This topic is scattered throughout the internet and these forums. I have personally dealt with it for the last 20 years in different forms and homes. I'm going to make some decisions in my current home (which I've been at for 3 years now).
Classic problem: I have a 20 year old house that is 5500+ square feet if you include the basement. There are 3 bedrooms upstairs that are each roughly 12x12. And of course, they stay hot all summer. I can have the first floor thermostat down to 70 degrees, and it will still be almost 80 degrees upstairs. Many of the houses in our neighborhood have a 2nd unit upstairs in a closet. Ours just doesn't happen to have that.
I've done all the generic solutions you find online: I run the fan, I've opened/closed vents, all rooms and hallways upstairs have returns, we have blackout shades, I clean my filter, etc. Nothing makes a meaningful difference (as expected).
That pretty much only leaves a couple options:
A) Have the ducts inspected/sealed/cleaned. I'm not opposed to this, but I imagine it won't help. If someone is really passionate about this and can actually give examples where it made a real difference, I'm open to hearing it - but I think I'm fighting physics here, not a leaky/dirty duct.
B) As a followup to A), maybe see if we can run additional ducts. I'm not super keen on this because it would involve tearing open walls/etc. and I'm not 100% sure it actually solves the problem - unless maybe coupling it with a stronger unit downstairs. I know someone who did this, but it was in a much smaller, older house that didn't have returns on the 2nd floor. It made a dramatic difference - I don't think it would in my case.
C) Install a full, second HVAC in the attic. I've gotten 2 quotes on this from people I've asked to look. The total cost is around $14-$18k with electrical/etc. I know for a fact this would solve the problem, but I want to be sure it doesn't create new problems. Putting a unit up in the attic makes me nervous, but they swear it would be insulated, not leak, etc. Also, it's a bit pricey, but I can live with that.
D) I'm sniffing around at multi-zone minisplit like this:
https://www.alpinehomeair.com/product/a ... gIQAvD_BwE
I have a wall unit in my garage, which is awesome - but we don't want 3 air handlers installed. I love the idea of the ceiling install. Both people I had out to look at my setup scoffed at the minisplit and said "do the HVAC in the attic."
This is my preferred option based on price - $3000-$5000 for the unit, hopefully no more than $2000-$4000 for installation, and hopefully very efficient. But, I have no idea if this is practical.
OK - so thanks for reading if you got this far. Questions for this group: Do you have a recommendation for a durable, real fix - either A, B, C, D above or option E?
I'm looking for a real fix, not half measures. If $20k is what it will take, I'll pay it - but I don't' want to just cut that check without being more informed.
Classic problem: I have a 20 year old house that is 5500+ square feet if you include the basement. There are 3 bedrooms upstairs that are each roughly 12x12. And of course, they stay hot all summer. I can have the first floor thermostat down to 70 degrees, and it will still be almost 80 degrees upstairs. Many of the houses in our neighborhood have a 2nd unit upstairs in a closet. Ours just doesn't happen to have that.
I've done all the generic solutions you find online: I run the fan, I've opened/closed vents, all rooms and hallways upstairs have returns, we have blackout shades, I clean my filter, etc. Nothing makes a meaningful difference (as expected).
That pretty much only leaves a couple options:
A) Have the ducts inspected/sealed/cleaned. I'm not opposed to this, but I imagine it won't help. If someone is really passionate about this and can actually give examples where it made a real difference, I'm open to hearing it - but I think I'm fighting physics here, not a leaky/dirty duct.
B) As a followup to A), maybe see if we can run additional ducts. I'm not super keen on this because it would involve tearing open walls/etc. and I'm not 100% sure it actually solves the problem - unless maybe coupling it with a stronger unit downstairs. I know someone who did this, but it was in a much smaller, older house that didn't have returns on the 2nd floor. It made a dramatic difference - I don't think it would in my case.
C) Install a full, second HVAC in the attic. I've gotten 2 quotes on this from people I've asked to look. The total cost is around $14-$18k with electrical/etc. I know for a fact this would solve the problem, but I want to be sure it doesn't create new problems. Putting a unit up in the attic makes me nervous, but they swear it would be insulated, not leak, etc. Also, it's a bit pricey, but I can live with that.
D) I'm sniffing around at multi-zone minisplit like this:
https://www.alpinehomeair.com/product/a ... gIQAvD_BwE
I have a wall unit in my garage, which is awesome - but we don't want 3 air handlers installed. I love the idea of the ceiling install. Both people I had out to look at my setup scoffed at the minisplit and said "do the HVAC in the attic."
This is my preferred option based on price - $3000-$5000 for the unit, hopefully no more than $2000-$4000 for installation, and hopefully very efficient. But, I have no idea if this is practical.
OK - so thanks for reading if you got this far. Questions for this group: Do you have a recommendation for a durable, real fix - either A, B, C, D above or option E?
I'm looking for a real fix, not half measures. If $20k is what it will take, I'll pay it - but I don't' want to just cut that check without being more informed.
Statistics: Posted by sureshoe — Wed Jan 03, 2024 1:21 pm — Replies 5 — Views 314