Changing Forced Air heating/cooling system to....?

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Hi folks,

Just bought a 1900 Colonial with a forced air heating/cooling system. The AC system is in need of repair (est. $2000) and we're not the biggest fans of forced air anyway.

What are some good alternative choices to change to?

We're considering underfloor heating for the ground floor - the floors are accessible from the basement at the moment so this should be an easy to install thing but don't know what else would be involved.

The 3 bedrooms and office is on the first floor, and then another additional bedroom on the 2nd floor.

Continued in comments.

Featured Answer

mike_home

11 years ago

I encourage you to consider all options, but each has it pros and cons.

Forced hot air systems don't cause houses to be dry in the winter. The principle cause of dryness is air infiltration through windows and doors. Make the house tighter and you will raise the humidity level. If you want more humidity a humidifier can be integrated into the system and controlled by the thermostat.

Furnaces are available in variable speeds. You don't have to get a blast of air when it first turns on. Most of the time it will operate at a low speed that you won't even know it is operating.

You may have undersized duct work with an over sized system. This makes the system noisy. Installation of a good media filter will control any dust problems. The system doesn't cause the dust, it will circulate it if there is improper filtering.

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Comments (8)

transnationalq
Original Author
11 years ago
For heating the rest of the house, and the cooling, we're thinking about an air-to-air heat exchanger. I know there are current rebate programs for this via MassSave. Anyone had one installed? Thoughts and suggestions welcome!
mike_home
11 years ago
How old is the current heating and cooling system? What don't you like about a forced hot air system? Today's systems are very different from what was available 10-15 years ago.
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transnationalq
Original Author
11 years ago
The furnace is from 2006 I believe. Don't know when the AC broke down ( I think its the compressor unit that is broken). Dust, allergens, the hum, and the fact that the air gets quite dry causing all of us butmostly my daughter to get a bad throat. We did buy a humidifier for her room but I find the forced air to be drafty! The previous owners were there for quite a while and had a dog.. The house still smells of it.

Whilst with a contractor today (for other jobs) he noted there weren't any returns in the rooms either 'cept for one in the hallway upstairs.
transnationalq
Original Author
11 years ago
Currently, we're in a loft apartment which is only about 7 years old and also has a forced air system don't like it. The cooling bit is great of course, but still hummy.
transnationalq
Original Author
11 years ago
You make a case for it mike! Do you have any opinions on heat pumps as well? Trying to understand if they are more energy efficient, and if so, by how much.
mike_home
11 years ago
If you have natural gas, then in most parts of the country is is cheaper to heat a house with gas than a heat pump.
ionized_gw
11 years ago
What is your location? How do you plan to cool if you use underfloor radiant? I don't understand what you mean by air-to-air HX. Isn't that just a conventional heat pump air conditioner?

Historically, homes had more returns. Fewer returns reduces cost. Unless you have a return in each room, as I am sure you realize, the air usually goes under the doors. Jump ducts can be used as well. In the days of heat only, returns in each room were much more common.

Mike_home, I need to add something, The principle cause of dryness is air infiltration through windows and doors, and via leaks in outdoor ducts.

Without returns in every room with supply ducts, leaky outdoor ducts also cause pressure differentials between individual rooms which also increases entry of outdoor air.