HVAC help!

Hi all, I bought a small wood frame house, semi-attached, with a near defunct HVAC system. It has forced air (single zone) and central AC, but the AC is long dead and the furnace is at the end of its life. I’m doing some cosmetic work in the house but it’s not a gut renovation (I’m not ripping up the floors). I’ve gotten wildly different ideas from the multiple HVAC companies I’ve consulted. Two said to install ductless mini splits throughout for both heating and cooling, one said to do a hydronic air handler for heat/hot water and a ducted heat pump for cooling. One of the ductless groups said not to bother with hyper heat – the other said hyper heat is the way to go. Two of the three said mini splits will provide enough heat for my house without a backup furnace – but no one can advise me on the impact this will have on my electric bill. I’m doing the work on a budget but I want to do it the right way. I care about the cost of the install AND the cost of running the system every winter for the next thirty years, and also comfort. Also no one has actually given me a quote yet…Does anyone have any advice here? It seems like the HVAC guys are selling the mini splits pretty hard, but the reviews on this forum are pretty mixed on using it for heat! Thanks…

angelmtompkins

in Heating and Cooling 4 years and 3 months ago

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Guest User | 4 years and 3 months ago

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Omatokai that makes sense. Bklyn- Home Owners furnace is on its last legs. They could either replace the furnace and if possible use the existing ducts. Or it may be easier to switch to radiators and get back some space from the ductwork and avoid unhealthy forced air. And yes those mini split guys annoyed the crap out of me and then my hvac guy said not worth it throw away what I had.

wjbehrle | 4 years and 3 months ago

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I have radiant on the first floor and forced air (heating and cooling) for first and second floor. In the winter, we close off the forced air to the first floor, so the radiant can do its job. In the summer we keep it open to cool both floors. I used Richie Amato at Sessa Plumbing to redo the system this year–ditching the 5 ton rooftop unit and hot water heater in favor of a wall-hung all-in-one boiler/furnace. He was the only person who could figure it out for me! Everyone (no fewer than 5 different heating and cooling people) kept pushing mini-splits (because getting a big replacement unit to my roof was impossible given the location), which annoyed the crap out of me partly because I have existing ductwork and already had radiant, and I didn’t want a bunch of units on the wall all over my house. It wasn’t cheap, but I think in the long run it was the only good choice. And Richie is the consummate professional.

Guest User | 4 years and 3 months ago

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I know! That’s exactly why I said radiators and hydronic ones are healthier. Pex is cheap vs all that ducting which may need to be resized. if your furnace is already dying it’s a no brainer to move on to a cheaper system.

angelmtompkins | 4 years and 3 months ago

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Does anyone have any idea how pricy it would be to replace the forced air furnace with a boiler and radiators, and mini splits for air? I like the idea of using radiant floors in the first floor through the basement joists, and maybe radiators on the second floor. Seems like a practical solution and less expensive to run in the winter, but I don’t know even a ballpark of what the installation cost would be!

greenworks | 4 years and 3 months ago

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Search the forum this comes up 2-3 times a year at least for past 6 years at least. You’ll find lots of info in prior posts on both install and running costs

Arkady | 4 years and 3 months ago

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Try getting an estimate of duct work from Flat Rate Duct Svc. (212 933 9303) Very knowledgeable, reasonably priced & clean. They replaced mine w/o having to open any walls. I’d stick w/ ducted heat & central air if you can.

restorationcontractor | 4 years and 3 months ago

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If you’re removing ceilings or have exposed joists in the basement you can do radiant with reflector plates from below. And yes it’s more work, but allows you to save your existing floors.

If I was in your position with existing ductwork and you were not going to demo. it and reclaim the space I would seriously consider reusing for A/C.

Minisplits are great, but you are correct electric for heating can get expensive.

hasibur.rahman07 | 4 years and 3 months ago

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It’s not healthy. I have it too – oh well I regret it now. On the bright side you may get back some space! Ducts need to be sized properly so you may or may not be able to use what you have. Search the forum for mini split pricing btw if you are curious.

angelmtompkins | 4 years and 3 months ago

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Thanks, Vard01. The guy who inspected the house before we bought also suggested installing radiators or baseboards. It seems like such a pity not to use all the ductwork that’s in place, but then folks seem to assume they’d have to rip out and replace the old ductwork anyway…

hasibur.rahman07 | 4 years and 3 months ago

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yep HVAC people are all pushing the mini split. I’d go with good old radiators but I might be in the minority. Get a combi boiler and hook up the radiators and use for hot water as well if you need. Get a split for AC. I have researched this for months and have come to the conclusion that one can’t beat the old school way. You could also do radiant but you’re not ripping floors. Nothing wrong with the mini split if your house is well insulated and it’s sized correctly but they are pricey.