Noise of mechanicals in attic
non_trad_stu
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
New 1200 sq ft home in western NC building with SIPs, insulated slab on grade and insulated under rafters (roof) thus conditioned attic space. It is proposed to put all mechanicals including 15+ SEER HVAC with an ERV in the attic and we may go geo thermal (budget dependant). Question – anyone have opinions about what noise one can experience ( I am very sensitive to noise!)? Proposal is to suspend air handler from rafters. Have done search here but do not find anything specfic on this topic. TIA
Replies
Noise? No Idea
Geo -thermal, I would do it in a heartbeat. only about $12 per extra thousand on a mortage but it will cut your electric by 1/3 at a minimum. Especially helpful on electric bills if you combine with hot water recapture. in your area, you should be able to get free hot water 7 months of the year by using the geo thermal heat from the AC mode to heat your hot water.
Edit, just saw your SQ FT and it may be marginal due to small size.
A lot depends on the air handler. Some are virtually silent and vibration-free, others sound like a KC135 at 50 feet.
Mech. noise in attic.
Since your will have a so called conditioned attic, I see no reason not to put the hvac equipment up there. Where in the house do you think that it would be less noisey? Unless you have conflicting plans for the use of the attic space, I see no problem.
It is a common practice to do it around here. Unfortunately they do it in a hot attic (100*+) which is not recommended.
The air handler / furnace and evaporator is suspened from the rafters which pretty much isolates any viberation from the living area. Of course the condenser is located on the exterior, sitting on a concrete pad on grade, hopefully not near any openings.
As to geo.,I have no experience. Sounds good. Sounds expensive.