Natural gas?

[Sigarms]

When I bought this farm house I was going to rip out the old Trane HP and install a 90+ nat, gas furnace with a inverter straight A/C condenser. But I decided to give this ducted VRF a try. I must say I've been pleased and impressed at the same time.
If I manage to out live this VRF, I may just go with the 90+ nat. gas furnace and inverter A/C condenser next round.

I think the average winter temp in Alabama is a little colder than where I'm at in NC. I know I was surprised when I first moved down to NC how cold it gets in our area, and even colder going west to higher elevation. Keep in mind, we're generally talking about 4-8 weeks max out of the year if that. I mean even in Greensboro NC there are actually more heating hours in the year vs cooling hours, and that surprised me.

When my father lived with us in the basement, cooling is not what was needed, but heating (didn't even need to run the AC in the summer down there for him). I put a single stage compressor (dual fuel) and left the existing Trane gas furnace after my father died and the realtor suggested updating the HVAC systems before we sell. The reality is there is no way a single stage heat pump would keep the basement pushing 80F during the colder months IMO.

 

[kenmac]

I think the average winter temp in Alabama is a little colder than where I'm at in NC. I know I was surprised when I first moved down to NC how cold it gets in our area, and even colder going west to higher elevation. Keep in mind, we're generally talking about 4-8 weeks max out of the year if that. I mean even in Greensboro NC there are actually more heating hours in the year vs cooling hours, and that surprised me.

I had no idea of the weather in your state vs mine so this is what I found.

''Alabama usually experiences milder, warmer temps. compared to North Carolina.''

I know temps. differ in different parts of Al., and that's probably true for your state as well . The farther north you get in Al, the colder it can get in the winter months.
North Al has had snow this season while we have had none .

We've had great weather this past week. in the 60's - 70's, but the next couple nights are suppose to be lows 27 deg and high in mid 40's during the day, then back to the 60's-70's.

I thought I was finished having to heat the water for the cattle to prevent freezing, but I guess I'll have to turn the heaters on for a couple more nights.

 

[ultrarunner]

My plan is to keep natural gas as long as possible… it works and relatively simple to very simple when it comes to 100 year old floor furnaces.

About 25 years ago I updated all of the remaining key controlled furnaces to thermostats with gas valve…

 

[Sigarms]

I had no idea of the weather in your state vs mine so this is what I found.

I screwed up what I was saying. Common sense would have told me that NC has colder temps than Alabama gets in the winter.

Yes, East of 95 in the state is generally warmer than Greensboro going west. Could be sunny and cold in Winston Salem and 2 hours away in Boone, they could be having a snow storm (seriously).

Western part of NC has a much higher elevation than Raleigh going east. Raleigh is about 300', where I'm at is 1,000' and Boone is up around 3,000'.

 

[arto98607]

@Sigarms thanks! I found that post very informative and helpful.

I'd love to put in geothermal here, but my choices are either renting an excavator and doing it myself, or no geothermal. Geothermal is basically unheard of here, which means almost nobody does it, they do it rarely, so they are out of practice, and as a result megabucks pricey, which gives an ROI of forever. Just the first 100' from the house are basically hand trench only for a variety of hazards.$$$

All the best,

Peter

Here is one that was done years ago by company that is doing geothermal exclusively.

The trench is 5' wide and 5' deep, about 290 yards long (or 1/6th of a mile) for a six ton heat-pump system.

No rocks.
Hand digging any distance - mixed feelings!

 

[kenmac]

I screwed up what I was saying. Common sense would have told me that NC has colder temps than Alabama gets in the winter.

Yes, East of 95 in the state is generally warmer than Greensboro going west. Could be sunny and cold in Winston Salem and 2 hours away in Boone, they could be having a snow storm (seriously).

Western part of NC has a much higher elevation than Raleigh going east. Raleigh is about 300', where I'm at is 1,000' and Boone is up around 3,000'.

That's the way here. In No. Al. they may have several inches of snow and I have none in my area. Been really nice the last few days. Now it will get down in the 20's the next couple nights, and mid to high 40's during the day. then Wednesday, it's back in the mid 60's

 

[Sigarms]

That's the way here. In No. Al. they may have several inches of snow and I have none in my area. Been really nice the last few days. Now it will get down in the 20's the next couple nights, and mid to high 40's during the day. then Wednesday, it's back in the mid 60's

The funny thing is even within the state of NC, you can see the differences on what kind of HVAC equipment is being used.

Greensboro east to the shore probably puts in 30 times more gas packs for residential use. Winston west and north puts in a lot more high heat ductless systems because 10F OAT is not out of the norm in during winter.

School systems, commercial use and churches, hydronic systems are not that uncommon across the state, but on the residential side, hydronic and oil systems are more prevalent west of I-77 going down through the state.

What's funny is being a darn yankee, I can remember when the only place for a package unit was commercial use and generally always on a roof. Here in NC, I come across anything up to 20 ton having the chance to be on the side of a building.

No different than areas for install on residential use. Majority of residential systems in NC are in the horizontal position because most houses don't have basements, and most of the installs are in attics or crawl spaces. The two systems in our current basement were easy retrofits being in a mechanical room with plenty of head room. The one thats going to be replaced in the attic this weekend will be a major PITA in the attic. I've got a unfinished basement in the new house, but basement ceiling height is lower than what we have now. Had to do some looking for a 20" tall coil to connect to the new furnace for a total height of 55" for the duct connections.

Always interesting when traveling to see what type of systems each state uses.

No different than heat pumps being big down south and gas AC systems big up north. Heck, I even hear Florida uses straight AC units with air handlers, which is a rarity in NC.