Hello,

I am in the process of getting estimates to retrofit my home (new ductwork and all) w/ a geo system. All the contracts that I have spoke with are saying tha tit will be very difficult to get the ductwork up stairs. (There is only one heating vent for three rooms)  They seem to stare at it, but never come up w/ a firm idea as to the best way to proceede. One contract suggested putting a seperate air handler (I think that is what he said) in the attic, running water lines up to it and then doing all the upstairs ductwork from there, thus eliminating the problem of getting the ductwork upstairs. Does that sound like a good option? How does that compare maintainance, cost, and efficieny wise? Thanks for the feed back!

Two stories are always difficult. I'm never a fan of doing with appliances what I can do with duct work but.....I'm not a dry waller. What about pricing the difference between his plan or hiring a company to remove/restore drywall to get to the second floor?
Joe

I dislike for cooling equipment to be in an attic - too hot, too easy to ignore air filter maintenance and greater damage results from condensate overflow.

The risk worsens with geo plumbing being up there, and then there's the difficulty of getting a multi-hundred pound bulky unit up into the attic. Miserable working conditions may make installation shortcuts difficult to avoid and hard to detect.

I agree on the drywall. Patching the drywall should be cheaper than the water lines and extra air handler. After all is said and done, you'd not even worry about the boxed out area.

The issue isn't as much the drywall as it is trying to get the ductwork upstairs. There isn't a straight shot unless we run some of it outside. I can do the drywall work but I dont' have anywhere that I can run it w/o several 90 degree angles. The other possibility would be to put a small mechanical room upstairs for the second unit to get it out of the attic. What is the foot print of a typical 2-ton unit w/ a air handler?

Unless you don't have walls down stairs, there is always a way to get ducts upstairs as long as drywall is not a concern. You need a contractor to solve this for you. An experienced installer will think of things you (or we who haven't seen the job) don't. 90's are a fact of life for second floor runs that's why we use larger duct and split upstairs/downstairs trunks, at our shop, to keep the furthest room from the heat-pump from being the path of most resistance. I also agree with Engineer that having appliances and condensate in an attic are not advantageous.
If you try to design this for your contractor you are already at a disadvantage. Pose the problem and let them solve it.
Good Luck,
Joe