I'm in process of getting ready to have my entire HVAC system replaced. Compressor shorted on Condenser, it's R22 and they all seem to say the system needs flushed and the A Coil needs replaced as well. Those two pieces are 11 yrs and 16yrs old....the furnace is from 1995. I'm told by one tech that furnace is showing signs of being breached as well. Doesn't really matter, other than possibly for insurance claim under equipment breakdown, as I think if the rest is being done I'd be dumb not to replace furnace at same time and just start from scratch with all matching equipment.
1915c 1-1/2 story Bungalow with masonry chimney. Chimney is unlined, so I'm told it needs lining. One HVAC company said they'll include that. The other wants me to get a bid, which I'm doing this afternoon from a 3rd party. Crazy part is, it's the company that is a few thousand more that wants the bid.
The other part of this, which is why I'm posting is the one said I need to cut a hole in my 100yr old 5 panel door and put two grates about 10"x13" on it. One up high and one down low. The other company, didn't mention, but when I called them back they said I might need to get it fresh air. The furnace is in a room that is L shaped and is 7'x9' on one leg and 8'x17' on the other with 7 foot ceiling. The other option given was to cut a dryer vent sized hole into the side of house and just have an open hole with a vent on it to the outside.....screw THAT! I realize they do similar in new houses, but my house is drafty enough and I'm not doing that.
So is there an easy way to figure out how much air I need to supply from rest of basement? Furnace has obviously NOT been having any issues the way it's been, but I get code doesn't really account for 'it worked fine before'. I don't mind one grill low on the door, that would be fine and I could live with that....it would be 8"x18" to match the panel evenly. Would I need a 2nd? If so how large? Trying to decide if I can install some sort of grill in ceiling of finished space and go over or find a place on the wall that doesn't bother me as much.
***one other thought is a few years back when basement was finished I installed a return air duct, about 15"x15" into the basement to help circulate that air. I could always unhook it and use it. I might actually have another vent like it and just duplicate it and use the wall cavity on another spot, but still need to know how many cubic inches of wall vent are needed and does one have to be up high and the other down low?
1915c 1-1/2 story Bungalow with masonry chimney. Chimney is unlined, so I'm told it needs lining. One HVAC company said they'll include that. The other wants me to get a bid, which I'm doing this afternoon from a 3rd party. Crazy part is, it's the company that is a few thousand more that wants the bid.
The other part of this, which is why I'm posting is the one said I need to cut a hole in my 100yr old 5 panel door and put two grates about 10"x13" on it. One up high and one down low. The other company, didn't mention, but when I called them back they said I might need to get it fresh air. The furnace is in a room that is L shaped and is 7'x9' on one leg and 8'x17' on the other with 7 foot ceiling. The other option given was to cut a dryer vent sized hole into the side of house and just have an open hole with a vent on it to the outside.....screw THAT! I realize they do similar in new houses, but my house is drafty enough and I'm not doing that.
So is there an easy way to figure out how much air I need to supply from rest of basement? Furnace has obviously NOT been having any issues the way it's been, but I get code doesn't really account for 'it worked fine before'. I don't mind one grill low on the door, that would be fine and I could live with that....it would be 8"x18" to match the panel evenly. Would I need a 2nd? If so how large? Trying to decide if I can install some sort of grill in ceiling of finished space and go over or find a place on the wall that doesn't bother me as much.
***one other thought is a few years back when basement was finished I installed a return air duct, about 15"x15" into the basement to help circulate that air. I could always unhook it and use it. I might actually have another vent like it and just duplicate it and use the wall cavity on another spot, but still need to know how many cubic inches of wall vent are needed and does one have to be up high and the other down low?
