| Author |
Message |
    
Michael Lobianco
Citizen
Username: Cubey
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 10:48 am: |     |
Anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with putting a Central Air System in an old house with no duct work? Is it efficient? Does it keep the house nice and cold??
I just got a quote from Air Group...and wanted to get some feedback.
Thanks all.
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marken
Citizen
Username: Marken
Post Number: 48
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 11:42 am: | |
Michael --
While I don't have any experience w/this ... I know that other posters on this board do.
If you haven't already searched for "central air" on this board, give it a shot. I remember many discussions about the same topic in the fairly recent past. You can "private line" a poster for more specific questions -- especially helpful for those archived postings.
Stay cool. |
guycaruso
Citizen
Username: Guycaruso
Post Number: 16
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 2:53 pm: | |
Polal Air ( merged to form Air Group)did my AC and Heat 6 years ago. Tough attic installation. Did a good job. Talk to Angelo , goog guy. |
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 132
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 3:17 pm: | |
We are doing this as part of an addition--would be happy to discuss, Private line me if you want and see my recent above topic re High Velocity C/A.
Be cool, all.
David Buckley |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 848
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 3:39 pm: | |
We had Unico installed this past spring, and while we didn't have a blistering hot summer, the air conditioning worked fine. We had no repainting work to do after the installation.
Woolley did the work, and it went without a hitch.
We had a party here with about 20 people on a relatively hot and humid evening, and the house was nice and cool.
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1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 369
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 4:27 pm: | |
my central air keeps my old house nice and cool - though I don't have a ton of outlets on the first floor so it takes a pretty good while to effect a change in the temperature.
all told, I wouldn't want to live without it. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3145
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 6:26 pm: | |
Our 1920's house was ducted and A/C'd by Custom Air. 4 years and doing great. The duct system is unique and works well in old houses. |
Love-it
Citizen
Username: Lindat
Post Number: 9
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 8:32 am: | |
Has anyone heard about using PVC piping instead of duct work? Does it cost more? advantages/disadvantages? |
jcl
Citizen
Username: Jcl
Post Number: 47
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 10:48 am: | |
Can you someone give me an idea of what it costs to get the house ducted and CAC-ed? |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 124
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 12:00 pm: | |
Jcl, I haven't had to do it (I've been fortunate enough to buy houses that already have it), but from talking at length to friends who have had old houses ducted and CAC-ed, it's going to range from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the size of your house, how many compressors they need to use (or whether you want two zones or one), and whether or not they need to install a system in the attic to force air back down (one of my Maplewood houses had this, and I believe it's quite expensive). That said, I have never heard of anyone paying over $20K.
Good luck. |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 373
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 9:10 pm: | |
$10k to $20k is right. I had one unit put in my attic for the lower end of this price range, but then I viewed someone else's system and install - a Unico - and though theirs cost more, I think it was the better way to go. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 242
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 10:11 pm: | |
I used Fritze Keyspan -- installed a 2nd unit to upstairs (2 1/2 tons) -- high but not ultra high efficiency. Cost for all work (and needed to install ducts) was just under $6k.
This was the 2nd summer for this unit -- and its kept the bedrooms and hallways and bath cool, comfortable, no drafts (variable speed air handler).
I can recommend them.
Pete |
deborahg
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 686
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 4:57 pm: | |
Was this just for your second floor? We've been talking about doing the 2nd and 3rd floors, got some prices last year and they were all over the map. |
AZ
Citizen
Username: Azaltsman
Post Number: 197
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 8:39 am: | |
The only experience I can share is that the house we bought had CAC. However, the previous owner only installed one unit downstairs and it is really not enough to cool the house. They used the same vents for the A/C as for the heating, which is a problem because the vents are not designed for cool air. We do need a second unit but it is on the border. The bedrooms upstairs are quite warm when the A/C is blasting. We decided not to spend the $8K we were quoted by Jayson for a second unit upstairs with Unico. Perhaps next summer. I can tell you to make sure whatever you get, which I hear the Unico system is the way to go, make sure it can cool your whole house. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 249
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 11:04 am: | |
Deborah --
yes, just 2nd floor (about ~1000 sq feet). central air had been installed by a prior owner only downstairs. (house is heated by hot water baseboard heat.) my house is relatively new (about 25 years) -- so its probably not the exact same situation as for some of the really older homes. but i thought it would be helpful as a benchmark in terms of cost.
install took only a couple of days -- the hardest part was the ductwork! each bedroom has 2 air outlets, each bath 1 outlet, and then there are the return outlets in the halls. considering all the holes that had to make -- no repainting or touch ups required afterwards!
btw -- i highly recommend a "variable speed" air handler -- its remarkably quiet, adjusts speed lower -- the system is completely draft free.
good luck -- Pete |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 97
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 3:37 pm: | |
I believe one of the first companies to market the "ductless air conditioning" system was Space-Pak.
Space-pak was represented by an agency that also handled the boiler manufacturer Burnham. A couple of years ago my company installed 100 Burnham boilers. We were approached by their representatives and asked if we would consider being installers for their A/C product. We eventually declined, in part, because we're simply not an air conditioning company.
But we did look into the Space-Pak and were impressed by it. We've spoken to many people who rave about it and know, properly installed, it works very well.
I'm not any more qualified than anyone here to endorse air conditioning products but I haven't seen this company's name mentioned and I'm just throwing it out there.
www.spacepak.com
Master_Plvmber
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davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 133
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2003 - 2:19 pm: | |
Pete:
Would you provide Fritze contact info if you have it?
Can't find 'em.
Thanks and be well, all
David Buckley |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 254
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2003 - 3:22 pm: | |
I'm at the office -- so don't have a # -- they're in Whippany on Route 10 -- should be in the phone book, I'm pretty sure they had a web site, too.
(at this time of year -- they should be dealing on air conditioning -- b/c heating season isn't in full swing yet!)
Pete |
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