Adding AC to a house with radiant heat

Siegel1719

Siegel1719

Club Member
Looking at possibly making an offer on a house but it does not have AC. It is a 2200 square foot tri-level. Anyone ever retrofit there house to have AC. What did you use? (Mini-Split, High Velocity AC, Conventional Central Air). How much did you spend? Just looking to have as much information as possible before we make an offer.

Thanks
Jeremy
 
I have radiant heat in my ranch home. The duct work runs thru-out the attic and the vents are in the ceiling.....I would imagine it would be pretty expensive to add it to the home because you need everything, including some sort of furnace with a blower system. That is what I have......

Gary
 
When I was in Japan, all places that had AC were Mitsubishi mini split heat pump units that mount to the wall. Even in 90 degree 100% humidity it could keep a 1500sq ft room with 50 people cool.
 
In laws had to have a fake furnace installed just to house the a coil and blower system and some duct work. Paid about 6k for their 1300sqft condo to be done about 12 years ago
 
You need and air handler, ac unit, and duct work. Most of the time it's run thru the attic for access reasons. I am in the same situation I've gotten quotes for over 10k, I plan to do all the dirty work myself and have the units hooked up. this will save half or more if you have the time and know how. If you do it yourself consult someone for sizing. In my case my neighbors son who will do the hook up gave me a supply list.
 
mustangmike6996 said:
When I was in Japan, all places that had AC were Mitsubishi mini split heat pump units that mount to the wall. Even in 90 degree 100% humidity it could keep a 1500sq ft room with 50 people cool.
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This is what I was going to do, but I ended up selling the house.
Now I see the girl that bought added some sort of A/C because it is visible from the outside.
The house had a boiler and convectors, so I figured it would cost cubic shit ton's of cash to install something that would work.
There are ways to do it though, but I'd guesstimate $10k at the minimum for a house that size.
 
I have an old house that had AC added on through existing duct work. It isn't very efficient, but it works. I think if I was going from scratch, I would have installed a second unit in the attic. The quote I got for that, and running all new lines, was $12,000 though, so sticking with the inefficient system was the call I made. The basement is cold enough to hang meat, the first floor is perfect, and the second floor gets stuffy at night. But it works.

-Geoff
 
Thanks for the input guys. Were hoping to be able to install AC for under $10k. The house is a pretty damn good deal so with remodels and adding AC we just need to keep to the budget.
 
Anyone who has done work in the attic during the summertime can attest to putting HVAC up there is just trading one problem for another. I'd either do the mini-split, or just plan to retrofit a traditional forced air system.
 
Siegel1719 said:
Thanks for the input guys. Were hoping to be able to install AC for under $10k. The house is a pretty damn good deal so with remodels and adding AC we just need to keep to the budget.
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You can probably add it to your existing for under $5k.

-Geoff
 
Beigg said:
Only witnessed blow down attic style ac for homes with radiant heat.
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Killjoy said:
Anyone who has done work in the attic during the summertime can attest to putting HVAC up there is just trading one problem for another. I'd either do the mini-split, or just plan to retrofit a traditional forced air system.
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My dad just had it done a summer or two ago on his 1700 sqrft home...Complete unit is up in the attic and ran him about $5500... the only thing They don't like about it is the air return duct is located in the hallway and is noisy at night.
I got the same set up in my attic (cause of a boiler) and a buddy that runs a heating/cooling company says the unit can be installed in a basement (just have to move ceiling tiles) and would add a heating unit to it just in case the boiler ever went out for about 3 grand.
 
Detroit Gearbox said:
Window units are dirt cheap. For the cost I would consider installing several vs installing a entire system.
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Window units are a good band aid, I have a nice portable ac unit that I use on the bedroom side of the house. They don't work in all layouts unfortunately, like casement windows which is what my family room has. The central system is much nicer just pricey when you don't already have forced air heat.
 
I have hot water heat and went with a Samsung mini split system. I love it, it cools my small ranch (1250 sq. ft.) and acts as a good alternative heat source in the winter if I have boiler problems. I just have a single head unit. I did not want to have to deal with cutting in vents all over the attic, nail pops, etc...
 
My current home is baseboard heat but also has an AC system with the high pressure vent things in the ceiling. Thankfully the previous owners had the install done. I was told it was in the $12-15K range. I'm sure there's a lot of profit in that, but still..
 
mdhmi said:
My current home is baseboard heat but also has an AC system with the high pressure vent things in the ceiling. Thankfully the previous owners had the install done. I was told it was in the $12-15K range. I'm sure there's a lot of profit in that, but still..
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Yea, that is the shit. Those little white nozzles? That is the absolute best system you can get. I know a guy who paid over $20k because they installed it on both floors. They had to knock out the ceiling of a closet on the first floor and fish all the hoses. Works awesome though.

-Geoff
 
Yes it's not a cheap system to retrofit. No cheap way to do it as the home didn't already have ducts in place. The coil and what not is in the attic and the compressor is in the yard. Boiler in the basement utility room. Supposedly the twin system is more efficient. I don't really care much so long as the house is cool for my dogs during the summer.
 
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