Call these guys http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/member.php?110042-SkyHeating
Thank you to everyone on this board. I have been reading a lot, trying to educate myself on hvac so I can make the correct decision on my next hvac system.
Background on how this started: I live near Portland and we have been having more 90+ degree days this year and I was thinking of adding a heat pump to help cool in the summer and heat in the winter when gas rates go up. Due to poor airflow, we have had trouble heating the upstairs. I have gotten lots of bids but unfortunately most came form salesmen that did not go in my crawlspace and inspect my ducts. I had mice last summer so this summer I had an awful smell in the crawlspace. I had all the insulation removed including the one around the flex duct due to mice finding a nice warm home. The flex duct is chewed and smashed. I do not want to just replace it since I know no matter how careful I am, the mice will be back. I want to replace it with metal duct. Yesterday I had 2 very knowable guys come out - one suggested new ducts (will get bid Monday) and the other pushed ductless due the small size of my pipes and access. I am conflicted on which way to go. I was wondering what your thoughts are on which way I should go. Is it possible to fix it or is the upstairs just doomed?
House is about 2800 sq feet
Currently have 3ton goodman furnace. From what I read on this board and links 3tons might be on the low side and maybe I should have 3.5.
Concerns about ductless:
- Air circulation. I like to run the furnace fan to move the air around the house.
- Noise and fan blowing on me since the unit could only go by the head of our bed.
- Having holes cut into the house and letting critters or water in.
- Ugliness of the huge wall units.
○ Looking odd since walls are vaulted.
My House
- No attic.
- 2nd floor has all vaulted ceilings.
- Master bedroom faces afternoon sun.
- We have a soffit box in the kitchen for 3 out of 4 bedrooms.
- Hall bath has all the upstairs runs. The wall is 2ft 10in deep and 3ft long
- Soffit box in bath for master and bath
- Kitchen return 13 wide by 11 high and wide. Air flow goes up. 5.5 deep
- Upstairs return 5.5 deep by 11 high and wide. Air flow goes down
- Basement has utility closet with furnace
- Has cut out in foundation 2ft high by 2ft 7 in long for ducts to enter crawlspace
- Intake to filter in basement is small on right in picture and outtake is about 4ft 8in with bag and insulation
- Crawl space has 3ft 3in no insulation round going up
- Looks like room in crawl to cut plywood between beams for bigger ducts
- Crawl space return is 12 in
I have included pictures to help
Thank you for any input you may have
Garrett
Call these guys http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/member.php?110042-SkyHeating
First, get some quotes on replacing your roof with an energy efficient roofing system;
http://portlandroofingcompany.net/energystar.htm
An answer without a question is meaningless.
Information without understanding is useless.
You can lead a horse to water............
http://www.mohomeenergyaudits.com
http://skyheating.com/about-sky-heating-portland.htm
- /\ DITTO to reply # 2.!
USE DUCTLESS UPSTAIRS.
USE heat pump with METAL DUCT _DOWNSTAIRS_.
Designer Dan __ It's Not Rocket Science, But It is SCIENCE with Some Art. _ _ KEEP IT SIMPLE & SINCERE ___ __ www.mysimplifiedhvac.com ___ __ Define the Building Envelope & Perform a Detailed Load Calc: It's ALL About Windows & Make-up Air Requirements. Know Your Equipment Capabilities
I had Sky out to do an estimate. He pushed whole house ductless and did not look and the ducts or furnace.
That roofing link looks nice. I already have leak on the other side of the roof that bakes.
An answer without a question is meaningless.
Information without understanding is useless.
You can lead a horse to water............
http://www.mohomeenergyaudits.com
What is the basis for your expectation of any increase in energy pricing?
My residential electric cost are constant {identical} over the last 8 years.
So, Relative energy cost is actually Decreasing Significantly.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=17131
Designer Dan __ It's Not Rocket Science, But It is SCIENCE with Some Art. _ _ KEEP IT SIMPLE & SINCERE ___ __ www.mysimplifiedhvac.com ___ __ Define the Building Envelope & Perform a Detailed Load Calc: It's ALL About Windows & Make-up Air Requirements. Know Your Equipment Capabilities
I don't have the energy to wake the dead this morning Dan. Anybody wit a brain that knows how to research the issue on the internet will be able to find more than enough on why electricity prices are going to soar in the US in the near future; HAS BEEN in my state of Missouri.
Dan's link seems to be focused on CAPACITY and not cost. I probably should have used the word ELECTRICITY rather than energy, but I'm sure there are studies out there that show how natural gas is going to soar also. Here is alink to get people started on the fact the electric prices are going to soar:
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/tere...us-electricity
An answer without a question is meaningless.
Information without understanding is useless.
You can lead a horse to water............
http://www.mohomeenergyaudits.com
__________________________________________________ _______________________
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards" ~ Vernon Law
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." ~ John Wooden
"When the teachers become unteachable we're all in trouble" ~ Mr. Bill
"Remember "Pro" is only a name, it's not always a mindset determined to do everything correctly" ~ Mr. Bill
An answer without a question is meaningless.
Information without understanding is useless.
You can lead a horse to water............
http://www.mohomeenergyaudits.com
I will have to talk to my system designer that came out to see what their consensus was but if we are doing ductless then looking at the ductwork isn't going to add much since they will be abandoned. We heat and cool our office with a Daikin ductless(Mitsubishi is also a great system). I assume they also gave a quote on a conventional system but in many homes the cost to increase the ductwork does not outweigh the benefit. I see a lot of typical portland homes(even our office which is a 1800 sq foot two story 1940's home) and even being an HVAC company it was not worth adding ducts to the upstairs. We would have had to installed zoning and additional supply and return and cut up walls and added chases/soffits to get the system to work OK at best, at that point it was better to go ductless and have individual room cooling and heating. I think it was Greg that was at your house and i will talk with him about why he selected the options he did, if you want to talk to me directly I am available at 503-235-9083
Travis(a Friend of Larry J's)
Check out my YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/skyheating1 We have customer testimonials, product reviews and more!
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Garrett, i had a chance to look over the proposals that Greg provided for you, after talking to him it sounds like the ductless really is the way to go. He did not look at the ducts because he was not going to bid a ducted system but did so at your request. I looked at the two options he provided and I agree, the ducted system is just about the same cost as the ductless, is going to be less efficient and will not provide the comfort that you wanted and since you are wanting to go with expensive metal ducts the ductless gets rid of the ducts so you do not have any issues with mice since your house is by a stream/wildlife area. You are always welcome to come in and try out the system at our office and Greg can provide you with customers names who you can talk to that had Mitsubishi systems installed in their house. They are incredibly quiet, ultra efficient and do an amazing job of heating and cooling.
Check out my YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/skyheating1 We have customer testimonials, product reviews and more!
Like us on FACEBOOK if you like our advice here!