I’m working up a bid on a small project, which is basically a new 3-car garage with an office over. I had suggested to the owner that we use a small gas-fired boiler with radiant heat tubing to heat the office (as opposed to FAU). She likes the suggestion, but has asked me about cooling. This is the Pac NW, where we don’t have many cooling days, but when we do have a 95 degree day, everybody runs for AC. I must confess ignorance – is there such a thing as radiant cooling?? If she wants AC, should we just use a small heat pump and ducting???
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks.
Replies
This is not my area, but my understanding of it is that the problem is that you get concensation on the floor when you have try to cool.
"If she wants AC, should we just use a small heat pump and ducting???"
Why ducting? Sounds like a good application for a ductless split system.
Bill,
I don't know much about the ductless split system, haven't seen one around here. Is there an advantage of this type of system over the std. window-mount AC units?
Thanks for your input.
The main difference between the duckless split systems and window mount/through the wall is that they are quieter and look nicer.
>between the duckless split systems and
Only a quack would install one of those...
I heard the same thing about RFCooling. Sounds good on paper, but truly cold water going through the floor will cause condensation - not a good thing.
I have seen in ads for "open" RFH systems (those that use a waterheater that is is not dedicated to the heating process, but is also used for domestic hot water) suggesting that water straight from the city or well can be directed through the floor in the summer to add "Some" cooling effect. I guess the idea would be to get the floor temp down below ambient, but keep it above the dewpoint.
HOWEVER, I have seen very valid arguments here against "open" systems. Additionally, I would hate to gamble my hardwood install to a potential condensation problem - or risk a slip and fall.
All that being said - split systems, where the refrigerant is piped to an evapoartor/airhandler is one option for your situation. Another is a development by Unico (the small diameter port, high velocity AC people). They have a split system that uses a chilled water loop. Check out http://www.articool.com for ready to install systems. Check out Unico, specifically - http://www.unicosystem.com/UniChiller/Distributor.asp for the chiller unit itself. For some reason, I could not find the nice airhandlers on Unico's site.
I have a similar project to yours (garage with small living space above). I would like to do an RFH set-up for the kitchenette and bath using a dedicated high eff. waterheater for the heat source. In the summer I would use the UniChiller to push cold water through the airhandlers. However, I would also like to also provide valving so in the winter I can put the hot water through the airhandlers.
One more thing, the last time I checked, Unico could not "reverse cycle" the UniChiller to heat the loop. (not that I'd do that due to the in-efficiency of heating with electricity, but I did check)
Intuitively, it seems that radiant floor cooling would be very efficient, since cold air sinks, it would keep the floor cold (thus the condensation problem), but would do little to reduce the heat load in the upper layer of the room..........
Maybe we'll stick to a small ducted heat pump system.
But I must say, one of the things I appreciate about Breaktime is the opportunity to consider opinions from good builders all around the country......In my area at least, most builders tend to believe that what they have always done is the best way to do it.
On the other hand, if everyone did things the way I do................well, things would be a lot different.