[onthelake]

We just recently (6 weeks ago) had our second story hydronic radiant system catastrophically fail and had to have all our ceilings and walls torn down to the studs. My wife no longer trusts heating by water and would like to go with forced air. Having ac will be an added bonus. I am in need of some help as I would like to have multiple zones, like we did with the old heating system, but need some help figuring out which type of system to have installed.

Stats of house:
Size: 2,900 sq feet
Stories: 2(+basement, but that is unfinished)
Bedrooms: 4
Area: New England (temps can get down to 0 degrees)
Sun Exposure: 90% of day with plenty of southern exposed windows
Fuel Source: Natural Gas

I would ideally like to have a 4 zoned system: 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs. There is enough wall separation that this should be possible with air. The issue I am having is that we do not use half the house upstairs and downstairs most the time, unless we are entertaining or have visitors during the summer months. Having said that, ductless (split) systems seem unsightly and my wife will also not allow those. I am looking for the most visually unobtrusive solution possible.

Would you recommend 4 separate air handlers, furnaces and a/c units or is there a more economical way of doing the different zones without potentially damaging the units because of pressure build up?

Cheers,

*Confused about Hot and Cold Air*

 

[pecmsg]

Hydronic has been around for a long time. I would keep it.
Why did it fail?

 

[onthelake]

Hydronic has been around for a long time. I would keep it.
Why did it fail?

The failure was due to a pressure valve failure and the system took on 115 PSI before it catastrophically failed. I personally like hydronic much more that forced air, but the wife clearly knows how to make my life hell and I don't want that.

 

[BaldLoonie]

You can do 4 zones off a single ducted system but I'd want a variable capacity system and matching zoning system. Trying to stuff 100% of a furnace or A/C into 1/4th of a duct system doesn't work too well. But with variable speed and the proprietary zone panel, the equipment runs at the perfect level for the % of the house wanting heat or cool.

For lots less, you can split the house in 2, bedrooms and living areas and use a good standard zone panel and 2 stage equipment.

 

[onthelake]

You can do 4 zones off a single ducted system but I'd want a variable capacity system and matching zoning system. Trying to stuff 100% of a furnace or A/C into 1/4th of a duct system doesn't work too well. But with variable speed and the proprietary zone panel, the equipment runs at the perfect level for the % of the house wanting heat or cool.

For lots less, you can split the house in 2, bedrooms and living areas and use a good standard zone panel and 2 stage equipment.

Awesome, This was exactly the info I need. Any suggestions on manufacturers or specific equipment I should be asking the HVAC companies to include when bidding the job?

 

[pecmsg]

The failure was due to a pressure valve failure and the system took on 115 PSI before it catastrophically failed. I personally like hydronic much more that forced air, but the wife clearly knows how to make my life hell and I don't want that.

no way...........

How did it get above 30#'s?

 

[epmiller]

The failure was due to a pressure valve failure and the system took on 115 PSI before it catastrophically failed.<snip>

Who has a 115 psi domestic water supply in their house?? Something else needs to be repaired. My hydronic system will take full domestic supply pressure, the boiler and NB equipment will be the only question and the blow-off should take care of that.

 

[samgevas]

4 zones on a single FAU system is doable , but the quality of the system design and install becomes very critical.

I'd prefer to install two separate systems, one upstairs, one down. Two zones per system is a lot easier on the equipment.


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[Juan Madera]

Hey, go mini-split with either recessed ceiling casettes or the ducted models. A good brand with a good contractor? What's not to like?

I am totally impressed with the two casettes I installed in my mother-in-law apartment. Is actually keeping the space warmer for less money than the gas fired hydronic baseboard, and we now have A/C too.

I also would have a tendency to use TWO outdoor units with two casettes or ducted air handlers on each one and then split them up and down so that the condensing units are running half of the load downstairs and only run the upper units when occupied. Zat make sense?

 

[HVAC_Marc]

Who has a 115 psi domestic water supply in their house?? Something else needs to be repaired. My hydronic system will take full domestic supply pressure, the boiler and NB equipment will be the only question and the blow-off should take care of that.

We have places here at 250 psi nominal pressure. They go to 300+ during peak times when the water plant cranks up the pumps. We had a water hammer issue in one house that blew up a toilet and sent the lady to the hospital.

Here, reducing valves are highly suggested but not mandatory.

 

[samgevas]

We have places here at 250 psi nominal pressure. They go to 300+ during peak times when the water plant cranks up the pumps. We had a water hammer issue in one house that blew up a toilet and sent the lady to the hospital.

Here, reducing valves are highly suggested but not mandatory.

What a pain in the butt


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[HVAC_Marc]

What a pain in the butt

Amusing, but the reality is it almost killed her. She was old and on blood thinners. She spent 3 weeks in the hospital, had 261 stitches, and 6 pints of blood.

She has a reducing valve now, plus a 100% shutoff solenoid when the water pressure rises above 100.

 

[catmanacman]

I would do 2 units with 2 zones each .

 

[buttwheat]

Man I would love a hydronic system

 

[HVAC_Marc]

Man I would love a hydronic system

there's so many things you can do with it:

- heating, radiant and convective in walls, floors and ceilings
- cooling, radiant and convective " " " " "
- coils in a forced air system
- domestic hot water heating
- heated towel bars
- ice melting
- heat pumping

and a few other things im forgetting

 

[buttwheat]

there's so many things you can do with it:

- heating, radiant and convective in walls, floors and ceilings
- cooling, radiant and convective " " " " "
- coils in a forced air system
- domestic hot water heating
- heated towel bars
- ice melting
- heat pumping

and a few other things im forgetting

Yes and you forgot A happy wife not b1tching about that damn furnace

 

[HVAC_Marc]

Yes and you forgot A happy wife not *****ing about that damn furnace

I dont have one of those right now, but the current gf is always hot (and i keep the t-stat up). so she takes her clothes off...

 

[pecmsg]

I dont have one of those right now, but the current gf is always hot (and i keep the t-stat up). so she takes her clothes off...

:worthless:

 

[HVAC_Marc]

:worthless:

 

[buttwheat]

View attachment 766271

Her cloths are on