Oh, installing a forced-air furnace and A/C is no problem at all - and I
agree it's a simple enough job in most cases. I installed a complete system
(after removing an oil-converted octopus (gravity) furnace in our old house
in 1980. All new ductwork, etc. And I'm certified for Freon. I'm not
concerned about doing the job myself - though whether or not I actually do
this one myself is not at all certain. I have time in the winter, when
there's no way to remove a furnace for days. In the nice months I tend to
work 6-7 days a week.
The issues here are more related to the physical limitations of the house's
layout, tight furnace room, almost no access to the Zonolite-contaminated
attic, no basement, and on and on. When I get into it further, I'll likely
ask lots of questions.
Meanwhile, if anyone here is a current HVAC tech, I'd really appreciate a
post offline to tell me about the state of the art in variable-firing and
DC-fan systems. Our 142-year-old, (uninsulated balloon frame walls) 2-story
house would benefit from a constant flow of air to avoid stratification and
alleviate some of the drafts I still haven't tracked down. I last looked
into such units quite a few years ago and at that time they were brand new
and reliability of variable-speed blower motors and controls was
questionable, so I elected to wait a few years. Ads today give me the
impression that there's much more variability available in firing rates, and
10-year warranties make me believe that DC blower motors must live longer
lives now.
Also, if I can get the condensate pan sealed with POR-15 putty or something
(max temp at the pan is only 125 degrees), I'll hold off for another few
years.
Thanks!
Karl
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Nibbler
I'll say this about a/c repair/replacement:
It's a LOT easier than I thought. If you've got even a smidgen of mechanical
aptitude AND the ability to plan the purchase, I see no reason why that's
not a DIY job. The markup on that stuff is INSANE, such that I'd consider
trying it, and I am horrible at electronics (which seems to be the real work
in a/c).
Karl, I'd think with a \year to plan that you'd have few issues.
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