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What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch - We added a 300 sq. ft. of living space to our home as a sun porch. How do we effectively, efficiently heat/cool this space? We’ve been pitched several options. 1) Use existing with a manual duct damper to the new sun porch. 2) same as above but use a zoned approach. Zoned w/auto dampers for main house 1st floor and sun porch plus separate thermostats. 3) HVAC with new units for sun porch (e.g., radiate, forced air, etc)
Sun Porch and What Type of HVAC System Needed?
The Sun Porch or Florida Room: What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch
Parameters - Sun porch is a 15×20 fully enclosed insulated space with 6 ft. casement windows on three sides. The fourth side is the main house wall. The main house is 2 story, 1600 sq ft. per floor, gas heating with 2 Trane furnaces. It’s cooled with 2 Trane central air units. The Trane equipment is now being installed in 2007.
We really do not know much about any of this and that is why we turn to you to help us. My wife found your website on the internet seeking the answer to our predicament. We appreciate any help you may be able to offer us. Thanks for your help in advance. Paul and Debbie
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The Answer to What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch
This is Richard from High Performance HVAC responding to your question. The question concerning your sun porch and the type of HVAC equipment you need to keep it comfortable. The first thing I thought about in your dilemma was a mini-split heat pump. I’ve seen many of these systems used successfully on sun porches. However, I see you reside in Illinois and I don’t believe heat pumps can take the cold winters there. Heat pumps do not provide effective heating for constant temperatures less than 38 degrees F. A mini-split heat pump with backup heat strips would work. Consequently, the electric heat backup for the heat pump is expensive to operate but it works.
Electric heat is expensive for the utility bill. However, the installation cost for the mini-split is cheaper than a full-sized HVAC unit. (minimum sizes with these units are 1.5 tons which is too much for what you need). Additionally, it’s ductless so you don’t need ductwork with the mini-split. You could get a straight AC mini-split with heat strips in the air handler portion. And for backup heat on really cold days a gas-fired radiant heat. Lastly, this would not require ductwork which is good because there are no future problems with replacing or repairing the ductwork.
What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch - Other Factors and Considerations
I’m not a big fan of the automated duct dampers in residential systems. I’ve seen too many problems and heard too many complaints about them. Some contractors swear by them but I will not recommend something that I don’t have confidence in and I don’t have confidence in these systems. The other problem which arises when thinking of using this type of system (automated damper system with two thermostats) is the size of the unit. Are the other parts of the house going to suffer or is the unit going to run too hot when only one zone is calling?
It will probably have a bypass damper so you only get the required amount of BTU airflow to the sun porch. However, where does the bypass go? Back to the furnace where it will cause the furnace to short cycle. (which is the common method of doing it in a system like this)? Does the furnace have staging to prevent short-cycling? If so does the contractor have the talent necessary to hook up the controls properly to make it work right?
Finally, another option for heating and cooling the sun porch is to install a PTAC unit. PTAC units are through the wall heating and cooling units that most people will recognize from hotel rooms and are pictured above. PTAC is an acronym for portable terminal air conditioner.
What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch
What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch
An interesting implementation of a HVAC system. The use of solar collectors is very effective in climatic zones with a high level of solar radiation. Personally, I think it’s very effective to combine a solar collector with an “ordinary” water heater. Then the energy consumption of the water heater is significantly reduced. Since if the amount of heat that the solar water heater gives the water will not be enough, then a water heater can be used. How do you feel about this variant of implementing a combined “classical” system and a system with an alternative energy source?
Solar systems work exceptionally well and do save money however with most new technology things, it costs more to install up front. I have a few customers with solar hot water systems and other than maintenance they pay pennies a year for domestic hot water. Of course, another factor is where you live and optimal solar conditions.
Hello
i am from nepal , i want to install an ac in my house my house size is
2100 sqf four 4X8 fet window and three doors , here temperature is 20 to 35
deg in summer and o to 22 degree centrigrade in winter can you advice me what kind of a/c should i install, in future we are going to install five star hotel ac
pls advice
Deepak, this all depends on what is available in your area/country for air conditioning or heating systems. It is probably best to contact your local heating and air conditioning contractor for the best results. I have never been to Nepal and can only imagine that you most likely use ductless mini-splits like most places in Asia and Europe use for air conditioning and heat pumps.