Airconditioning plumbed into existing DVS or other smart cooling ideas?

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Musclesnz

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#177872 17-Aug-2015 14:33

Hello everyone, I have DVS in my house already. I also have a gas flame effect fire in the lounge/kitchen/dining (open plan), and a heat pump in the hallway which services the bedrooms. My house is awesome at trapping sun. It gets roasting hot in summer. The heat pump is awesome as it will cool the bedrooms when you have those days with no wind and unable to cool the house (small eves)

But the lounge has nothing- I could install another heat pump in the open plan lounge which would probably be easiest and cheapest- but I'm worried what it looks like having a heat pump and a gas fire for resale. Which is why I thought today - I wonder if I could plumb air conditioning through my already existing DVS (throughout the house) Problems from this are- thermostat, remote control and air intake I guess.

I just thought maybe I could use my existing heat pump unit, get rid of the inside unit and plumb it some way so that the air goes through my vents which would give me central heating and cooling I guess. Can't seem to find anyone who has done this, so curious to see thoughts on it- especially from Air Con specialists.

I'll also love it If anyone knows of a different way to cool the house- tints or special blinds etc. I hate having to shut up the entire house though.

Cheers for reading, and replying if you do.
Gareth.

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#1367969 17-Aug-2015 14:45

Yes I've thought about this as well - replacing the HRV with a ducted heat pump using the existing ducts. However most of the cost seems to be the the ducted heat pump (with adequate capacity to heat the house) so the savings seem small assuming the idea is even feasible.

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mattwnz

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#1368042 17-Aug-2015 16:00

Wouldn't the distribution ductwork need to be insulated? The DVS we have in our house are only foil tubes, so are designed to transfer air only, so I imagine would lose a lot of heat.

timmmay

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#1368088 17-Aug-2015 16:56

I've considered this. Apparently heat loss through the ductwork is so high it's not worth doing. I wondered if wrapping pink batts around them would help.

Can you do a little diagram, even hand drawn? You've said you have a gas fire in the lounge and that the lounge has nothing.

Musclesnz

40 posts

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#1368607 18-Aug-2015 13:45

Thanks everyone, thats exactly what I was wondering so it is great to have someone confirm that efficiency would be the problem. That was a much straighter answer than I was getting from either DVS or Air con shops- mind you it's hard to explain over the phone.

I guess if I really want some summer cooling for those hot no wind days, I will have to consider installing a heat pump in the lounge.

Cheers everyone,
Have a good one.
Gareth.

mattwnz

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#1368619 18-Aug-2015 14:05

timmmay: I've considered this. Apparently heat loss through the ductwork is so high it's not worth doing. I wondered if wrapping pink batts around them would help.

Can you do a little diagram, even hand drawn? You've said you have a gas fire in the lounge and that the lounge has nothing.

Far better to buy proper insulated ducting. Potentially setting up such a system yourself is likely to be a fire risk if done wrongly. Probably better to have a proper ducted heat pump installed.

richms

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#1368633 18-Aug-2015 14:30

Why would you be concerned about having an aircon and a fireplace when selling? Thats 2 features that people like in houses.

Richard rich.ms

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Batman

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#1368648 18-Aug-2015 14:55

Re OP. Yes it's called a heat pump

richms

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#1368671 18-Aug-2015 15:15

joker97: Re OP. Yes it's called a heat pump

Actually its called an airconditioner. If it cools its not a heatpump.

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ubergeeknz

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#1368692 18-Aug-2015 15:20

richms:
joker97: Re OP. Yes it's called a heat pump

Actually its called an airconditioner. If it cools its not a heatpump.

Nope, if it pumps heat from one place to another, it's a heat pump.

richms

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#1368696 18-Aug-2015 15:22

ubergeeknz:
richms:
joker97: Re OP. Yes it's called a heat pump

Actually its called an airconditioner. If it cools its not a heatpump.

Nope, if it pumps heat from one place to another, it's a heat pump.

A heatpump is a core component of an airconditioner, but the whole system is more than just a heatpump. Calling them heatpumps is a bizzare NZ thing that doesnt seem to happen anywhere else. If you talk heatpump heating anywhere else it is either a ground sourced one or something for water heating.

Richard rich.ms

bfginger

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#1368729 18-Aug-2015 16:50

Some air conditioners are heat pumps, some are not.

I'll also love it If anyone knows of a different way to cool the house- tints or special blinds etc. I hate having to shut up the entire house though.

Put up an awning to stop direct sunlight coming in through the windows in summer.

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Musclesnz

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#1370309 19-Aug-2015 14:53

Heat pump/ Air conditioner- I think we all knew what I meant!

Yeah that's a good point, both things that people love- I know if I walked in my first thought would be "that's interesting a heat pump and a gas fire, in the same rectangular room- why?" but that's why you have the real estate person answer on your behalf I guess. May be not as big of a deal as I potentially thought for re sale.

Awnings- I had thought of that- but then on the houses I have seen with awnings, they look massively like old peoples homes. Still probably worth a look- thanks for the advice.

Kickinbac

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#1371264 20-Aug-2015 23:31

I think having a gas fire and a heatpump not such a bad thing. We've done a few new builds where clients are having both. Usually ducted systems plus gas fire though.
Theres nothing cosier than sitting in front of a fire on a cold night. But gas fires don't cool!

As for reusing your DVS for a heat pump, you would basically have to start from scratch. You need new insulated ductwork that is sized correctly. The existing grilles may be in wrong locations or wrong size for airflows you need.
A wall mounted heat pump will be the most cost effective, depending on the size, 3-4k, a ducted system will be upwards of 8-9k.

Musclesnz

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#1372009 22-Aug-2015 13:50

Kickinbac: I think having a gas fire and a heatpump not such a bad thing. We've done a few new builds where clients are having both. Usually ducted systems plus gas fire though.
Theres nothing cosier than sitting in front of a fire on a cold night. But gas fires don't cool!

As for reusing your DVS for a heat pump, you would basically have to start from scratch. You need new insulated ductwork that is sized correctly. The existing grilles may be in wrong locations or wrong size for airflows you need.
A wall mounted heat pump will be the most cost effective, depending on the size, 3-4k, a ducted system will be upwards of 8-9k.

Excellent, just the answer I was looking for. Thank you very much.

lissie

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#1372570 23-Aug-2015 17:04

What part of the country are you in? If it's a dry heat in the summer than awnings and a ceiling fan should be sufficient - bonus the fan on winter setting will make the heating more efficient.

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