Pictures After My House HVAC Install

BlackGun

BlackGun

Pimpin Ain’t Easy
Joined
Jun 9, 2017
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Hickory
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My heatpump failed this summer after 28 years so me, @Tinman, and my son gutted the entire system. Moved the location to the other side of the attic. Took out all the old ductboard that was pure crap and put in metal round ducting.

I went with a Carrier gas furnace at 96.5% efficiency and a 17 SEER air conditioner. Ran gas piping up the outside wall from the basement and added takeoffs for a future generator. Had to pour extra cement due to the unit bigger outside. Also built a table high enough to never have to bend over to do preventative maintenance or repairs. Added a drain pipe and cutoff in the event the secondary pan were to fill with water.

Hottest time of the year in July so we only worked mornings till lunch or less until the final day of gas piping. Tinman built the table and ran all the gas piping. Finally every room in the upstairs is with two degrees of any other room. Added dampers to balance the airflow. Also installed a UV light for bacteria prevention. The ductwork from when the house was built had metal diverters in it and taped over because they had not installed it to flow correctly. Two weeks of attic temps between 100-142 degrees.


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The thermostat is WiFi controlled from the phone, IPad, and, computer. This is what I do for food and shelter so it’s not like I did something incredible but it’s example of a just stick something in the same place opposed to gutting it. The old ductwork was full of mold spores.
Not in the pictures in 20 more feet of plenum ducting going into the next space.
 
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Very clean installation! That was a good idea to put the air handler and furnace up on a table - much easier maintenance.

I replaced my entire system 2 summers back after the 1990 vintage compressor locked up. It included relocating the air handler and furnace. Man, that was fun....

One question - why did you put the filter/dryer by the air handler instead of the compressor? I’ve was always told to mount them near the compressor; in case of a compressor failure the filter will trap the debris before they contaminate the entire liquid line.
 
Your old attic system sounds just like my old basement system. I had everything ripped out uncluding the boots that go from duct to diffusers in house. Everything was a moldy mildewy mess. I would never build another house with airhandler in basement. It could have easily gone under the staircase on the 1st floor just like my first house.
 
Scsmith42 said:
Very clean installation! That was a good idea to put the air handler and furnace up on a table - much easier maintenance.

I replaced my entire system 2 summers back after the 1990 vintage compressor locked up. It included relocating the air handler and furnace. Man, that was fun....

One question - why did you put the filter/dryer by the air handler instead of the compressor? I’ve was always told to mount them near the compressor; in case of a compressor failure the filter will trap the debris before they contaminate the entire liquid line.
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The manufacturer recommends it inside right before the evaporator coil. It will not rust inside and mainly because on startup release of the refrigerant it will trap any debris and some soot inside the copper. I've done it both ways of course. If I have a evaporator coil change it makes it easier to put in a drier. I rarely have a diagnosed compressor failure. Maybe two per year.
 
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BlackGun said:
The manufacturer recommends it inside right before the evaporator coil. It will not rust inside and mainly because on startup release of the refrigerant it will trap any debris and some soot inside the copper. I've done it both ways of course. If I have a evaporator coil change it makes it easier to put in a drier. I rarely have a diagnosed compressor failure. Maybe two per year.
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Great info - thanks.
 
Painting the gas lines, nice, is that a requirement?
 
Button Pusher said:
Painting the gas lines, nice, is that a requirement?
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Code says paint and yellow stickers labeled as gas. When you buy black iron pipe at a supply house it has a light coat of paint to keep it from rusting on the shelf but if you don’t paint it after install it will rust badly in a couple years. I put two coats on the pipe going thirty feet up the back side of the house with black paint. The interior I painted yellow to indicate gas lines like in a commercial or industry setting. Rarely do installers in this area ever put the first coat of paint on gas piping. It looks horrible in a few years.

Note: this is domestic black iron. The cost of domestic pipe is from double on 1/2” pipe to 3.5 times on 1 1/2” Chinese pipe. Chinese pipe does not thread well and prone to rust quickly.
 
You do any work down my way in Charlotte?
 
Good info on the pipe, 30 years ago I added gas line from garage line opposite wall for my gas dryer,
USA pipe from the local hardware store, old timer threaded it per my specs.:)
We get pipe from Thailand at Home Depot and fittings from China, I don't like it.
 
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This spring we put in high output (2) four foot LED light fixtures to make the space light up like the sun. Also built shelving for all the seasonal decorations. Its nice to go in the attic and see everything clearly. The new sub panel is 60 amps. I have five more circuits for future needs. Plan is to put in some wall lighting fixtures. Also I need to add a powered attic fan.
 
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