HVAC in the attic?

[skent]

Same series as the one I have, but 4 years newer. Most likely around 30,000 BTU and 10 SEER. Mine has been going good for 10 years. Uses the Scroll type compressor. A little noisy (compaired to conventional) but less moving parts and longer life. Overall have been a good unit.

 

[kenmac]

starting next year the lowest seer that you will be able to purchase will be a 13 seer with 408 refrigerant installed. All new good ol government regulations.

 

[kenmac]

IF the unit is in the attic with all of the safety devices installed to prevent an accident, then you shouldn't have any problems.I would make sure it had the pan over flow switch installed & wired in circuit to shut the unit down in case the drain stopped up. The + is the unit is out of the way in the attic & you don't have to worry about covering up a supply vent with any of your furniture.

 

[Bird]

Thanks, Steve and Ken, I'm supposed to finish my inspection tomorrow. The house is vacant but there was a pickup truck in the garage blocking access to the attic and it's supposed to be moved tonight.

 

[kenmac]

Bird, I don't know if it was nentioned b-4 or not but , there should be 2 drain pans. 1 under the a/c coil with a drain & 1 large enough to go under the air handler & a/c coil with a drain . this is an emergency pan that takes over should the pan under the coil fail or the water some how backs up into the air handler. The over flow switch should b installed in the emergency pan. Good luck!

 

[Sigarms]

I could be wrong, but Jan. 23rd, 2006 13 seer will be the minimum, but as long as you have existing inventory of "older" seer rated units, you will still be able to use them (I realize they may not last long).

As far as the "freon" goes, you will still be able to use R-22 up until the year 2020, but...starting next year the goverment is going to "regulate" the production of R-22. I'm not sure of "R-408", but at this time R410A seems/will be the replacement freon of "the future" (AKA "Puron" and some other manufacturers "private labled" freon, but it's still 410A).

Bird, you have nothing to worry about an "attic instal" (as long as it's done properly). Very common practice in the south east where there are no basements.

 

[techman]

I think you mean R407, not 408

paul

 

[Sigarms]

I was replying to Kenmac points on the R408.

Again, I could be wrong, but out of the following:

R-22 R-404A R-402B R-401A
R-12 R-402A R-401A R-507
R-502 R-410A R-407C R-409A
HFC-134A R-408A HCFC-123

and some others that I may have forgotten about...

The "winner" will be R410A for future use in residential split HVAC systems.

 

[techman]

R410 is the popular replacement for R22 in the US, but it requires equipment to be redesigned due to higher heat capacity, and higher operating pressures. R407 is more popular in Europe right now. It has characteristics very close to R22 and can be used as a replacement for R22 in existing systems. The only catch is that R407 requires POE oil as compared to mineral oil with R22. This requires a system flush and oil in the compressor be changed. Not an easy, but not impossible task. The refrigerant manufacturers publish the proceedures for changing from R22 to R407. As time goes on expect to see more R407 used as manufacturers try to keep existing designs in some product.

paul

 

[Sigarms]

Most manufacturers now have a dedicated line to 410A.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but R407 is a "drop in replacement" (and there are also other "brands" made for such, but not as well known).

Fact is, by 2020, R-22 will no longer be in production.

I could be wrong (yet a gain /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif), but there are no "systems" designed specifficall (sp?) R-407.

Since it is the goverment doing the regulating, who knows?

You're correct, 410A does operate on higher pressures, but all you need to do is change some "tools" and know your operating pressures (and some training would't hurt /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif) and your good to go.

Apologies Bird, did not mean to hijack this thread.