new two-story home that has
> 2000 sq.ft on the first floor and 1000 sq. ft on the bottom. The
> conventional wisdom here is to have two HVAC units, one for each floor.
>
> I can live with that. However, I have been advised that the second
> story unit is usually a split unit with the unit in the attic space of
> the second story. I don't like this idea for several reasons: First,
> I'm going to be installing a gas furnance, so the thought of a furnance
>
> in the second story attic just scares me (carbon monoxide and fire
> danger). Second, I hate split systems - more joints for freon to leak
> from. Third, repairability seems problematic with a system partially
> in the attic space.
> So, I was thinking that I could put the second floor unit on the
> ground floor (complete package - not split) and duct the air up the
> side of the house. I could build an insulated "chase" around the
> ductwork so that it looks nice. However, is sending the air up two
> stories (to the attic of the second floor) reasonable? Can the fan
> blow hard enough to make the right angle bend that I'm putting in the
> ductwork and can I get enough air flow? Is this a good or bad (or
> stupid) idea? Comments welcome
>
>
> Thanks......russ mc.
>
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| Jim Bean 2006-01-17, 1:21 am |
|
..p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com wrote:
> On 16 Jan 2006 11:20:17 -0800, "RWM" <mcelhane@hiwaay.net> wrote:
>
>
> Post in alt.home.repair, not here.,
>
Please, keep posting here in here. It drives this fucking troll crazy.
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| Bob Pietrangelo 2006-01-17, 3:21 am |
| Have you given a ny consideration of having a single zoned system. You can
invest the extra money you would have spent on two systems to a much more
efficient single zoned systems. You could invest into better IAQ products
etc. etc. And I agree with the other Bob about not putting a 90 in the
attic.
......but since you are only using one system, you wouldnt require any system
in the attic.
We are doing one now, it is about the same size. Write back if you have any
questions
Russ, also you shouldn't be the one that is designing this, nor should most
of the HVAC industry, but if you do your research you'll find a quality guy
that would love to design a system for you.
--
Bob Pietrangelo
bobp3@comcast.net
bob@comfort-solution.biz
www.comfort-solution.biz
On Time or Your Service Call is FREE
Preventive Maintenance Specialist
"RWM" <mcelhane@hiwaay.net> wrote in message
news:1137439216.997911.196270@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I am in the planning stage of building a new two-story home that has
> 2000 sq.ft on the first floor and 1000 sq. ft on the bottom. The
> conventional wisdom here is to have two HVAC units, one for each floor.
>
> I can live with that. However, I have been advised that the second
> story unit is usually a split unit with the unit in the attic space of
> the second story. I don't like this idea for several reasons: First,
> I'm going to be installing a gas furnance, so the thought of a furnance
>
> in the second story attic just scares me (carbon monoxide and fire
> danger). Second, I hate split systems - more joints for freon to leak
> from. Third, repairability seems problematic with a system partially
> in the attic space.
> So, I was thinking that I could put the second floor unit on the
> ground floor (complete package - not split) and duct the air up the
> side of the house. I could build an insulated "chase" around the
> ductwork so that it looks nice. However, is sending the air up two
> stories (to the attic of the second floor) reasonable? Can the fan
> blow hard enough to make the right angle bend that I'm putting in the
> ductwork and can I get enough air flow? Is this a good or bad (or
> stupid) idea? Comments welcome
>
>
> Thanks......russ mc.
>
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