Replies

1. 
   SteveL | Apr 22, 2002 02:23am | #1

   Jean -

   Unless you have the proper federal refrigerant license, any dealer is forbidden by law to sell any refrigerant containing equipment to you - that is why you get the 'call your HVAC man' response so much. Big fines - big paperwork mess - big problems for the dealer. Any technician will face the same fate if they buy it for you under the table. Section 608, EPA Regulations. Whatever brand you get, just be sure you have easy access to parts and qualified help when you need it.

2. 
   ahneedhelp | Apr 22, 2002 04:06am | #2

   Jean -

   I understand your predicament and also speak as a fan of radiant heat.

   I am also one of these folks who have to do everything myself but drew the line when it came to air conditioning the house.

   (We don't have radiant floor but have hotwater baseboards.)

   After considering ductless for several years, we decided aginst the idea due to cost and less then satisfactory dehumidification compared to a (properly sized and configured) ducted central unit.

   We selected a Carrier dealer/installer that came highly recommended and we couldn't be more satisfied with their workmanship.

   There are better brands but I feel the reputation of the installer is more important.

   Compared to a ductless system, which I have seen plenty in operation, ours is nearly silent and the installer used ceiling registers that disperses the air in such a way so we don't feel any draft.

   They were also very methodical in selecting the return so the circulation of conditioned air was very efficient.

   The system was also properly sized for our house.

   What is amazing is the air handler/fan unit is mounted in the attic and is VERY quiet.

   Take it from someone who is very hands-on and also leery of dealing with trades people. I was also dead set against putting in any type of ductwork in our house. Well....this one I am more then happy to have forked over the money for and everybody (in my family) is happy for it.

   By the way, Carrier also manufactures a ductless system and our installer sold a few systems to customers, mostly as a separate system in basements. He would have been more then happy to sell us one but recommended against it.

   I have tackled all sorts of home improvement projects and looked into installing central A/C until I ran smack into reality and wised up.

   Hope you find what you need and good luck.

   Alan

3. 
   dabonds | Apr 22, 2002 05:10am | #3

   I assume that you are only thinking about putting this in one or two rooms that exhibit an extremely difficult air conditioning problem. I also do all my own work and live in New Orleans, likely the AC problem capitol of the U.S. I have a two story 100 year old house that, from an HVAC point of view is like having two houses. The downstairs part of the house stays cool enough that the AC is only necessary for 3 or 4 hours a day (12' ceilings). The upstairs room, with two 7' windows and two 10' french doors sucking up the afternoon sun is like a different house. I opted for a one ton split system for that room and it works great. Never shuts off on the hottest days, constantly removing the humidity that is the real killer. But unless you have such a situation, or a room that is not used very much, they just do not compare in efficiency to a well done central system. The ductless split systems have their place but not very often. Buy the way, I did get an HVAC guy to sell me the system cheap. I installed it completely and then just called him out to evacuate the lines and test the pressures in the system. I should warn you that each wall unit needs its own condensate drain line and it needs to be a good one with good slope so as to inhibit growth inside. It is the only problem that I've had with mine.

4. 
   TLRice | Apr 23, 2002 03:39pm | #4

   Most manufacturer's in the US make ductless split systems, Trane Carrier, Bryant, Amana, to name a few. Check out their websites. Using the proper term, "ductless split system", search via something like Google, AltaVista or Yahoo. Which one to install depends on lots of information that you did not provide.

   Questions for you:

   Have you or your brothers calculated cooling loads?

   Where is this house located and how well is it insulated?

   Why not install a standard, ducted central AC system? If cooling is important and dehumidification is necessary, you will be more comfortable. A split ductless is not much more than an expensive, two-part window shaker, without the ability to add fresh air.