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Install a Brivis HE301 Heater with a 17kw. add on cooling system both controlled by a Network Controller.
System is zoned into two areas, family, dining, rumpus and master BR/ensuite in one zone (always on) and BR's 2, 3 and 4 along with child retreat/study in the other zone.
Outdoor condensing unit sited on south side of building, return air in rear passage near child retreat/study.
All ducts and fittings manufactured to AS 4254 and equipment covered by manufacturers' 5 year warranty.
No provision made for 3-phase power to outdoor unit or gas/power to indoor unit.
Price to supply install and commission above works is $12,840 + GST (total ~$14k).
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I've got a few questions about the quote mentioned above:
- I am of the understanding that the HE301 is an older 5.5-star heating unit - while I do not have any issue with the difference in energy rating between this older unit and the current equivalent (the 5.7-star HX30i), would it be prudent to specify that we require the newer model anyway when obtaining other quotes?
If so then how much extra would we expect to pay for a HX30i over a HE301 heater?
(I've managed to price a HX30i at somewhre between $3-3.5k retail in a google search, but I have no idea as to how much the older HE301 will cost) - The original electrical plan for the house had a total of 12 ducts, 2 each in the rumpus, living and dining rooms, 1 each for all four bedrooms and the child retreat and an extra duct in the entrance passage (12 ducts in total).
The sketched out plan we were given only has 8 ducts (one for each bedroom, one in each of the living areas - rumpus/lounge/dining - and one in the child retreat/study) - is only having 8 ducts (including one only for each of the larger living areas and no duct in the entrance passage) going to be sufficient or should we be requesting more? - We were originally keen on having the master bedroom as a separate zone as well having two zones at the "rear" of the house (I'm treating the living areas/master BR as the "front" of the house) - one zone for the child retreat/study and BR 2 and another zone for BR's 3 and 4.
My original line of thinking was that until we have children we will not need to heat or cool BR's 3 and 4 unless we have family/friends staying over, but the child retreat/study and BR 2 are likely to be used a lot more initially so I'd like to have then in separate zones - I'm also not keen on having the heating/cooling in the master bedroom on all day when we wont be in there much as we will more then likely be using the living areas during the day.
Is having the master bedroom/ensuite, child retreat/BR 2 and BR's 3/4 as separate zones feasible from an installation perspective?
We will also have ceiling fans installed in all of the bedrooms and living areas as shown on the electrical plan so the air-con would only need to be switched on in the BR's in the evening after excessively hot days to drop the temperature to a comfortable level, but I'm still looking to be utilising the heating/cooling as efficiently as possible to help minimise our gas and electricity bills so I was keen on splitting the different areas into individual zones so that we could limit the parts of the house which are being heated/cooled in the evening to the ones being used at the time. - We have provisions for "3-phase power from the supply pit to the meter box" (including additional circuit breakers) and an "additional Clipsal 4FCC45 internal flush switchboard with 3-phase power (up to 12 metres) from metre box", as well as a capped gas point in the roof included in our build contract - is there anything else we need to have provisions for electrical or plumbing-wise so that the installer can install the heating/cooling units?
- Finally does the pricing look like it's in the right ballpark? I was expecting to have to pay something between $14k and $18k based on anecdotes I've read here and on other websites so if we do go for the current-model heating unit, additional zones, etc will we still be within that sort of price range?
Apologies for the epically long post here - I've got a lot of conflicting thoughts running around in my head right now and I'm trying to get everything straight before we proceed further with engaging an installer to put together a ducted heating/cooling system for our yet-to-be-built house.
p.s. our floorplan and electrical layout are shown below:
(living areas are roughly north-facing and the front of the house is east facing)