The goal of every installation I embark on is to create an assembly of equipment and components that will work seamlessly to deliver a comfort level that exceeds all expectations. The definition of comfort is something that is as unique to an individual as their own fingerprint. The HVAC design that serves your home should be treated as an important factor in your future lifestyle that should not be left in the hands of just any contractor.
We base our designs around what we call the "four factors of comfort",
1: temperature: 2: humidification 3: air quality 4: dehumidification .
Each factor must be addressed in a design to assure satisfactory conditions during all seasons. Adding the instruments to achieve these factors successfully is a feat that can only be performed by a seasoned HVAC specialist. Our recommended mode of comfort delivery is what we refer to as hydro-air. This design blends the advantages of a ducted air system with the advantages of a boiler (solar or geothermal also) based water design. This blend marries the advantages of both without missing the 4 factors in the design. The beauty of this configuration is that the design options are endless. We can offer solar, geothermal, conventional boilers, radiant, snowmelt, pool heating, ducted air conditioning, air quality, humidification, panel and towel heaters,and domestic hot water production. Try that trick with a warm air furnace!
The cost of fuel these days makes many demands on system designs. The very FIRST step is to provide the very best insulation the project can afford. Forget about fiberglass batts and look to the new generations of cellulose and spray foams. Sure they cost more now but with the cost of fuels and the ability to downsize my HVAC system, the pay back is more rapid than you may think. Start with a quality building envelope and the long lasting comfort and efficiency of modern HVAC will be easier (and more affordable) to enjoy.
If a more basic design is needed - my recommended avenue would be a multi stage Carrier Infinity gas furnace and carrier Infinity heat pump. This is commonly referred to as "hybrid heat" because it combines a furnace and heat pump, allowing the controls to cycle on the heat pump as the outdoor conditions favor its operation. When it is too cold for the heat pump, the furnace clicks on and heats the home. In the summer cooling months, the heat pump reverses and acts as a home AC system. This is as "green" as a basic system can get without going to geothermal for the heat pump operation. Carrier has an amazing line of components for these applications. The best components ( the one that made me jump from Trane to Carrier) is the Infinity control system. There is absolutely nothing like this device in the field of residential HVAC. It is very easy for homeowners to use- almost operates by itself! It provides me with an immense amount of system data including past fault history, fan speed, current status, filter condition, airflow... A real life saver when troubleshooting an issue.
