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Message |
    
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1589
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 8:15 am: | 
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Any suggestions for HVAC in a newly renovated attic? I've considered central air in the attic and second floor but I think I'd need two zones in order not to have the a/c running all the time on the second floor. How about a heat pump? Electric baseboard heating? A window a/c unit permanently installed through the wall?
Are any of you experts out there or can you point me to one? Thanks. |
moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 77
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 8:55 am: |
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I faced similar choices. Ended up w/central a/c for attic and second floor. Yes, we generally only use one of those floors at a time but have to a/c both. But the a/c folks will tell you that those units are so efficient relative to window units that the extra cost is no big deal. We used custom air, you could have them take a look, give you a price, and advise on 1 zone vs. 2. that's what they do!
Re: heat, we were fortunate to discover an old capped steam pipe up there. We knew that the attic had been finished at one time (you could see remnants of old shredded newspaper insulation) and sure enough, the old pipe worked, so it was just a matter of getting a radiator.
Good luck |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10857
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 9:09 am: |
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This is the classic "pay me now or pay me later" scenario. Extending your exisitng heating system is probably the cheapest long term. However, the initial cost can be pretty high unless you are like Moving and get lucky with a steam line to the attic and I think that may not be all that uncommon with the 1920s homes around here.
I would look into a wall mounted heat pump like the ones you often see in hotels and motels. This should solve both the heating and cooling issues at a fairly modest initial cost and would probably be more economical to operate than electric baseboard heat, however, they can be fairly noisy. |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Klt12275
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 5:29 pm: |
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If you don't mind something mounted on the wall a minisplit will heat and cool. Very quiet and more efficient than a window unit. I have one in my art studio.
minisplitshop.com |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1594
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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How does a minisplit heat? Is it a heat pump? I understand that a heat pump is a bad option as it becomes very expensive to heat by electricity.
What about hot water baseboard heating? Any opinions about that in an attic? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10873
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 11:07 am: |
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Hot water is great if you can run the lines from the basement. I think heat pumps are fairly efficient down to around freezing, no worse than an efficient airconditioner, because that is basically what they are. They have electric resistance heat (expensive to run) when it gets really cold. |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1595
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 1:58 pm: |
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We're going to insulate the hell out of the attic roof, walls, floors, etc. Is electric baseboard heating really out of the question? And how noisy is noisy on a heat pump?
Here's what I'm thinking now:
1. Forced air heating/air conditioning for both the attic and second floor...OR
2. Electric baseboard heating in the attic and build in a build window unit through the wall...OR
3. A heat pump...OR
3. Hot water baseboard heating.
If I go to someone who does HVAC they'll want to sell me on forced air. Who can I go to for honest advice?
Bob K, are you in the field? Are willing to do a consultation and/or installation? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10877
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2:07 pm: |
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I ain't in that business. We lived in a house where we heated/cooled an addition with heat pumps that were a through the wall installation, much like what you see in many hotels/motels. We also had a finished attic that wasn't heated. However, since the stairs up to the attic were open and we had a Velux skylight it was rarely an issue. We had one of those DeLonghi (sp?) oil filled electric radiators up there, although we rarely used it. We had a through the wall A/C for the summer.
This is all a cost/benefit sort of thing that depends on how much you use the space and for what.
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jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1596
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 3:23 pm: |
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It's going to be a bedroom and full bath. It's going to get constant use. It does have a sky light but we'll need some sort of permanent heating solution. Your heat pump might be the answer. |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1597
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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I may have found an answer and would love feedback from those of you in the know. How about one of these units:
http://www.mrslim.com/Products/Category.asp?ProductCategoryID=7
It's a ductless HVAC unit. I guess it's probably a heat pump. Anyone familiar with it/them? |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 18
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 8:49 pm: |
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A friend of mine installed ductless HVAC in her house in Boston. I'll email her and see what she has to say (I know she wanted to do it predominantly for resale value) |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Klt12275
Post Number: 16
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 4:39 pm: |
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Jeffl- that unit you found is a minisplit. my husband is in the HVAC business. he recommends the minisplit all the time when someone is looking to do a specific space (as opposed to a whole house). there's no duct work so it's an uninvasive and quick solution. like I said, I have one in my art studio and it's VERY quiet and efficient. we actually have one in our bedroom as well so we can turn down the heat or air conditioning at night, but still be comfortable in our room. |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1603
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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Krista, how can I get in touch with your husband? I haven't purchased anything yet. |
MM
Citizen
Username: Melandmike
Post Number: 80
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 7:55 am: |
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Krista, can you PL me your husband's number as well? We have similar issues to jeffl and would be very interested in a system that could heat/cool our finished attic. Thanks. |
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