Getting proposals for 4 new HVAC systems at my house (2 existing + 2 new with additions being added, so a big job). Experiencing multiple contractors reporting unavailability of higher-end equipment (inverter A/C, even 2-stage A/C!!!, modulating furnaces, and even furnaces/air handlers with variable speed blowers). I really want inverter A/Cs and either modulating furnaces or hydro air. Hydro air is my preference.
The only inverter A/Cs that I seem to be able to actually get are either the Daikin Fit or the Bosch. Multiple contractors are recommending the Bosch. I've seen videos on YouTube about how they cannot control humidity which is scaring me, but I suspect this may be using their single-speed air handler, and that this isn't an issue with their two-speed air handler. I also hear that they are really only two stage, but I know that's wrong and it's the blower that's only two speeds. All this leaves me with a few questions so I can make the right decision on which contractor and equipment to go with. I would sincerely appreciate any advice from the pros that I can get!
1) The one contractor I'm leaning towards most wants to use Bosch, but said we should not use variable speed air handlers with it and instead use two speed blowers only. (Either Bosch's furnace or air handler with two speed blower, or any other brand as long as it's a two speed blower.) Would a variable speed blower not work with the Bosch? How would the variable speed blower even know when to ramp up or down if it's not communicating with the outdoor unit which the Bosch doesn't support? There's an extreme shortage of variable speed blower units apparently right now, but I'm wondering if we got a generic brand (like First Co.) if I might be able to get one. Having an inverter A/C but only a two speed blower seems weird to me, but my contractor seems against pairing the Bosch with a variable speed blower and I'm trying to understand this better.
2) Are the humidity issues reported with the Bosch only the case with the single speed air handlers, and if I use the two speed air handler (or variable speed if that's possible per my above question) will I be OK? I worry that the Bosch can't communicate with the indoor air handler to tell it when to slow down, and am worried that the Bosch isn't as good of a choice on the inverter equipment.
3) Bosch only makes 3 and 5 ton units in the 18 SEER, and it goes down to 26%. But if I need a 4 ton for one of my systems, and they set the dip switches to cap the capacity at 4 tons, would that mean its lowest speed would be 26% of 5 tons, not 26% of 4 tons? That is my concern.
4) Does hydro air work with communicating equipment (e.g., could the Daikin Fit be paired with a hydronic coil instead of a furnace), or does hydro air necessitate using conventional thermostats? I feel a lot better about hydro air than I do furnaces, but am wondering if this automatically excludes communicating equipment on the A/C or heat pump side of things (which then would mean the Bosch is my only option if I want inverter heat pumps).
5) Regarding hydro air with EWC zoning - does this work just fine? There would be 4 systems total but 6 zones (two of the units would have two zones each). Doesn't matter for zoning with conventional controls (non-communicating) if the heat source is a hydro coil or a furnace, right?
6) Do you think hydro air is worth the premium over furnaces? I don't love the idea of buying 4 fossil fuel burning devices in 2022. I'd rather get one boiler that I can either replace with a heat pump boiler later when the technology evolves, or keep as a backup with a heat pump boiler being primary once they start coming out with them, and then I don't have to replace 4 air handlers.
My ideal system was either the Trane XV18s or Daikin Fit (communicating) heat pumps with variable speed blowers and hydro air, but not sure how possible that even is.
Thanks for any/all advice!!!
-Paul
The only inverter A/Cs that I seem to be able to actually get are either the Daikin Fit or the Bosch. Multiple contractors are recommending the Bosch. I've seen videos on YouTube about how they cannot control humidity which is scaring me, but I suspect this may be using their single-speed air handler, and that this isn't an issue with their two-speed air handler. I also hear that they are really only two stage, but I know that's wrong and it's the blower that's only two speeds. All this leaves me with a few questions so I can make the right decision on which contractor and equipment to go with. I would sincerely appreciate any advice from the pros that I can get!
1) The one contractor I'm leaning towards most wants to use Bosch, but said we should not use variable speed air handlers with it and instead use two speed blowers only. (Either Bosch's furnace or air handler with two speed blower, or any other brand as long as it's a two speed blower.) Would a variable speed blower not work with the Bosch? How would the variable speed blower even know when to ramp up or down if it's not communicating with the outdoor unit which the Bosch doesn't support? There's an extreme shortage of variable speed blower units apparently right now, but I'm wondering if we got a generic brand (like First Co.) if I might be able to get one. Having an inverter A/C but only a two speed blower seems weird to me, but my contractor seems against pairing the Bosch with a variable speed blower and I'm trying to understand this better.
2) Are the humidity issues reported with the Bosch only the case with the single speed air handlers, and if I use the two speed air handler (or variable speed if that's possible per my above question) will I be OK? I worry that the Bosch can't communicate with the indoor air handler to tell it when to slow down, and am worried that the Bosch isn't as good of a choice on the inverter equipment.
3) Bosch only makes 3 and 5 ton units in the 18 SEER, and it goes down to 26%. But if I need a 4 ton for one of my systems, and they set the dip switches to cap the capacity at 4 tons, would that mean its lowest speed would be 26% of 5 tons, not 26% of 4 tons? That is my concern.
4) Does hydro air work with communicating equipment (e.g., could the Daikin Fit be paired with a hydronic coil instead of a furnace), or does hydro air necessitate using conventional thermostats? I feel a lot better about hydro air than I do furnaces, but am wondering if this automatically excludes communicating equipment on the A/C or heat pump side of things (which then would mean the Bosch is my only option if I want inverter heat pumps).
5) Regarding hydro air with EWC zoning - does this work just fine? There would be 4 systems total but 6 zones (two of the units would have two zones each). Doesn't matter for zoning with conventional controls (non-communicating) if the heat source is a hydro coil or a furnace, right?
6) Do you think hydro air is worth the premium over furnaces? I don't love the idea of buying 4 fossil fuel burning devices in 2022. I'd rather get one boiler that I can either replace with a heat pump boiler later when the technology evolves, or keep as a backup with a heat pump boiler being primary once they start coming out with them, and then I don't have to replace 4 air handlers.
My ideal system was either the Trane XV18s or Daikin Fit (communicating) heat pumps with variable speed blowers and hydro air, but not sure how possible that even is.
Thanks for any/all advice!!!
-Paul
source https://hvac-talk.com/vbb/threads/2240481-Limited-equipment-options-questions?goto=newpost
No comments:
Post a Comment