Possible high head pressure

[millertime77]

I have an attic furnace, ceiling supplies and returns, and am adding a heat pump. I have been having the problem of air stratifying across the ceiling and therfore the heated air being pulled back in to be re-warmed, and making it cold at the lower areas in the house. My question is when the heat pump is finally working will I have a problem with high head pressure? I am just learning so be easy on me?

[Tommy1010]

I have an attic furnace, ceiling supplies and returns, and am adding a heat pump. I have been having the problem of air stratifying across the ceiling and therfore the heated air being pulled back in to be re-warmed, and making it cold at the lower areas in the house. My question is when the heat pump is finally working will I have a problem with high head pressure? I am just learning so be easy on me?

Theres not much info here but....

Your heat pump is gonna be outside. Head pressure is effected by ambient temp. Indoor issues- temp, airflow, charge.. etc.(and head pressure itself) will affect your low side pressures. If theres no issues with the refrigerant circuit, outdoor air temp and charge dictates the head pressure.

Its really important your heat pump and a/c are designed and proper load calc is done when doing an add on. The actual size needed may not be supported with the existing blower and ductwork. Alot that can go wrong and cost alot more later ,if its a hack job. Remember, the furnace and ductwork was sized for adding BTUHS, cooling is designed to REMOVE THEM. Which takes alot more air flow. If your were just throw in an oversized a/c (meaning = proper for cooling house, but too much for ductwork) your could have serious freeze ups from the start.

As far as your cooler air down low, heat rises ofcourse but numerous things can cause that. Not enough airflow, closed registers, kinks in ductwork, or simply the ductwork not being designed correctly. It doesnt mean your lower areas are being cheated, it could simply be not enough velocity going through to the house and all the heat naturally just rises.

The more I read the oringinal post. Do you have 2 floors or one? If only one, are the returns THAT close to supplys? Your supplys should be located by doors, windows and exterior walls. Your return should be away from the supplys enough to circulate air, but not basically suck it right back in.

[martyinlincoln]

The return isn't going to be hot enough to give you head pressure problems in heating mode. Look into getting registers that will throw the air to the floor and avoid that stratification.