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Posted by deke on March 27, 2007, 3:23 pm
I've had horizontal heat/cool gas unit in attic for 23 years and like
it just fine. There is no downside.
I'd recommend double insulating the duct work and by that I mean add
some extra insulation on the outside of the ducts.
I'd also recommend a variable speed air handler. They save you some
bucks.
And of course a hi efficiency furnace 95% or so.
You'll love it.
wrote:
>Hey folks
>
>I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch with
>hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
>ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.
>
>Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
>in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
>central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
>plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
>plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house. Most
>of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
>hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.
>
>Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least cosistent,
>coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today threw out an
>option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a furnace up in the
>attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700 (I already have gas
>lines up there).
>
>This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
>baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
>maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
>up)
>
>Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating in
>the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating cause
>the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?
>
>And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?
>
>Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.
>
>Pete D
>Willoughby Hills OH
>
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