need some heat pump advice
Last Post 10 Sep 2021 03:19 PM by sailawayrb. 2 Replies.
Printer Friendly
Sort:
PrevPrev NextNext
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
MegunticookUser is Offline
New Member
New Member
Send Private Message
Posts:1

--
10 Sep 2021 01:44 AM
My wife has been after me for a couple years to install a heat pump in our home and I'm finally ready to make it happen. But could use some advice.

First the home: it's an efficient home we built in 2002 in Maine. Very happy with it overall. We installed pex in the slab but have never actually used it. Heat is passive solar plus a Vermont Castings Encore catalytic woodburning stove which has worked great. Biggest climate issue is probably summertime heat and humidity--the downstairs stays relatively cool but upstairs will heat up after a 90 degree day. And the humidity can get uncomfortable as well. My office is on the third floor which can get quite hot during those spells. We open everything up at night which helps but still gets unpleasant.

The research I've done so far suggests a ductless mini-split is the right solution. Would it be worth looking at a reverse-cycle chiller so we can potentially use the radiant floor heat?

We're both sensitive to noise so a quiet unit would be important.

Been browsing the Mitsubishi line and also Daikin. Any thoughts on those? I hear the Daikin is better at dehumidifying--a relative in the area with a Mitsubishi says it handles that job poorly. Have read that online also.

Any and all advice and suggestions welcome. Thanks.





newbostonconstUser is Offline
Advanced Member
Advanced Member
Send Private Message
Posts:778

--
10 Sep 2021 11:38 AM
Guessing you don't have Natural Gas, so the minisplit will be nice for you....

My impression/research is minisplits are all very close to each other. Any type of AC is going to dehumidify as long as it isn't too oversized.

The heated floors are going to be hard to do without natural gas if you don't have it. If you do have natural gas just use a standard tank hot water heater.
"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlins
sailawayrbUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:2283
Avatar

--
10 Sep 2021 03:19 PM
Yes, if you need both AC and heating, a ductless minisplit is likely your best solution. Daikin and some other companies also make air-source to water heat pumps that could bring your hydronic radiant floor to life for equally low monthly operational cost, but the acquisition cost of these units is pretty high making ROI questionable.

We also have a passive solar home...constructed using ICF...and located in Southern OR. We use hydronic radiant floor heating and a wood-fired masonry heater(Nobert Senf Heat Kit). We don’t need or have AC and just open windows and use a whole house attic fan to cool the interior thermal mass at night. We use a low cost NextGen electric boiler hydronic radiant appliance in our home and in our garage/shop/guest quarters. Lots of info on our website if interested:

https://www.borstengineeringconstruction.com/Masonry_Heater_Builders.pdf

https://www.borstengineeringconstruction.com/NextGen_Boiler.pdf
Borst Engineering & Construction LLC - Competence, Integrity and Professionalism are integral to all that we do!
You are not authorized to post a reply.

Active Forums 4.1
Membership Membership: Latest New User Latest: croccohvacusa New Today New Today: 0 New Yesterday New Yesterday: 0 User Count Overall: 35027
People Online People Online: Visitors Visitors: 171 Members Members: 0 Total Total: 171
Copyright 2011 by BuildCentral, Inc.   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement