Hey folks

I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch with
hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.

Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house. Most
of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.

Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least cosistent,
coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today threw out an
option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a furnace up in the
attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700 (I already have gas
lines up there).

This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
up)

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating in
the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating cause
the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.

Pete D
Willoughby Hills OH

I'm no A/C expert, but I would think that I would want to know how
spacious the attic is and about how much of it is going to be left
over once everything is installed. You do have to maintain these
things. I would think that a ductless heat pump would be another
option as well. At least that way it wouldn't take up so much space
in your attic.

I've had horizontal heat/cool gas unit in attic for 23 years and like
it just fine. There is no downside.

I'd recommend double insulating the duct work and by that I mean add
some extra insulation on the outside of the ducts.

I'd also recommend a variable speed air handler. They save you some
bucks.

And of course a hi efficiency furnace 95% or so.

You'll love it.




On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:23:40 -0400, "Pete D"
wrote:

Hey folks

I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch with
hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.

Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house. Most
of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.

Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least cosistent,
coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today threw out an
option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a furnace up in the
attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700 (I already have gas
lines up there).

This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
up)

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating in
the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating cause
the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.

Pete D
Willoughby Hills OH

"Pete D" wrote in message
. ..
Hey folks

I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch
with hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.

Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house.
Most of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.

Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least
cosistent, coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today
threw out an option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a
furnace up in the attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700
(I already have gas lines up there).

This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
up)

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating
in the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating
cause the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.

Pete D
Willoughby Hills OH

I wouldn't worry about it. We have one like you describe in a townhouse. It
works fine. It also beats having to go into a crawlspace under the house to
work on an air handler or duct work like in the house I actually live in.
About the only better option, maintenance wise, I can think of is a
dedicated room to put it in, the furnace anyway, and most houses don't have
the space. Also keep in mind the system will be insulated and installation
of equipment in un air conditioned space is the norm. It's designed to
operate under those conditions. One thing you might want to consider is
where they run the refrigerant line. It can make some noise like running
water if you are in close proximity to it. It isn't very loud but you might
not want it running up the wall behind your bed.

"deke" wrote in message
...
I've had horizontal heat/cool gas unit in attic for 23 years and like
it just fine. There is no downside.

I'd recommend double insulating the duct work and by that I mean add
some extra insulation on the outside of the ducts.

I'd also recommend a variable speed air handler. They save you some
bucks.

And of course a hi efficiency furnace 95% or so.

Thanks Deke !

That's exactly the kind of unit he was recommending, and exactly what I was
hoping to hear...

PD

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:23:40 -0400, "Pete D"
wrote:

Hey folks

I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch with
hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.

Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house. Most
of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.

Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least cosistent,
coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today threw out an
option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a furnace up in the
attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700 (I already have gas
lines up there).

This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
up)

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating in
the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating cause
the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.


One big downside: heat flows upward, not downward. If cold feet never
bother you, a furnace in the attic makes sense.

That's exactly what I have in my house. Keep in mind (contrary to other
replies) you should NOT put a 92+%'r in the unconditioned area. Any HVAC
man who knows what he's doing will not put one there. Mine's an 80%'r and
works just great. The furnace could care less where it is other than the
above restriction.

--
Steve Barker

YOU should be the one
controlling YOUR car.
Check out:
www.lightsout.org




"Pete D" wrote in message
. ..
Hey folks

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating
in the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating
cause the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.

Pete D
Willoughby Hills OH

If the guy is good, he can use wall cavities as returns and get the returns
near the floor. For summer, it won't matter.

--
Steve Barker

YOU should be the one
controlling YOUR car.
Check out:
www.lightsout.org




"Chris Hill" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:23:40 -0400, "Pete D"
wrote:

Hey folks

I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch
with
hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.

Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house.
Most
of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.

Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least
cosistent,
coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today threw out an
option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a furnace up in the
attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700 (I already have gas
lines up there).

This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
up)

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating
in
the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating cause
the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.


One big downside: heat flows upward, not downward. If cold feet never
bother you, a furnace in the attic makes sense.

"Chris Hill" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:23:40 -0400, "Pete D"
wrote:

Hey folks

I live in the suburbs of Cleveland OH in a single-story, L-shaped ranch
with
hot water baseboard heating. As such, with no ductwork for forced-air
ventilation, I have no central air conditioning.

Because my attic allows easy access to the ceiling of virtually every room
in the house, I've been soliciting estimates for the installation of a
central AC system, which would basically be a compressor unit outside
plumbed to a fan coil (air handler) unit in the attic with an insulated
plenum that would feed insulated flex ducts to each room of the house.
Most
of the contractors have spec'd one large single 'return' in the main
hallway, versus returns in each room, tho some have spec'd that as well.

Anyway, that's all well and good, and the estimates are at least
cosistent,
coming in around $7-9K. However one of the contractors today threw out an
option that I hadn't considered...he asked if I wanted a furnace up in the
attic as well. The added cost would only be about $700 (I already have gas
lines up there).

This is REALLY attractive to me, since I have little use for hot water
baseboard heating (I know some folks LOVE it, but I'm sick of the
maintenance, and just don't like the heat...takes too long to warm things
up)

Is there any down-side to putting a furnace in the attic? Will operating
in
the sub-freezing ambient attic temps for the majority of the heating cause
the unit any extra wear and tear, or cost me more to heat?

And for that matter, does the AC plan sound reasonable?

Any thoughts at all would certainly be appreciated.


One big downside: heat flows upward, not downward. If cold feet never
bother you, a furnace in the attic makes sense.
True in a gravity flow only system but a fan can blow heated air in any
direction. A properly designed forced air system will maintain a pretty
uniform temperature throughout the home. Because of seasonal variations it
is difficult to maintain uniformity in multi-story and similar type homes
unless the system is zoned.

Don Young

most attics get very hot.id rather work on one in a crawlspace.

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm