Central air conditioning - Page 23 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sleepingmoose · 05-31-2021, 03:58 PM

I should also add that if you're on the fence (and have the money), just do it. It's probably the happiest I've ever been after spending $5k. I haven't regretted it for a second. Anyone in Calgary that says you don't need it because it's only hot a few days a year obviously doesn't have it.

chedder · 05-31-2021, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

True, ours was very straight forward with a quick shot through the wall to the furnace and breaker panel. And in all honesty, you don't need AC in the basement. To get it cool enough in our house everywhere else, we keep all of the basement vents closed, and it's still like a meat locker with all the cold air sinking.

Is closing all basement registers recommended? My basement gets ridiculously cold as well but thought you weren't supposed to close them for some reason.

Sliver · 05-31-2021, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chedder

Is closing all basement registers recommended? My basement gets ridiculously cold as well but thought you weren't supposed to close them for some reason.

I close all mine and it makes a huge difference to the overall comfort of the house. I don't think there is any drawback to doing that aside from having to open them all again whenever you switch back to furnace mode.

The Yen Man · 05-31-2021, 04:13 PM

The AC installer recommended I close the basement vents. It gets ridiculously cold in the basement with the AC on, as you're trying to get the second floor to a comfortable temperature. He also recommended having the fan on all the time to circulate the air throughout the house.

mrkajz44 · 05-31-2021, 04:26 PM

Is there a concern with running the fan all the time? With our basement being so cold with AC now, seems like it would really help cut down on how much time the AC needs to be on, but I don't like the idea of the fan on 24/7 (for no real reason other than it seems like too much)

The Yen Man · 05-31-2021, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Is there a concern with running the fan all the time? With our basement being so cold with AC now, seems like it would really help cut down on how much time the AC needs to be on, but I don't like the idea of the fan on 24/7 (for no real reason other than it seems like too much)

That's what I asked, but the guy told me newer furnace fans are designed to be constantly run, and it may actually save electricity on AC usage by constantly keeping the cool air in your house circulating. I've did it for the first time last year during the summer months, and seems to be ok.

woob · 05-31-2021, 04:36 PM

Yeah we got the same advice, to run the fan all the time. Our house is the same way, when the AC is running the basement is a meat locker. Running the fan helps bring some of that cool air up to the other levels and should theoretically lessen the frequency of the A/C kicking in.

We got our A/C installed last year, so this is the first year we'll be firing up the unit (I suspect this week, with the forecast) after sitting all winter. Anything we should be aware of after the long winter break?

DoubleF · 05-31-2021, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chedder

Is closing all basement registers recommended? My basement gets ridiculously cold as well but thought you weren't supposed to close them for some reason.

Closing all registers isn't recommended. But closing all the registers on certain floors so that the air goes to the floors you want cooled is perfectly fine.

Some of you are talking about the basement being a meat locker like it's a bad thing. After entering your home on a hot day, walking into the basement for a quick cool down is glorious. It's even better if that's where you store your ice cold beer.

Raekwon · 05-31-2021, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chedder

Is closing all basement registers recommended? My basement gets ridiculously cold as well but thought you weren't supposed to close them for some reason.

I don’t only close the basement but any areas of the house that don’t need cooling like the laundry room, walk in closet, etc. Gives more air to the rest of the vents. I have stupid wooden vent covers that are flush with the floor so I just put aluminum foil tape on the bottom side and take it off In winter.

TurdFerguson · 05-31-2021, 10:39 PM

Anyone with a 2 furnace setup get AC for just the one furnace (top floor)?

I recall at my last place the sales guy saying it was not a great idea beacuse of workload for the 1 unit being higher due to hear rising...blah blah blah.

Generally, we're pretty comfortable with the main floor and basement but would love a cool upstairs for sleeping. Given the until would only run 1/3 of the year anyway...I don't see the burnout concern. Surely they are made better then that?

To do both furnaces I'd expect to spend 9k and I'd prefer not to do that.

Anyway, anyone running this kind of setup?

bizaro86 · 05-31-2021, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurdFerguson

Anyone with a 2 furnace setup get AC for just the one furnace (top floor)?

I recall at my last place the sales guy saying it was not a great idea beacuse of workload for the 1 unit being higher due to hear rising...blah blah blah.

Generally, we're pretty comfortable with the main floor and basement but would love a cool upstairs for sleeping. Given the until would only run 1/3 of the year anyway...I don't see the burnout concern. Surely they are made better then that?

To do both furnaces I'd expect to spend 9k and I'd prefer not to do that.

Anyway, anyone running this kind of setup?

I have this and it isn't an issue, imo. We usually leave the furnace fan on the main floor/basement furnace running, which circulates cool air from the basement to the main floor.

It doesn't give that "cold" air conditioned feeling to the whole house, so if that's what you want you should do both. But it easily keeps the bedrooms/upstairs cool. We mostly use it at night, although on really hot days we run it all the time.

We've had it for a few years with zero issues so far.

Calgary14 · 06-01-2021, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

I should also add that if you're on the fence (and have the money), just do it. It's probably the happiest I've ever been after spending $5k. I haven't regretted it for a second. Anyone in Calgary that says you don't need it because it's only hot a few days a year obviously doesn't have it.

Agree, and I would also add anyone who says you dont need it in Calgary doesnt have little kids. It's a lot easier to put a toddler down for the night when their room is 21 instead of 28.

Monahammer · 06-01-2021, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Agree, and I would also add anyone who says you dont need it in Calgary doesnt have little kids. It's a lot easier to put a toddler down for the night when their room is 21 instead of 28.

this was the reason we got it and I am pretty sure it has saved our sanity/ marriage.

bizaro86 · 06-01-2021, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Agree, and I would also add anyone who says you dont need it in Calgary doesnt have little kids. It's a lot easier to put a toddler down for the night when their room is 21 instead of 28.

That was why we got it. Worth every penny.

Regular_John · 06-01-2021, 04:45 PM

So I’m sure this varies by property type/orientation, but what temp are you folks setting your AC at? Are you scheduling things to go up/down at certain times of day?

We just moved into a new place and it’s our first time having AC, so still trying to work out what the optimal setting is. Winter furnace is easier in a way because you’ve got a default minimum you want the house at, but AC seems like it needs more finesse.

Sliver · 06-01-2021, 05:29 PM

I keep mine at 22 and bust it down to 21 at night for a special treat.

Ducay · 06-01-2021, 06:07 PM

Generally keep mine at 73-74 (23.5) upstairs and 71 (21.5ish) downstairs. Unit upstairs has some issues due to an under sized fan, so can't go MAX cool and ice out the bedrooms, but the having the main floor cooler certainly cools down the whole house given the combined cold air system. Plus I think a certain CP HVAC person would scold us for going that low anyways

Sliver · 06-01-2021, 06:10 PM

23.5 in the bedrooms? Dafuq, dude. That's way too warm for sleeping.

chedder · 06-01-2021, 06:42 PM

I go 23. Bungalow so it's quite a bit colder in basement where kids sleep. Thinking I may try 22 but wouldn't go any lower.

DoubleK · 06-01-2021, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydorn

So I’m sure this varies by property type/orientation, but what temp are you folks setting your AC at? Are you scheduling things to go up/down at certain times of day?

West windows have blinds/curtains closed. AC comes on at 3:00pm to cool the house to 22, I'm bit here so not sure how much it is or isn't running while nobody is home. Generally runs until the sun goes down then off as soon as windows can be opened.

Blinds/curtains on sun exposed windows are key.