dkubarek
New Member
Posts:85
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| 08 Jan 2010 10:39 PM |
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Planning a new construction 2016 sq. ft (28 by 36) two story home near State College, PA. Going to finish the basement. Original plan was to install the Envision and put some heat in the basement by ceiling ducts. Not the best idea but inexpensive. Planned to add a fireplace for heat down there, too. But then I realized I can prep for radiant floor heat for about 3K (1K for pex, 2K for Synergy) and complete the system for about 2K more. After the tax rebate, that's $3,500, the price of a fireplace.
I'd really like to do the radiant floor heat if it's worth the extra cash. One reservation I have is that the Synergy is less efficient according to the specs. The COP is 4.5 and the Envision is 4.5. Am I worrying about nothing or are they comparable units in terms of efficiency? THanks.
dk
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geotek
Basic Member
Posts:154
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| 09 Jan 2010 11:15 AM |
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The Envision will be slightly more efficient but the warm floor will be much more comfortable.
Proper installation is required.
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coasttal
New Member
Posts:16
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| 24 Jan 2010 04:43 PM |
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Not familliar with Synergy. Tell me more.
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engineer
Veteran Member
Posts:2749
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| 24 Jan 2010 09:32 PM |
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Browse Waterfurnace. Synergy's been around awhile. |
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Curt Kinder <br><br>
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is - Winston Churchill <br><br><a href="http://www.greenersolutionsair.com">www.greenersolutionsair.com</a>
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southline
New Member
Posts:20
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| 25 Jan 2010 08:23 PM |
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Do you have time of day metering? The radiant floor slab could be used as heat storage and bleed off in the peak times. This could offset the reduced COP in the Synergy. Any opions? |
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dkubarek
New Member
Posts:85
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| 26 Jan 2010 05:14 PM |
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after getting a quote for the Synergy unit and installation of heating flooring I dropped the idea. It is a nice heating option for sure but it was about 9K for a 28 by 36 area all told. Others may get better prices. I like and trust my installer and that's what he does them for. Thanks all for the help. |
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Jere
Basic Member
Posts:106
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| 26 Jan 2010 06:05 PM |
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Couldn't you go with the Envision, connecting the hot water that is given off from the geo to your water heater, and have your water heater provide for the radiant floor heat in the basement? It probably isn't going to take much to heat the basement if it is insulated properly... slab insulated with at least 2" foam board. |
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I built my home with the help of Pierson-Gibbs Homes, "The Hands on House". They build the shell, you finish it.
www.p-ghomes.com |
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geome
Advanced Member
Posts:987
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| 26 Jan 2010 06:23 PM |
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Assuming the amount of heat is sufficient, you wouldn't want to mix radiant water with potable water. If done with an independent water heater and connected to the DSH, then you would not have the benefit of the DSH assisting the water heater if there is only one geothermal unit.
Just a thought - is there a benefit to insulating the slab if no radiant is installed in a finished basement? |
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| Homeowner with WF Envision NDV038 (packaged) & NDZ026 (split), one 3000' 4 pipe closed horizontal ground loop, Prestige thermostats, desuperheaters, 85 gal. Marathon. |
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dkubarek
New Member
Posts:85
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| 26 Jan 2010 06:55 PM |
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The Synergy wasn't where the price jumped. It was a grand or two more the installation required quite a bit of stuff after that. Pex lines, water heater, thermostat, foam insulation, etc. |
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engineer
Veteran Member
Posts:2749
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| 26 Jan 2010 07:38 PM |
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Posted By geome on 01/26/2010 6:23 PM
Just a thought - is there a benefit to insulating the slab if no radiant is installed in a finished basement? Yes, unless you prefer the basement floor to be at or near outside ground temperature. Probably not desireable north of I-20
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Curt Kinder <br><br>
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is - Winston Churchill <br><br><a href="http://www.greenersolutionsair.com">www.greenersolutionsair.com</a>
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