"HeatMan" wrote in message
...
I wouldn't touch any of the commercial ranges for reasons mentioned by
other
people that post here.

BUT

Given the chance, especially since I'm in the HVAC/R business, I'd install
remote condensing units in a heartbeat if my bride would let me. Get the
heat and noise outside. And while I was at it, I'd install a absorption
type cooling system so I'd have a small cooling tower. That way, I'd have
water cooled condensers instead of air cooled.

I'd cost about 3X what a 'normal' system would and I'd never be able to
sell
the house because I'd be the only one that could work on it.....


That brings me to another question, if you don't mind:

The house will be a traditional timber frame with stress-skin panels,
sitting on a basement foundation made of insulating concrete forms and
poured concrete. I am putting radiant floor heat in the basement floor and
using Warmboard panels (or something similar) in the first floor. The
second floor will be plumbed for radiant panels or baseboard but not
installed unless we find that the area gets too cold.

My difficulty lies with cooling. I would like to centrally cool the house,
but am finding it very difficult to find a system that will work in a
timberframe. I have looked at mini-splits (Mitsubishi) and Unico/SpacePak
systems, but I guess I need some more opinions and feedback. You mention
water-cooled condensing units, a cooling tower. Without getting
ridiculously pricey, can this be done effectively in a residence? Also,
what about makeup and excahange air for a tight house? How is this done?

Thanks for the advice.

Jon E