Air Conditioning - Your thoughts on central AC installation plan.
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rolyf
05-04-09, 06:43 PM
Last Summer I removed my 38 year old boiler and with the help of the guys in the 'Boiler' forum I installed a new unit and all associated hardware, fittings and devices. It started and ran beautifully from the first time I threw the switch!
I have lived in this NH ranch house for 35 years and my wife has finally convinced me to put in central AC. I respect the 'sticky' about not discussing hooking up closed system components so am not looking for advice there (though I was one of the first in NH to be EPA certified/licensed-for automotive AC systems!).
I have considered the pro's and cons of three systems;
1. Exterior cond. with 2 remote wall mounted evap units.
2. Exterior cond. with attic evap and high velocity small dia. tubes to diffuser grates in the ceilings of each room.
3. Exterior cond. with garage eave evap. and full size duct along the attic floor (totally unfinished crawl space area) 't'-ing off over each room. The ducting would then pass down into a closet in each room and then through the wall into a room register on the other side of the closet wall.
For various reasons I have decided that option 3 is the best for me. I have framing and finish carpentry and sheetrocking skills so can handle that aspect easily. Have also done extensive 115/230v wiring and circuit breaker work. I plan on hooking this up to a vacant breaker box circuit where I removed a drier branch when I installed a natural gas drier.
My questions are these;
Is there special ducting which could go inside the closets and look decent without being enclosed?
When I did the boiler install I did the calculations on heat loss which took me an hour or so. Is there something similar for AC? Obviously I don't know how many BTU's I need yet.
Is a concrete slab recommended or is one of those new fangled plastic pads OK? I don't mind doing the concrete work if that's what's best.
I can place the condenser in total shade, or optionally in an area which gets sun from noon until night. Does it make a difference in efficiency (measured as electrical consumption)?
All input is appreciated. Thanks.
I have lived in this NH ranch house for 35 years and my wife has finally convinced me to put in central AC. I respect the 'sticky' about not discussing hooking up closed system components so am not looking for advice there (though I was one of the first in NH to be EPA certified/licensed-for automotive AC systems!).
I have considered the pro's and cons of three systems;
1. Exterior cond. with 2 remote wall mounted evap units.
2. Exterior cond. with attic evap and high velocity small dia. tubes to diffuser grates in the ceilings of each room.
3. Exterior cond. with garage eave evap. and full size duct along the attic floor (totally unfinished crawl space area) 't'-ing off over each room. The ducting would then pass down into a closet in each room and then through the wall into a room register on the other side of the closet wall.
For various reasons I have decided that option 3 is the best for me. I have framing and finish carpentry and sheetrocking skills so can handle that aspect easily. Have also done extensive 115/230v wiring and circuit breaker work. I plan on hooking this up to a vacant breaker box circuit where I removed a drier branch when I installed a natural gas drier.
My questions are these;
Is there special ducting which could go inside the closets and look decent without being enclosed?
When I did the boiler install I did the calculations on heat loss which took me an hour or so. Is there something similar for AC? Obviously I don't know how many BTU's I need yet.
Is a concrete slab recommended or is one of those new fangled plastic pads OK? I don't mind doing the concrete work if that's what's best.
I can place the condenser in total shade, or optionally in an area which gets sun from noon until night. Does it make a difference in efficiency (measured as electrical consumption)?
All input is appreciated. Thanks.
airman.1994
05-04-09, 08:28 PM
I will get you started! Heat load needs to be done it's called a manual J. Duct lay out needs to be done it's called a manual D. Plastic pad is fine. Shady area better. Sheet metal could look good (depends on what you call good) in a closet.
rolyf
05-05-09, 12:21 AM
I will get you started! Heat load needs to be done it's called a manual J. Duct lay out needs to be done it's called a manual D. Plastic pad is fine. Shady area better. Sheet metal could look good (depends on what you call good) in a closet.
Hi airman. I am confused as to what you mean when you say "it's called a manual J" and "it's called a manual D". Would you explain?
I will be doing a heat load calculation soon, and a duct layout once I am certain about where the evaporator will go.
Thanks.
Edit: Oh! I did a search and found out exactly what you meant about Manual D and Manual J! I will be ordering Manual D online, and will do a heat load calcualtion using one of the calculators I found. Thanks for this great info!
Hi airman. I am confused as to what you mean when you say "it's called a manual J" and "it's called a manual D". Would you explain?
I will be doing a heat load calculation soon, and a duct layout once I am certain about where the evaporator will go.
Thanks.
Edit: Oh! I did a search and found out exactly what you meant about Manual D and Manual J! I will be ordering Manual D online, and will do a heat load calcualtion using one of the calculators I found. Thanks for this great info!