Subject:
From:
Date: | Need quick HVAC advice
Michael David
Wed, 16 Jun 1999 00:36:58 -0400 |
Hi Folks!
Bad news: my HVAC died today. Needs a new compressor, inside, and outside
coils. Price tag: $2200.
So, rather that put that money into a 15 year old unit, I am pondering
putting in a new HVAC system. However, I've never done a new system before,
and I have lots of questions.
I asked the contractor for a quote on installing a high efficiency unit,
with four zones, and HEPA filtering. He understands my need to control the
thermostats via ECS, and suggested Carrier Thermostats. I told him that
those won't work, but that I would figure out what to use.
I should have a quote from him tomorrow, and need to move fast on this.
Because we are soon entering our hot season here, and if I don't do this
now, it'll be hard to get them out here. Therefore, I need to make this
decision by the end of the week.
So, I'm looking for some advice:
1) He has suggested a unit that is 90% efficient. What does that mean, and
do I care? I know enough to know that 90% units are significantly more
expensive that 80% ones. BTW, currently, my electrical bills are around
$400/mo. During the summer. The contractor thinks he can lower that a fair
amount with this unit.
2) ECS now supports the Enerzone statnet and the HAI statnets. Do you guys
have a preference? Any idea of cost? Will they work with multiple zone
systems.
3) Obviously, the proposed HVAC system will handle it's own logic, when it
comes to managing the temperature in each zone. Is that something I am
better off letting ECS do? Am I paying for a level of processing for the
system that I don't need to because I use ECS?
4) Am I better off having them install a one zone system, and trying to add
the dampers and thermostats to make it a 4 zone system myself? Or is that
notion crazy?
5) Am I nuts to try to do a 4 zone system? Here are my proposed zones:
Z1: Most of the house, with the exception of the following;
Z2: Den, which has a high heat load because of multiple computers, A/V
equipment, Amps, monitors, etc;
Z3: Sun/Family Room, which has a 20 foot wall of glass, 15 feet high at the
peak;
Z4: Basement (finished)
6) My guess is that this system, installed, is going to be very expensive.
I'll know tomorrow, but I figure about 15K. (ouch!) Fortunately the power
company has some low rate financing. But, am I nuts to put that kind of
money into and HVAC system?
7) What am I missing that will come back to haunt me later?
All input appreciated....
Cheers!
Michael David
michael@michaeldavid.com