On Jun 17, 6:18*pm, "Nonny" wrote:
We've been looking at homes here in the Las Vegas area and I've
noticed something that seems different from other areas where
we've lived. *In many of the newer homes we've visited, there are
2, 3 and even 4 furnaces, each with split A/C units; I would have
expected to find just 1 or perhaps 2 units and then zone dampers.
Which would be considered to be a superior system?

One thought is that its possibly considered more energy efficient
to install (4) *2-1/2 ton to 4 ton units than to install a couple
4-5 ton units and then have dampers up in the attic, where it's
both hotter than Hades and difficult to reach for maintenance.
Could this be possible? *I find it difficult to believe that
purchasing and installing 4 furnaces and A/C units is less
expensive than one or two larger ones with zoning.

Would a system with 3-4 individual, smaller, units give better
humidity control (hint: it's 6% RH here today), better energy use
or better energy management? *The systems we've seen are all on a
typical VAR meter and not a TOU/Demand meter.

What gives?

Nonny

--
On most days,
it's just not worth
the effort of chewing
through the restraints..

Where is it 6% RH, maybe in the desert so humidity control isnt an
issue but that sounds just to low to me, here its 91% RH inside, so I
just turned on my AC to get it to near 60%. If humidity is an issue
more units could help by just running one, but each each system uses
electriicity even when not in use, and 4- 1/2 Hp motors will be alot
less efficent than one 2 hp motor I would guess. If you got the
expensive VSDC motor I would think one unit could be zoned, but get
the 10-15 yr extra warranty