Ductless vs central air
#1
07-02-14, 01:07 PM
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Ductless vs central air
Hello, I plan on installing some type of cooling system in my house soon. I currently have a boiler with hot water baseboard with no ductwork at all in the house. I'm torn between a ductless system or a central air system. I know there are pros and cons to both so I would like to hear from you guys what you think.
Some extra info, I am pretty handy and could install ductwork myself. I plan on installing a pellet stove in my finished basement before winter, I do want to add some ductwork and vents from the basement to the first floor to help move the warm air up, and use the stair case as the air return. If I went with central air I could put the air handler in the basement and run all the ductwork under the floor.
My house is a single story ranch.
Thanks
Some extra info, I am pretty handy and could install ductwork myself. I plan on installing a pellet stove in my finished basement before winter, I do want to add some ductwork and vents from the basement to the first floor to help move the warm air up, and use the stair case as the air return. If I went with central air I could put the air handler in the basement and run all the ductwork under the floor.
My house is a single story ranch.
Thanks
#2
07-02-14, 02:39 PM
On a single story ranch with basement, I would go with the central system. If possible I would duct the return.
#3
07-03-14, 05:05 AM
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Ducting everything including the return shouldn't be a problem. Most of my downstairs is finished, but has a drop ceiling so it has easy access, if I were to put the return in the basement, it would work great to help circulate the warm air from my pellet stove throughout the house.
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07-03-14, 03:48 PM
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Thanks airman, thats a good point.
On further inspection I only have 2" of room above my drop ceiling, and the floor joints run perpendicular to the way I would need to run my ductwork, go figure. I do have an enclosed area that runs the whole length of the house that hides the steel beam in the basement, there would be about a 6"x6" square area in there to run something through but that would be the limits. That is pretty much the only options I have, that or lower the whole drop ceiling to accommodate.
Anyone have any ideas at all? Would it be possible to run
On further inspection I only have 2" of room above my drop ceiling, and the floor joints run perpendicular to the way I would need to run my ductwork, go figure. I do have an enclosed area that runs the whole length of the house that hides the steel beam in the basement, there would be about a 6"x6" square area in there to run something through but that would be the limits. That is pretty much the only options I have, that or lower the whole drop ceiling to accommodate.
Anyone have any ideas at all? Would it be possible to run
#7
07-03-14, 04:11 PM
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I just checked again, I have 3" of room between the joist and ceiling. Couldn't I in theory create my own sheet metal duct that is 3" by whatever amount needed? I have 23" plus of width room between the bracing for the drop ceiling.
In theory I could create a duct that is 3x21" out of a 24" piece of galvanized and would move the same amount of air as a 7.8" round duct. This would move enough air for the two bedrooms on one side, the other 3x21 duct would supply to one side of the living room, and to the bathroom. The rest of the rooms (dining room, kitchen and entrance way) will be directly above an unfinished part of the basement and would pose no problem at all for putting in duct work. Cold air return would be somewhere above the unfinished part.
skag, that may work but I really don't know how I would do it with the window wells they have made in the finished section.
In theory I could create a duct that is 3x21" out of a 24" piece of galvanized and would move the same amount of air as a 7.8" round duct. This would move enough air for the two bedrooms on one side, the other 3x21 duct would supply to one side of the living room, and to the bathroom. The rest of the rooms (dining room, kitchen and entrance way) will be directly above an unfinished part of the basement and would pose no problem at all for putting in duct work. Cold air return would be somewhere above the unfinished part.
skag, that may work but I really don't know how I would do it with the window wells they have made in the finished section.
