what type of system do you prefer?
hvtrimguy
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Hey All,
I am currently pricing up various options for a homeowner for heat and a/c. We went the radiant heat route first and the price made the customer drop a jaw so we went back to looking at forced air systems. question is: there is one HVAC contractor pushing a hydro air system and another pushing a gas furnace and air handler w/ a condenser / heat pump outside. the furnace hvac guy says it is more energy efficient than hydro air but I’m thinking hydro air could be coupled into a solar preheat system some day or am I wrong on that? Not sure what to recomend to the owner.
your thoughts are greatly apreciated,
Jason
“it aint the work I mind,
It’s the feeling of falling further behind.”
Bozini Latini
Replies
Some day. Right after the PicturePhone takes off.
Actually, it can be done now.
But, and there is always a but, if the H.O. thought radiant was expensive, they will praobably have a stroke when a good solar system is priced.
at least there are state incentive programs to help offset solar."it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
Is this a new home?
If new sell more insulation, then the units will be smaller and cost less to install and, more to the point less to run.
It is a new home. it is a post and beam structure with SIP panels. r25 walls, r40 ceiling"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
Blown hot air would be a bad pick in that kind of house. High ceilings in some areas?
high ceilings upstairs, peak at aprox 12' above fin. floor.When I said heat pump before I was referring to an outdoor heat pump in the condenser unit not a GSHP.thanks,Jason"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
What are the current Albany area nat gas and elec. rates?
Here (non-municipal power) kW-hr is pushing 10 cents and gas is $1.20/therm.
Own system is wshp (pump and dump to pond, to forced air) with 6.5 COP (22 SEER).
Have 55+ ground water here, no idea what it is in upper NYS.
Even a GSHP (if HO has relatively deep pockets) can hit COP of 5, that is half the energy cost of nat gas at the above rates.
WS or GS HP A/C costs are very much reduced from regular A/C.
Easy to couple the GS or WSHP into solar pre-heat.
Check what HP and solar rebates or grants are available in your area. Installed a 3T regular air-air HP for mom in Cent. IL and TOTAL cost (DIY labor) was under $1k after almost 50% rebates and POCO incentives.
man you lost me on all the acronyms. I'm a carpenter not an hvac tech. appreciate all the input though. maybe you could dumb it down for me.thanks,Jason"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
He was talking about Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system that couples the heat pump to the ground or ground water rather than the outdoor air. The ground remains a constant temp relatively speaking and much higher than the cold winter temps, therefore the COP (coeficient of performance) goes way up (that's good). SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (think I got that right) ... simlar to COP in that it measures the relative efficiency of the unit.
GSHP may tend to be somewhat expensive ... unless they have an easy source of access (wells, lake).
dude, if his customer dropped a jaw at radiant floor heat, chances are GSHP system won't make him feel better.
we had a tight budget on a small custom
i did RFH w/ elec. water heaters..
and the a/c was (3) $120 window units installed in custom azek wall sleeves
no ductwork..... about the same insul. levels you describe