New Construction HVAC decisions. Geothermal vs. alternatives with upgraded envelope.

EddieWalker · Feb 12, 2019

Makes sense. I was going to suggest hiring a project manager instead of paying GC fees, but if you have to have one, that's that.

Sigarms · Feb 12, 2019

MGH PA said:
Well for one, I cannot act as my own GC here due to bank regulations, and I do nothave enough money to front this project forgoing the lending institutions all together.

Secondly, her is still doing all of the scheduling, draws, etc. Plus he is doing electrical, plumbing, and framing/drywall. I am only picking subs for things I want more control over (HVAC, well, septic, tile, countertops, and cabinets...using Amish for the latter).

We will be picking everything out. I aminstalling all of the flooring as well. It is a mix bag build. I like some control. Just the way I am.

I wish more people were like you. Always found if perplexing that in a 500k house they put the cheapest t-stat they can find on the wall.

MGH PA · Feb 12, 2019

What happened to my last post? :anyone:

MGH PA · Feb 12, 2019

Side question (related). Would it be recommended to zone my system between basement and first floor? It sounds like most of the contractors recommended having everything on one zone, and if going more than one zone, keeping it broken up across the main living floor (maybe one zone for the living area, and one for the bedrooms). Any logic to NOT having a zone for the basement?

Thanks.

buckeyefarmer · Feb 12, 2019

I used 2 units to zone my house.

Raspy · Feb 12, 2019

MGH PA said:
Side question (related). Would it be recommended to zone my system between basement and first floor? It sounds like most of the contractors recommended having everything on one zone, and if going more than one zone, keeping it broken up across the main living floor (maybe one zone for the living area, and one for the bedrooms). Any logic to NOT having a zone for the basement?

Thanks.

Always zone your system into the living areas. You already mentioned the Master bedroom as one because you want it cooler for sleeping. Definitely, absolutely zone the different floors separately. And try to have a mechanical separation between the two floors instead of simply an open stairwell. Otherwise you'll be overheating the upper floor trying to make the lower comfortable. Usually, forced air guys will have far fewer zones than you might have with radiant. Aside from heating and cooling areas you might not be using, with forced air, and not enough zones, you'll be mixing air from all over the house and wearing shoes to avoid the cold floors.

You previously mentioned using non-ceramic tiles so they would not feel too cold. I think that is a mistake, but if you want to go that route, look into cork tiles.

As far as selecting your subs, good idea. As a sub, I always wanted to talk to the homeowner and could always give them a better system because of it. Many times, the homeowners would work with me directly, if they met me first, instead of going through the general, but that can cause some friction. Sometimes I never met the owners from start to finish and I always felt they got less than they could have.

NorTracNY · Feb 13, 2019

MGH PA said:
It's too expensive to have the Geo unit powering the radiant. I'm getting quotes between $10k + to add radiant to the geo system and that doesn't include the insulation.

I'm not sure what your end goal is. I would have likely done both when I built if I was up on geo at the time. Radiant you can't add later, but geo you can. If I remember, you don't have NG, so geo will help with the bills, but so will radiant. For someone walking into and living in your house, they will never notice you have geo. They will notice radiant floor heating. I know there's tons going into you decision process, but if you haven't lived in a home with radiant heating you might want to visit someone that has it. It will save money as will geo.

We looked at geo, but with NG the payback is next to never. The savings on the removal of NG will be lost on the increased electrical. It will actually double our electric needs. We are currently covered with solar, but doubling the solar would really be tough to do.

buckeyefarmer · Feb 13, 2019

Sigarms said:
I wish more people were like you. Always found if perplexing that in a 500k house they put the cheapest t-stat they can find on the wall.

Yea, me too.

NorTracNY · Feb 13, 2019

Isn't zoning between floors a given!? I have a ranch, so I'm not certain, but it sounds very strange that the contractors are not recommending it. I know my parents separated into basement, first floor, and bedrooms. You might also want to watch out for zoning a room with south facing windows with other rooms. My parents have one bedroom that is always MUCH warmer because it has South facing windows, but the thermostat is in another room.

Sigarms · Feb 13, 2019

MGH PA said:
Any logic to NOT having a zone for the basement?

Thanks.

No.

I'd find a new HVAC guy that wants to do it right.

Talked with 2 other guys I trust with Geo and their opinion is the same as mine... for what your spending, trying to do it right, two seperate systems, one for each floor. Since you're already digging and have to do the ductwork, price wise, for what you get in return, worth the investment...

I moved into my house 14 years ago, house was bulit in 1987. 3 HVAC systems, one system per each floor. When I first moved here, I probably would of went zoning if I did the house from scratch on my end for at least 2 floors. Now? I'm grateful I have one system per each floor, no complaints. Added my father is in the basement and he likes it a lot warmer than the rest of us, greatful it's not zoned (and the basement and first floor is what I would of zoned together).