Hi All,
I’d like to install a forced air gas furnace for a 1000 sq.ft. insulated living space above my workshop. I’d also like to install a separate evaporative cooling unit using the same ductwork. (The location is California, Sierra Foothills where summer relative humidity is typically under 20% and heating season temps get no lower than 20 degrees fahrenheit.)
The open living space is the second floor above my workshop. I intend to hang the furnace and ducts from the 12′ workshop ceiling. The evaporative cooling unit would mount outside the shop wall. I’m trying to avoid a window unit in the living space because sealing it in the winter is difficult and removing the unit to shut the window is also a pain.
Is sharing ductwork okay? Can you recommend specific equipment?
Any other advice is most welcome.
Dave Giuliani
Replies
I'm sure it can be done, but you need some sort of "valve" arrangement to prevent backflow through one unit when the other is running. This would probably have to be electrical "dampers".
Or else you could perhaps put the two units in series. (The evap unit should probably be second.) (Except I'm remembering that an evap unit must draw intake air from outside, whereas your heater is presumably recirculating.)
I think the differing technology and air volumes between ducted heating and evaporative cooling don’t allow the units to share the same ductwork. Maybe we should ask experts about this one.