More Venting on HVAC Systems
Fitzpatrick: Our intrepid owner of a Los Angeles Spanish Revival has written again with an update on her project, to which Peg was responding in her previous post:
Things are moving along on our little project and my next question is, do either of you have any opinions on installing air conditioning systems in older homes? We’re going to put in radiant heat (can’t wait), and the house has no ducts (of course) for central air “proper.” What’s a girl to do? Mini-splits, High Velocity…I would try to live without as we have been for the last 5 years, but it was 98 degrees here on election day!
Would love to hear your thoughts if you have any on the topic!
Hmmm. As Peg pointed out, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning—you’d be surprised how long it took me to learn that) systems are a specialty with their own license qualification in California. In fact, on most commercial projects, the architect no longer draws this section of the plans. They are so specialized and complicated with all the energy requirements that she contracts on a design/build agreement with an HVAC contractor.
If we keep to our analogy of a home as a living body, the HVAC person is the respiratory or pulmonary specialist.
Though mostly clueless about the subject, I’ve had some recent experience. I recently viewed a home designed by architect Robert Stevens and built in 1960. The home has a split system HVAC. One portion of it has been replaced (don’t ask me which one) and the other is the original York. The same situation occurred on our company’s office building (1956). The beauty of split systems is they last a long time because you only use the part you need, and the other part gets a rest.
I’m assuming you are talking about a mini-split in the existing sections of the house, which I’d bet are on a stem foundation (crawl space below) and with attic space. I’d opt for the mini-split in your situation, so you get the kind of ventilation and cooling we’ve all come to expect. You said you plan to install radiant flooring. I’m unclear where/how this will go. Are you planning on the addition being a slab with radiant heating tubes within it? If so, you have to be especially careful the elevations are well designed so that this height difference makes sense, otherwise the addition will stick out like me and Peg at a Republican fundraiser. If you’re planning on installing that mesh electrical stuff under wood or tile but on a raised foundation, be aware that that stuff sucks energy like an SUV sucks gas.
But either way you slice it, as one of permanently reptilian toes, radiant flooring is delicious. Be sure also to design the floorplan of the addition to address cross-ventilation (pay attention to where your breeze comes from and at what time of day), and if you are able, site the addition to take advantage of any passive solar you can muster with south-facing windows and conductive flooring (such as tile).
On the interior design front, locate your return air registers and vents with care. Consider not only their aesthetic placement on the floor/wall/ceiling in relation to furniture, windows, art, but also their functional placement; e.g. a vent above the logical location for your desk in a home office—papers flying everywhere.
Also give thought to the design of the registers, the actual grilles. With the kind of detail in those houses, I’d opt to make them decorative wrought iron, copper or bronze. Peg was just giving me grief about my attention to detail on a recent photo shoot for a magazine we write for, but I always address doorknobs, back plates, hinges, hinge finials, doorstops, kickplates and vent covers. I’m always specifying custom vent covers for bathroom fans. (You’re saying, someone please give this woman drugs). The standard white plastic, metal or cheap brass is not going to cut it for this house.
Referencing the home as a living body once again, the hardware is its jewelry, it’s earrings, bracelets, necklaces, toe rings, nose rings. Think how much time we spend on those, eh? All those small details add up to a great effect.
Things are moving along on our little project and my next question is, do either of you have any opinions on installing air conditioning systems in older homes? We’re going to put in radiant heat (can’t wait), and the house has no ducts (of course) for central air “proper.” What’s a girl to do? Mini-splits, High Velocity…I would try to live without as we have been for the last 5 years, but it was 98 degrees here on election day!
Would love to hear your thoughts if you have any on the topic!
Hmmm. As Peg pointed out, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning—you’d be surprised how long it took me to learn that) systems are a specialty with their own license qualification in California. In fact, on most commercial projects, the architect no longer draws this section of the plans. They are so specialized and complicated with all the energy requirements that she contracts on a design/build agreement with an HVAC contractor.
If we keep to our analogy of a home as a living body, the HVAC person is the respiratory or pulmonary specialist.
Though mostly clueless about the subject, I’ve had some recent experience. I recently viewed a home designed by architect Robert Stevens and built in 1960. The home has a split system HVAC. One portion of it has been replaced (don’t ask me which one) and the other is the original York. The same situation occurred on our company’s office building (1956). The beauty of split systems is they last a long time because you only use the part you need, and the other part gets a rest.
I’m assuming you are talking about a mini-split in the existing sections of the house, which I’d bet are on a stem foundation (crawl space below) and with attic space. I’d opt for the mini-split in your situation, so you get the kind of ventilation and cooling we’ve all come to expect. You said you plan to install radiant flooring. I’m unclear where/how this will go. Are you planning on the addition being a slab with radiant heating tubes within it? If so, you have to be especially careful the elevations are well designed so that this height difference makes sense, otherwise the addition will stick out like me and Peg at a Republican fundraiser. If you’re planning on installing that mesh electrical stuff under wood or tile but on a raised foundation, be aware that that stuff sucks energy like an SUV sucks gas.
But either way you slice it, as one of permanently reptilian toes, radiant flooring is delicious. Be sure also to design the floorplan of the addition to address cross-ventilation (pay attention to where your breeze comes from and at what time of day), and if you are able, site the addition to take advantage of any passive solar you can muster with south-facing windows and conductive flooring (such as tile).
On the interior design front, locate your return air registers and vents with care. Consider not only their aesthetic placement on the floor/wall/ceiling in relation to furniture, windows, art, but also their functional placement; e.g. a vent above the logical location for your desk in a home office—papers flying everywhere.
Also give thought to the design of the registers, the actual grilles. With the kind of detail in those houses, I’d opt to make them decorative wrought iron, copper or bronze. Peg was just giving me grief about my attention to detail on a recent photo shoot for a magazine we write for, but I always address doorknobs, back plates, hinges, hinge finials, doorstops, kickplates and vent covers. I’m always specifying custom vent covers for bathroom fans. (You’re saying, someone please give this woman drugs). The standard white plastic, metal or cheap brass is not going to cut it for this house.
Referencing the home as a living body once again, the hardware is its jewelry, it’s earrings, bracelets, necklaces, toe rings, nose rings. Think how much time we spend on those, eh? All those small details add up to a great effect.
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