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mikensx

Which option for a 130 year old brick house.

mikensx
11 years ago

2 1/2 story plaster on brick house. 32 large windows replaced with low e double pane. 3,500 sq of heated area.

I want to replace my 22 year old HVAC system with an efficient setup. Currently have natural gas 190,000 btu furnace about 68% efficient and 5 ton AC. The AC unit is sized too large and runs about 60% on the hottest days. On not so hot days, the house is cool but clamy. It costs about $600/mo to heat and $400 to cool. My duct work is not set up for cooling; all air returns on first floor, but it works for me. I have ceiling fans to move air. About a 4 degree difference from 1st to 2nd floor.

My installer said that efficiency is so much higher now then my equipment that my savings will be significant. I'm thinking a condensing furnace in the low 90% range, and a high seer AC unit.

Today, he suggested that for a thousand more he thinks that I should consider a high efficiency heat pump with gas back up. He's telling me that these heat pumps today can work down into the low teens with good efficiency.

But, I've heard that heat pump houses often don't feel warm. And my house in hard to heat with ice cold walls.

My goal is to raise efficiency and realize real savings on monthly bills while not spending a huge amount on the equipment.

I see there is a great price difference between high efficiency and the latest super high efficiency. I don't want to double my equipment cost to gain 6%.

What do you think? is heat pump a good choice for an old brick low efficiency house?

Thanks

Comments (6)

  • energy_rater_la
    11 years ago

    dual fuel is sweet. but if you
    are used to gas heat, the heat from the
    hp is cooler. it may be better that you
    stay with gas as primary heat.

    90+% furnaces are worth every penny in my
    experience..and I'm in a cooling climate.
    why waste $$ & put a combustion appliance when
    you can take advantage of more efficiency.

    same for a/c side. 13 SEER is minimum produced
    efficiency equipment. to upgrade to 15-17 SEER makes
    economic sense. beyond 17 SEER is not as good of use
    of money. for example Trane has i series..20i
    is not 20 SEER. so check actual efficiency of equipment
    and what it is paired with. mismatched equipment
    delivers lower efficiency. ARI information for
    matched equipment should be provided by hvac company.
    or go online yourself & verify...before purchase & install.

    also in older homes insultion may or may not be present.
    to first air seal house for leaks, and air seal ducts
    for leaks is the best investment you can make.
    blower door testing of house, and testing ducts
    for leakage may cost you a few bucks, but sealing
    these areas save you every month. caulks and mastics
    are cheap, but work very well.

    you say:
    The AC unit is sized too large and runs about 60% on the hottest days. On not so hot days, the house is cool but clamy. It costs about $600/mo to heat and $400 to cool. My duct work is not set up for cooling; all air returns on first floor, but it works for me. I have ceiling fans to move air. About a 4 degree difference from 1st to 2nd floor."

    in cooling climates we want long run times. this allows the equipment to remove humidity..which sounds like your issue.
    an evaluation of the ductwork as you say it was designed for heating would be recommended. new unit will be more efficient & remove more humidity, but you need to have ductwork that doesn't add to humidity load. same as leakage
    of house. both can contribute to RH in the house.

    whole house dehumidifiers work well, or a stand alone
    dehumidifier. if RH is a problem, invest in stand alone
    and see how that works for you before investing in
    whole house system.

    best of luck.

  • mikensx
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    1st installer came out to chat with me. He would not recommend heat pump/gas because of the low cost of natural gas.

    1. He recommends AC plus high efficiency gas furnace.
    2. He recommends media filter, not electronic air cleaner.
    3. He does not recommend an in-line humidifier. Says they leak and rust out furnace.
    4. When I brought up cleaning the old duct work, he recommends replacing the metal duct work with modern fiber glass.

    Does all this sound reasonable?

  • hamconsulting
    11 years ago

    1-3 sound very reasonable and right on. I don't know enough about #4.

  • mikensx
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    What should I expect to pay for replacement equipment.

    My present system was installed in 1991. It is Rheem low efficiency 175,000 BTU furnace and 5 ton AC. I paid $5200 in 91. It connects to existing ductwork.

    I am now looking to replace it with a high efficiency furnace and AC unit. What should I expect to pay?

  • mike_home
    11 years ago

    It is difficutl to estimate a price without knowing the sizes and difficulty of the installation. You seem to be very oversized, but a 130 year old house may have poor insulation and leaky windows. The high efficiency furnace must exhaust out the side of the house. Is this going to be problem with a brick structure? You may also have to reline your chimney if you are using a gas hot water heater.

    I would think a price of $10-12K is reasonable, but it could be vary depending on the factors listed above.

  • energy_rater_la
    11 years ago

    the ductwork should be evaluated.
    if set up is hard pipe ducts sized for heating
    they may not work well for ac as it has
    higher velocity.

    the high utility costs may be in part hvac
    inefficiency, but air leakage in 130 year
    old houses should be consitered.

    here in the south balloon framing was popular
    for natural cooling. adding forced air system
    to this type of house changes the whole dynamic
    of the structure.

    sealing, insulating & correctly sizing ducts
    would be a part of the hvac size choice.

    best of luck.

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