Norml
05-26-2009, 04:51 PM
I am replacing 1990 single unit York 4 ton A/C & Nat Gas Furnace with two units to improve poor cooling on 2nd floor in all rooms and poor heating in one distant room (partially over garage). I live in zone 2 (western Md.). The house suffers from poor duct work, resulting in low airflow upstairs since the main trunk was not tapered. Here's my likely choice:
Attic - York 3 ton 18 SEER Heat Pump (with returns in each room!) versus A/C which is only $ less
Basement - Hybrid York 2 ton 18 SEER Heat Pump with 95% Nat Gas Furnace
Question #1: First, should I go with all HP vs HP downstairs & A/C in the attic?
I also plan to improve insulation in attic and on the 2 "interior" walls exposed to the space above the garage. Would a roof fan cool the attic better than just the roof vents?
Would the attic unit A/C air handler assist with re-distributing the house heat to my girl's room sufficiently? Or is the extra cost (easily affordable to me) worthwhile? I didn't ask what effect the attic A/C choice would have on the basement HP size - I would guess it would have to be bigger for winter at the risk of over sizing the house HVAC for summer. Comfort and efficiency are more important to me than cost (within reason). But total value appears even greater with HP using hvacopcost.com..... Should I trust this site and its conclusions?
Both York Affinity Heat Pumps (up to 18 SEER) deliver +/- 17.3 and are supposedly 10 HSPF. (I have not seen any higher HSPF.) Utility costing calculator at hvacopcost.com virtually equates the York HP with the Nordyne HP (up to 24 SEER) which delivers 21 or 22 SEER and 9.5 HSPF in my zone (to within $-23 over 10 yrs at 3%; ie., York $ < Nordyne $ by only $23!!).
In fact, this calculator leads me to expect to see $28000 utility savings in 10 yrs over my current HVAC. Great!!! Said differently, $28,000 with HP; versus $10,000 with new A/C and 95% Nat Gas furnace. I'll accept that.
What I can't learn from this calculator is what I posed in my first question: Hp downstairs and A/C in attic. Can you help?
I can't believe the increase in value of my home upon resale: $49,000 with HP versus $17,000 with A/C. Does the housing market value my HVAC choice this dearly?
I have to wait 2 wks for the install. Any comments will help. TIA.
Attic - York 3 ton 18 SEER Heat Pump (with returns in each room!) versus A/C which is only $ less
Basement - Hybrid York 2 ton 18 SEER Heat Pump with 95% Nat Gas Furnace
Question #1: First, should I go with all HP vs HP downstairs & A/C in the attic?
I also plan to improve insulation in attic and on the 2 "interior" walls exposed to the space above the garage. Would a roof fan cool the attic better than just the roof vents?
Would the attic unit A/C air handler assist with re-distributing the house heat to my girl's room sufficiently? Or is the extra cost (easily affordable to me) worthwhile? I didn't ask what effect the attic A/C choice would have on the basement HP size - I would guess it would have to be bigger for winter at the risk of over sizing the house HVAC for summer. Comfort and efficiency are more important to me than cost (within reason). But total value appears even greater with HP using hvacopcost.com..... Should I trust this site and its conclusions?
Both York Affinity Heat Pumps (up to 18 SEER) deliver +/- 17.3 and are supposedly 10 HSPF. (I have not seen any higher HSPF.) Utility costing calculator at hvacopcost.com virtually equates the York HP with the Nordyne HP (up to 24 SEER) which delivers 21 or 22 SEER and 9.5 HSPF in my zone (to within $-23 over 10 yrs at 3%; ie., York $ < Nordyne $ by only $23!!).
In fact, this calculator leads me to expect to see $28000 utility savings in 10 yrs over my current HVAC. Great!!! Said differently, $28,000 with HP; versus $10,000 with new A/C and 95% Nat Gas furnace. I'll accept that.
What I can't learn from this calculator is what I posed in my first question: Hp downstairs and A/C in attic. Can you help?
I can't believe the increase in value of my home upon resale: $49,000 with HP versus $17,000 with A/C. Does the housing market value my HVAC choice this dearly?
I have to wait 2 wks for the install. Any comments will help. TIA.