Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Jul 12, 2009 3:14 pm I have an old Email ducted a/c (outdoor unit model # EW35H2, 3.75HP, 3-phase) with 7 outlets (one in each room (except bathroom), plus an additional in the lounge room), and Weatherwall thermostat with separate two-zone switch. The zoning switch only isolates the three vents in the lounge/dining, thus pushing more air into the two front bedrooms. The house is single-storey, approx 120 square metres, fibro with permalum cladding, and near-new ceiling insulation (and no insulation in the walls). The kitchen outlet is currently blocked-off in the ceiling due to kitchen renovations, and I am unlikely to put it back in (although when summer comes around, I may change my mind!) The concerns I have are: 1. For some strange reason, the return-air vent is in the 3rd bedroom and I would like to relocate it. I would've done it myself, but where I wanted it to go just happens to be where the large fan unit (with the drip-tray) is in the roof space. 2. The old controller/thermostat doesn't have any timer/programmability, so I would like to have a controller that has this feature. 3. It appears the system doesn't have enough power to blow the air around the rooms; all the heat stays near the ceiling in winter. I have felt other ducted systems in other houses and can easily feel the air coming out of the vents or blowing around the room... Our ceilings are 2700mm high, which wouldn't help... We also have large windows with mostly venetian blinds and no curtains (except in the bedrooms). When I say large, I mean glass french-doors, and other windows are almost floor-to-ceiling, plus sliding glass doors! The rear sunroom would have more glass than solid wall, but it's ceiling is foot lower than the rest of the house as it was added-on at some stage before we purchased... In summer, if I turn the a/c on when I get home from work, it will stay on continuously until I turn it off when I go to bed as it struggles to remove the heat built up over the duration of the day. I remember a few years ago it would be about the same temperature inside as it was outside - say about 35 degrees at 4:30pm, and still just under 30 degrees inside the house at 11pm! That was when I decided to put new insulation in the ceiling, but I don't recall how well the system coped last summer... Based on the above information, I wondered what my options were, while trying to keep costs to as little as possible. I don't know if modern controllers are compatible with my old system. I am happy with the ducting and vent locations, so it might be more feasible to get an entire new a/c system, minus the ducting, vents, and gas pipes. Any suggestions/comments welcome! Re: upgrading old ducted aircon system 3Jul 19, 2009 3:45 pm I got a response from one a/c company - whole new system required (as I expected them to say, but not that I wanted to spend that much!). Interestingly, they also stated the same thing with the old pipes, however one a/c techician said (without seeing them) they would just blow them out to clean them? Perhaps they're a different size these days? Re: upgrading old ducted aircon system 4Jul 20, 2009 2:19 pm We always quote everything new. Pipes are usually (always) different sizes. The ducts are either the incorrect size or are filthy through many years of use. The outlets are usually stained yellow and broken. We usually just replace the whole system. The saving of a few hundred dollars by using existing outlets is not really worth the money you will save. If you can afford it, i would go for a completely new system. The unit normally clips into a metal plate screwed to the wall, either plate is not flush, or unit not hooked in and could be hanging from the pipes partly, either might… 2 15787 retail its around double the price of a similar sized actron/dakin system from memory, They are excellent systems though. But with how builder gouge on AC/heating, you… 4 13773 Hi all, sorting out the ducted air con for a 350sqm double story house. Does this placement sound reasonable to you? Also, I plan to have 6 zones I think. Living room… 0 0 |