HVAC System Description

Installed August 2008


System overview:

This home truly has a state of the art heating and cooling system that will provide optimum comfort at minimum energy usage. The home has an 8-zone radiant floor heating system.  In addition, there is fully ducted air system that provides space conditioning, exhaust air heat recovery, humidification, and filtration.

Geothermal heat pump, Climate Master, 5 ton water-to-water unit:

The heat pump for this residence is a single package geothermal heat pump (GHP) coupled to closed-loop ground exchanger. This type of heat pump uses the earth as an energy source.  Because of the near-constant temperatures of the earth, GHP operate more efficiently than standard heat pumps that draw energy from the ambient air. Other GHP advantages include low maintenance due to no exposed outdoor equipment, no defrost cycle, quiet operation, and warm supply air temperatures. 2.9 COP on heat, 13.6 EER on cooling.  This means that you only pay ~1/3 of what it would cost to heat your home by electricity. The geothermal heat pump will:  1) Water-to-air unit – will cool or heat through the duct work.  2) Will heat the radiant floor.  3) Will do the potable heating through the indirect-fired water heater.

Water-to-air unit:

First Company 20 VMB, 5 ton, variable speed fan, with 10 kw backup strip heat. This unit provides cooling or heating through the Climate Master water-to-water heat pump.  Air heating and cooling zoning kit with 3 zones: 1) Master suite and office; 2) Rec. Room; 3) Rest of living area.  3 each Honeywell programmable thermostats.  Home has ceiling supply system and has a ceiling return system.  Upstream of the unit: AccuClean Air Filtration system. Downstream of the unit: whole house steam Humidifier, 6 gallons per day.

Radiant floor:

The geothermal heat pump heats the radiant floor.  1-1/2” of gypcrete was poured throughout the home.  A tank (refer to description below), pipe, 1/8 hp Taco pump, valves, hydronic accessories, thermostats, and zone panels are installed.  Radiant zones:  1) Master suite, 2) Master bath/master closet, 3) Study, 4) Guest room, 5) Great room, nook, foyer, kitchen, laundry, bathroom, rear entry and hallway, 6) Bedroom #1 & bathroom, 7) Bedroom #2 & bathroom, 8) Rec Room.

Indirect-fired water heater:

The geothermal heat pump heated water shall pass through a water indirect tank, Super-Stor Ultra SSU-60, 60 gallon stainless steel, for the radiant floor.  It will heat ~80% to ~95% of your potable hot water.

Heat recovery ventilator:

LifeBreath 200MAX fresh air ventilation system, exhausts from: 1) restroom in the master suite, 2) restroom (bedroom 1) and 3) restroom (bedroom 2).  System will stay on low speed (50 cfm) unless the unit is switched to high speed (200 cfm) with a timer on the wall in each of the three restrooms.

Ground Loop:

This ground loop contains a total of 3600’ of buried 3/4” polyethylene pipe filled with heat exchanger fluid.   Excavation was 6 each, 200’ long, 4’ deep, 2’ wide.  Pumps are a non-pressurized pump kit with a pair of 1/6 hp circulating pumps.  These pumps circulate the fluid through the heat pump, through the ground, and back through the heat pump. The fluid circulation rate is 15 gallons per minute.  The loop is totally closed, so there is no direct fluid contact with the ground or with the air.  In the heating season, the loop draws energy (heat) from the ground for use in heating the house.  In the cooling season, the loops reject heat into the ground.  The ground loop systems and pumps do not normally require any maintenance, but water may need to be occasionally added to the pump kit chambers.

Warranty:

Climate Master Warranty: Refrigerant parts: 10 years on parts, 10 years on labor. Non-refrigerant parts: 5 years on parts, 5 years on labor.