[patrickpresti]

Hi Guys,

I have a new 1070 sq ft 2nd floor addition that I am looking to add air conditioning to in the future. Does anyone have any reccomendations for what type of system to go with? There is plenty of attic space. I am open to thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[beenthere]

First determine what size you will need. Will you be running the electric for the outdoor unit through the attic also.

 

[patrickpresti]

First determine what size you will need. Will you be running the electric for the outdoor unit through the attic also.

What's the best way to determine the size of unit I would need?

I will be running electric to the attic for the unit...

 

[user_12345a]

You need to get a heat loss/gain calc done, room by room.

Keep the equipment out of the attic; additions can be served efficiently with mini-splits. Attic system is bad for efficiency and sucks for whoever has to service the air handler.

If you want ducted system, at least put the air handler in a closet.

 

[supers05]

Unless you live somewhere where it actually gets cold during the winter (ie. Daytime highs below freezing for months) then a mini split heat pump would probably be best. There's a very wide variety of indie units to choose from.

Use http://www.loadcalc.net/ for the loadcalc. Is fairly basic, so easier to use, but covers enough of the basics to get you by.

Cheers!


PS. Your addition is bigger then my house.....

 

[oh'mike]

A brief description of the construction (windows/wall insulation/attic insulation)
would be helpful, as well as what heating/cooling system serves the existing home--

You are on Long Island---so you have some cold winters--but how hot does it get in the summer?

 

[patrickpresti]

A brief description of the construction (windows/wall insulation/attic insulation)
would be helpful, as well as what heating/cooling system serves the existing home--

You are on Long Island---so you have some cold winters--but how hot does it get in the summer?

All new Marvin Integrity double hung windows. No insulation at the moment but the 2x4 walls will have R 13 and the ceilings will have a R 49. The heating will eventually be a gas furnace with hot water radiant heat.

Average highs in the winter on Long Island are in the upper 30's and average highs in the summer are in the mid 80's.

 

[patrickpresti]

Does anyone have any experience with concealed mini split systems?

 

[Ron6519]

All new Marvin Integrity double hung windows. No insulation at the moment but the 2x4 walls will have R 13 and the ceilings will have a R 49. The heating will eventually be a gas furnace with hot water radiant heat.

Average highs in the winter on Long Island are in the upper 30's and average highs in the summer are in the mid 80's.

Why don't you put in central A/c if you're putting in a furnace and ductwork?
The size of the unit will be calculated for you by the company doing the installation.

 

[patrickpresti]

Why don't you put in central A/c if you're putting in a furnace and ductwork?
The size of the unit will be calculated for you by the company doing the installation.

I'm not putting a furance in and I will be doing the install of the air conditioning...

 

[Ron6519]

I'm not putting a furance in and I will be doing the install of the air conditioning...

This is what you wrote:
"The heating will eventually be a gas furnace with hot water radiant heat."

What did you mean?

 

[patrickpresti]

I don't have the room to get ductwork from the basement to the second floor.

 

[user_12345a]

HVAC should be part of the planning process, not an after-thought.

Also, it's not only a question of room, a duct system has to be designed from scratch, bottom up; even if you had the room, you wouldn't be able to just add a few runs and get it to work right.

Your best option is likely a multi-head mini-split system. New ones if sized right can heat down to -20c, and you can add some electric baseboard for emergency breakdowns or extreme cold.

You could also do something with natural gas wall heaters.

Hot water radiant would be pricey.

-----------------
Your codes down there must be pretty lax, because R13 is piss poor by today's standards. Up here a 30 year old house can be 2x4, r11 to r13.

Here it's all 2x6, r19 and extra insulation gets put on the outside to meet code.

 

[Ron6519]

I'm not putting a furance in and I will be doing the install of the air conditioning...

I'm curious how someone who asking about the A/C options, is going to install systems they're totally unfamiliar with.

 

[patrickpresti]

I'm curious how someone who asking about the A/C options, is going to install systems they're totally unfamiliar with.

Because I have never installed one of these systems before. I never built a house before but I did it with me and one othet guy and I'm proud of it. Sorry for trying to try to inquire about information.

 

[oh'mike]

Nice looking house----

Pardon me for bawling out our members----Geez gang---this fellow is looking for answers, solutions to a need----did he really need to be criticized for calling a boiler a furnace?

I'm not an HVAC guy, but at least I was able to be somewhat helpful----
Put away the grumpy pills and offer this fellow a simple solution---RANT OVER--Mike--

 

[Ron6519]

Because I have never installed one of these systems before. I never built a house before but I did it with me and one othet guy and I'm proud of it. Sorry for trying to try to inquire about information.

A/C installation requires a certain experience, and test equipment. If you have that, you can do the job. You haven't expressed that experience so far.
The last thing you want, is to buy all this A/c stuff and not be able to install it.

 

[user_12345a]

HVAC stuff is engineered on site, it's not like putting in a light fixture. Lots of stuff to mess up.

Leave sizing and installation to the pros.

I know a lot about this stuff; load calculations, refrigeration theory, matching components but even I wouldn't attempt to do something like that myself.

Who will warranty it?

 

[patrickpresti]

All I was asking for was information about different types of ac systems. Now I am getting interogated about installing this stuff just like I did with building the house from scratch, just like I did with installing the electrical service coming into the house...

 

[patrickpresti]

Just like I did with installing an oil fired instantaneous hot water heater. The list goes on and on...