Why should you relocate your air handler.
Move hvac from closet to attic.
After all the attic is full of empty space.
Like i said in another post the air noise coming from the return registers beneath the mechanical closet travels a little too well over our new hardwood floors and is an annoyance.
While this may work well in some homes it isn t the only place where your furnace can be located.
Unfortunately in california it is extremely unusual to find a home with a basement so contractors usually install a floor furnace or closet furnace.
So we have a 1800 sq ft rancher in a hotter colder part of los angeles county.
But this isn t the only place that you can have a furnace to keep your home warm.
According to the u s department of energy the furnace s energy efficiency can drop by 35 when installed in an unconditioned space like the attic.
Attic hvac systems save space.
Moving a unit from an attic.
Is the cost justified.
Currently have a 1987 60k furnace too small and 3 5k ac just right.
Furnaces in closets attached to the garage is the rule in our area.
Because the furnace is installed in the attic so are air ducts which deliver air to your rooms.
Ductwork goes through open ceiling into the attic then into the house.
This is how my own home is set up.
Heated air flowing through those ducts will lose heat when the unconditioned attic is cold forcing the furnace to run longer.
Since it appears the duct will have to be lengthened to move it to the closet in may be worse since you will have more surface air of duct exposed to the attic than the air handler would be.
Most updated central air conditioned homes have a new air conditioner split system meaning the ac is broken up into parts.
A furnace can be relocated from the closet into the attic.
So why put an hvac system up in the attic at all.
Those that complied moved furnace to the attic.
Assuming your attic is unheated putting the furnace up there unless you build a utility room for it will also be less energy efficient both because it is having to push the hot air down into the house the opposite way it naturally wants to flow as hot air rises the furnace waste heat will be largely lost to the outside air rather than.
Typically the water heater is located in the closet also.
But hvac professionals agree it s not ideal.
The usual place you ll find furnaces in homes across the u s.
An outdoor unit which houses the fan condenser and compressor and an indoor unit which holds the evaporator and fan.
Like others suggested i d keep it in attic and have the roof deck spray foamed.
But in southern california basements are extremely rare so most homes have floor furnaces a k a.
Well mainly it s a way to save space.
So having your air handler in your attic isn t a great idea but what s the big deal.
