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What A/C features should I consider?

What A/C features should I consider?

What A/C features should I consider?

(OP)
Hello all,
I built my own house 5 years ago, and installed a boiler system with in floor radiant heat. Now, I plan on adding an whole house A/C system with new ductwork, etc.
I plan on adding a good quality air filteration system, (perhaps an american standard Acuclean 1500 CFM unit) and perhaps a UV light for germs and viruses.
I'll also add a hot water coil and hook it up to a free zone off my boiler to solve some heat balancing issues I have with my radiant floor system, and to heat the house in the milder months when the radiant floor system is not really needed.

My question- what features should I consider? Mainly, what about a variable speed motor? Are they more expensive? Are they worth it? I think it would be a good idea to filter the air more and balance the rooms more.  

So, are there differences in air handlers? What are the better features I should be looking at. I do not want to do this only to find there was something I wished I got but did not know about.
Thank you in advance for your kind help.

thanks, Frank D.

RE: What A/C features should I consider?

I got a VS air handler about six years ago.  It had a five year warranty.  The motor is dead.  Actually, the 230/3/60 motor core seems okay, but the driver circuit isn't working.

So far, I've been looking six months for a replacement motor, or someone who can diagnose/ service/ rebuild what I have.  No joy.

All I can find is annoying Government sponsored flackery about  the virtues of VS motors, but no one is selling actual replacement motors.  Except one guy who offered to sell me a replacement motor for 20 pct more than the cost of an entire air handler.

Oh.  While it worked, it was great; reduced energy bills, quiet operation, all that rot.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: What A/C features should I consider?

(OP)
Thanks Mike.
That is sobering. Perhaps I should just stick with the norm.
Being outside of Buffalo, the A/C will not me used all that much, but the heat part will sometimes in the winter. I was thinking of just running the fan for circulation and filtering.

Thanks, Frank D.

RE: What A/C features should I consider?

(OP)
Thanks Wilkes,
That first link looks like a great unit for me. i'll have to find out what my supply house sells.....even if it is more money, it looks like you save down the road.

Frank D.

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